12B The Michigan Daily Weekend Magazine - Thursday, September 18, 1997r 0 The Michigan Daily Weekend Magazin '10Music Feature Jewel adds faux shine to industry r University Feature 'U' marching band brings spirit to fans VT Jewel uses her sappy face and whimpering eyes to win an empathetic following. MORfl EY By Anders Smith-Lindall Daily Arts Writer Jewel. We all know her - the shy Alaskan with an acoustic guitar who recently played a sold-out show at Meadowbrook. The vulnerable, wispy blonde, beloved by trendy chicks, gra- nola girls and 'sensitive' guys through- out the land. The singer whose debut album, released in 1994, is still in the top 10 and has gone platinum five times over. We all know Jewel. 1, for one, don't really understand the phenomenon. It's not that I don't like her - I mean, all those 5-million-plus record-buying fans can't be wrong. Right? I hope not. Personally, I'd rather believe that I'm just failing to under- stand something here, instead of having to believe that the rest of the world real- ly likes Jewel, because the Jewel I know is a symbol of everything that is wrong with a fundamentally flawed music industry. The Jewel I know is fresh off a sum- mer spent headlining the traveling Lilith Fair. Marketed as a feminist love- in, the tour's lineup featured such easy- listening faux-folkies as the Indigo Girls and Sarah McLachlan, the Fair's founder and organizer. What I would not have given to see Sleater-Kinney or Ani DiFranco or Patti Smith take to the road with a sort of anti-Lilith. But that might be too much attitude in one place, far too much to be consid- ered safe. And if Jewel is one thing, she's safe. You won't see her taking any chances or straying too far from her tried and true. I'm talking about lipstick shade here, of course. You know, that's precisely what stayed with me after I saw Jewel per- form her song "Foolish Games" on the MTV Movie Awards this summer - lip gloss. I hadn't seen anything that slick since the Exxon oil spill. Actually, that's not my only lingering impression of Jewel. I still recall how taken I was by her body language and emotive voice -- taken aback, that is. The Jewel I know is a symbol of everything that is wrong with a.. music industry, You know what I'm talking about. The pouty face, the perfectly coiffed hair that falls into her eyes at just the right moments, the wet breaths and sighs and sobs in between verses. I saw all that, and I said to myself, "What the hell is she so distraught about!?" (Please, spare me the rabid letters to the editor about her years of suffering from that struggling songwriter's favorite cliche, an unhappy childhood.) Maybe that's why she doesn't really sing about anything at all. Listen to her smash singles, "Who Will Save Your Soul" and "You Were Meant For Me." Have you ever heard anything more mundane and pedestrian? Especially those impalatable verses in "You Were Meant For Me": Jewel describing her breakfast in minute detail; Jewel getting ready for bed - putting on her jam- mies, brushing her teeth, turning off the light, blah blah blah. That must set a new record for vapidity. But I guess it really doesn't matter much what you have to say in these days of video, as long as you have a pretty face and a hefty major-label pro- motional machine behind you. Sheryl Crow knows that, just like Celine Dion and Alanis Morrisette. Men are taking advantage- of this scheme, too - just ask Gavin Rossdale as he laughs all the way to the bank. Jewel is cashing in the same chips. Specifically, she's going for the Forlorn-And-Pitiful-But-Sexy-Waif look, and, with her shirt unbuttoned to her navel and her painted-on jeans, she seems to be succeeding. This is, of course, an insult to the American pub- lic: It's degrading to women, who see that to succeed they must objectify themselves, and men, to whom the record companies think they can peddle worthless albums as long as they're wrapped up in a skinny blond package. And it's also a complete affront to all the hard-working and talented artists who toil in anonymity because they don't have an MTV-approved face, voice, countenance and bod. What does Jewel herself have to say about this? Well, if you saw the MTV Video Music Awards last week, you saw Cindy Crawford asking her about the clothes she wears. Jewel replied that she's no fashion plate - no, she's a reg- ular Jane Doe, just like her fans. In her words, she "wears simple clothes." Funny, then, that the Sept. 18 issue of Rolling Stone reports that, while fash- ion guru Tommy Hilfiger is "sponsor- ing Sheryl Crow's summer tour and cre- ating a line of clothing for the singer (in) just the latest example of how designers are marketing rock stars, and vice versa," Jewel is playing clothes horse for Prada. That is, she wears Prada and gets paid to do it. Simple, indeed - simply pretentious. Speaking of pretentious crap, what about this one-name-only shtick. Works nice for marketing purposes, I know. But get it straight: Jewel is the first name, Kilcher is the last name. Jewel Kilcher. Two names, just like the rest of us. (Same goes for Madonna Ciccone and Prince Nelson. Beck's excused because he doesn't want to be confused with the brothers from Oklahoma.) If you're sitting in class and you've read this far, you're probably either in complete agreement with me (I know you're out there) or you're mad that I could dare to criticize Jewel. Well, you have a right to be angry. And I empathize with you - but I'm sure you'll go home tonight and listen to your Jewel CD and you'll feel better about