Jewel :: Standing Still (2001)

nobody@vox.com(Kohia) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:28:31 -0700

Sorry for the wait. I haven't been motivated to update recently, which is a shame D:

Jewel - " Standing Still " "regular version"

I suppose I'm going to bit biased with this song/video because I really like this song for more that just the song/music/video/etc. I suppose this would be more commentary than a review... like most of my "reviews" so you may not see anything different here... Just ignore that, I'm babbling again.

Standing Still

Just right off, this song really brings back memories. 2001 wasn't long ago for most, but it certainly was for me, especially if you have only lived for 17 years like I have. So saying that... you guessed it, I was about ten. Well anyway, I heard this a lot on the radio since I was frequently in the car during the summer since I ended going with my ma for errands, to visits to relatives, and on the way to swim practice (yes I did swimming back then too). I rather liked that summer so I would often just think of that while listening to this song.

Standing Still 2

Now that its out of the way, I think of traveling a lot during this song because of that. Oddly enough, the music video illustrates that too, which made me really excited for some reason. I suppose that's why I like this song when I obviously am not a big fan of country music: it makes me think of something other than being out in the country/farm/middle of nowhere/etc.

Standing Still 3

I'm somewhat confused with the meaning of this song. I feel like it's a string of random thoughts related to one event. I get the sense of travel with the uses of the word "dead end" and the opening lyric: "Cuttin' through the darkest night in my two headlights."

Standing Still 4

I start to think she's looking for someone in by the second verse, or perhaps remembering someone. For some reason, she's at a place were she feels awkward:

Mothers on the stoop,

Boys in souped-up coupes

On this hot summer night

Between fight and flight

Is the blind man's sight

And the choice that's right

I roll the window down,

Feel like I'm gonna down

In this strange town

I feel broken down

Standing Still 5

Anyway, for the music video, there really isn't much of a point- the same feeling as just random imagery. However, it somehow relates to the song since there's a lot of looking and traveling as the song implies. The video opens with Jewel driving on an open road.

Standing Still 6

This continues with shots of Jewel exploring towns and the like. At one point, she thinks she sees someone in a restaurant and he's gone in a flash. She uses a pay-phone in another part. I took a screenshot of it, as you can see on the side, and I found it interesting because there are "Jewel" flyers stuck to the side of the pay-phone.

Standing Still 7

Near the end of the video, this continues as well as shots of Jewel in the car from the beginning of the video during daylight, and her performing on stage with a guitar.

I saw the video as more as an extension of the song rather than a video. There isn't anything wrong with that since a lot of videos are like that. All the Aaliyah's videos that I've reviewed earlier were like that, only they had little to do with the song.

Standing Still 8

So I give the song a 9/10. Its well composed and there's a strong chance you'll like it because even someone like me who doesn't like country music likes it. Well maybe you won't if you only like heavy metal and stuff like that, but you get the point. I recommend the song. If pressed to give the video a rating, I'll give it a 6/10 - an average rating with a bit more because I give it props for fitting in with the song.

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KOHIA

Jewel :: Standing Still (2001)