the whole thing. By Jason Stoffer Daily Arts Writer They have performed in two Super Bowls and 14 Rose Bowls, but nothing is comparable in excitement and revelry to a football Saturday in Ann Arbor. The rit- ual stays the same throughout the ages, with hundreds of uniformed Wolverines storming out of the tunnel. As they take the field, the crowd's subdued rumble instantaneously crescendos into an ear- shattering roar. The Michigan Marching Band's spirited march onto the gridiron has led more than 100,000 fist-pumping Michigan Stadium fans into a fervor for almost a century. Being a marching band member is more than just another extracurricular activity, it is a lifestyle. "Band members have as many or more practices as the football team, with practice lasting an hour and a half each day;" said Michigan Marching Band Director Kevin Sedatole. These prac- tices pay off-- the band is arguably the best marching band in the nation. In 1983, more than 700 marching band directors and journalists voted the University marching band to be the first recipient of the Louis Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy - an award designed to honor excel- lence in the band community. For marching band members, precise ritual goes hand in hand with a football Saturday's extraordinary titillation. Practice begins on Elbel Field, bright and early, at 8 a.m. The sound of snares and trombones causes many nearby res- idents to prematurely roll out of their slumber, forcing their football tailgate into an earlier-than-expected start. At 10:30, outside of Revelli Hall, flags and percussion, two groups that often go undeservingly overlooked, get their moment in the spotlight. They give a step show featuring cadences and the famous "War Chant," and hundreds of onlookers greet them with riveting cheers. Afterward, the band marches down to the stadium, with fans lining the streets to view the procession. "We stop in the Victors Club parking lot" for a few minutes, Sedatole said. "Then we load the tunnel, and do our thing,' Every exemplary performing group needs a dynamic and inspirational leader - marching band Drum Major Ramon Johnson epitomizes these traits. His personality drives others to perform at levels they never dreamed possible. "I play tenor sax and I've been play- ing since sixth grade,' Johnson said. "It was always my dream to be in a march- ing band like Michigan's." Many first-year band members are a little in awe at first - striving only to earn the opportunity to strut onto the field. From the start, loftier goals drove an unintimidated Johnson. "The first day I walked into Revelli The marching band takes the field before last Saturday's game against Colorad Hall for my band orientation, it was kind of embarrassing," Johnson said. "My mom went up and asked how I could become drum major." Two years later, his dream came true. The 10-step audition for drum major includes high-stepping, baton twirling and vocal and whistle commands. The job requires more than just competence, but flair, charisma and athleticism. As the maize and blue take the field, forming its traditional block M, Johnson high-steps through the band, doing a high kick at the 20 and saluting the crowd. He proceeds to arch his back and touches his plume to the ground. The job is not without pressure. According to tradition, Johnson has the game's outcome resting firmly on his shoulders. Toward the middle of the pre-game festivities, he does a goalpost toss, throwing his baton through the uprights. If he catches it, the team will win. Alas, if he drops it, a long day lie ahead for the mighty Wolverine: Johnson's enthusiasm permeates rest of the band. "As soon as you . you have 400 friends you can talk to study with, euphonium player Engineering sophomore Scott Lat said. "It's a thrill coming out of that nel in front of 100,000 people, It's or the greatest experiences you'll have." Johnson said band members are r than just average college students. "Members of the band are the el me of Michigan," he said. "I've n seen such excitement, drive and de tion from a group of people.' Members of the marching band Johnson as a role model in these c gories. "It's incredible he can lead an e band practice almost solely on own;' Latham said. "He's an extrei September 24 7:30pmn Hill Auditorium Ann Adior Michigan Union Ticket Office & all TicketMaster outlets. Charge at 313/763-TKTS or online at www.ticketmaster.com Concert info at http:// www.umich.edu/-mevents Presented by UM Major Events Division of Student Affairs Marching band facts and figures 4 Number of band members: 265 on the field, 156 in reserves :" Practice time per week: 10-12 hours * Average number of songs played on a football Saturday; 15 + Average length of a halftime show: 7 minutes Curious about how you'll do on the GMAT, LSAT, or GRE? Not sure if a review course would be worth it? TRY Us FOR FREE The Princeton Review I f ' Volunteers ages 18 years and up, who have athlete's foot, are needed for a research study at the University of Michigan Department of Dermatology. Eligible participants will be compensated for their time and effort. For more information, please call: (313) 936-4070 Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. University of Michigan - Medical Center Sunday, October 19 8:00 pm Hil Auditorium Tickets available at the Michigan Union Ticket Office Charge by phone 763-TKTS udent Affairs presentation http //www.umich.edu/-mevents- A Major Events/Division of St 'Call for details 3131663-2163 800!-2" R-E 1 W ~CaII for e~eVaiIe 8OO~2-REVI EW