Intuition (song)

"Intuition"
U.S. CD single cover
Single by Jewel
from the album 0304
B-side	"Standing Still" (Live Acoustic Version)
Released	May 6, 2003 (U.S.)
Format	CD single, CD maxi single, digital download
Recorded	Conway Studios (Hollywood, Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Dance-pop, electropop
Length	3:49
Label	Atlantic
Writer(s)	Jewel Kilcher, Lester Mendez
Producer(s)	Jewel Kilcher, Lester Mendez
Jewel singles chronology
"Serve the Ego" (2002) "Intuition" (2003) "Stand" (2003)
European, and Australian cover

"Intuition" is a song by American pop singer–songwriter Jewel. It was released in May 2003 as the lead single from her fourth studio album, 0304. The song was written and produced by Jewel and Lester Mendez. Following the club success of "Serve the Ego", Jewel moved to a more pop-oriented sound with the release of "Intuition". The song, which strays from her usual folk style with simple acoustic guitar instrumentation, starts off with a French accordion and then experiments with dance-oriented beats with subtle urban influences, using synthesizers. The song achieved moderate success in the United States, reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, a number of Jewel's fans criticized her for abandoning her traditional folk style in exchange for a new pop sound. After the song was licensed to promote Schick Intuition razors, Jewel was accused of "writing a song that tells us all to resist the total marketing mentality... and then licensing that song to a consumer products company for a huge sales campaign."^[1]

Despite the switch of sound style, the song is lyrically similar to her previous work. It has a number of references to popular culture, including mentioning celebrities such as pop star Jennifer Lopez, model Kate Moss, actor Charlie Sheen, magazines, film culture, and commercialism.

Background and writing

Inspired by the sudden success of scoring a number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart with "Serve the Ego"— the final single from her previous album, This Way — in early November 2002, Jewel decided to make a radical departure from her previous folk-oriented musical efforts and recorded a dance album.^[2][3]

"Intuition" was written and produced by Kilcher and Lester Mendez.^[3] It features accordions and dance beats,^[3] while she urges listeners to follow their hearts but then taunts, "Sell your sin/Just cash in."^[4] In another part of the lyrics, she tries to make sense of her own situation on Intuition: "I'm just a simple girl in a hi-tech digital world... in a world of postmodern fad, what was good now is bad."^[5]

The song's usage in a 70 million dollar advertising campaign for Schick razors was controversial due to the song's message of anti-consumerism.^[6] Jewel later noted that the song came about in a "not ideal way" and way which was "the worst of what the music business is", when her label and her then-management got her involved in the Schick campaign. As part of the deal, Jewel had to write a song titled Intuition which was to serve as her first single from 0304, despite Schick remarking at the time that the song's name was a mere coincidence.^[1] Jewel felt that the creation process for the song was "inorganic" and that it was hard to make the song authentic, but that she didn't feel like "the song was a sell-out" and that she is proud of the song. Jewel attributed changes in the music business and an overall decline in music sales for the necessity of commercial product sponsoring in order to have a music video produced.^[7]

Critical reception

The song received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics. Todd Burns from Stylus Magazine wrote that the track is "one of the better singles of the year (2003), Jewel’s vamps up the scale demand to be imitated whether lovingly or hatefully. Either way, you’re singing along, which is exactly the point.^[8] "UK Mix" wrote a very positive review, writing that the song "is a fun and catchy pop record that's perfect for summer. Its laid-back and playful verses explode into an uplifting and dancey chorus, completed by Jewel's sensual vocals. She still possesses clever lyrical skills (and she's done an equally clever video), so it's safe to say Jewel sounds much better now that she's dancing!."^[9] Another review from "UK Mix" wrote that "Lead by French horns and accordions and equipped with infectious lyrics, it's one of the better songs of this year."^[9]

Versions and commercial performance

The final release of the single saw no alteration from the album version. Radio stations however did receive a radio edit of the song, only deleting one repeated chorus verse from the ending of the song cutting it down to three minutes and 13 seconds. Commercial singles were released within the U.S. and internationally. In the U.S. there was a CD single and a CD maxi single release, the former contains "Intuition" and "Standing Still" (Live Acoustic Version) while the latter contains club mixes only. The single reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, but hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play for one week.

Music video

Jewel in the music video spoofing Sprite and parodying sexual exploitation in advertisements.

The song's music video, directed by Marc Klasfeld, was filmed mainly in low quality, but would switch to spoofs of commercials (such as Sprite, Levi's, Nike, and Corona) and female pop stars, with sensationalist images in high quality. The original video was later censored, after a lawsuit by Nike for using the swoosh symbol without permission. In part of the video a fake TRL ticker tape reads "Jewel's music sounds much better now that she's dancing!"^[4] Jewel noted that the video was supposed to be "ironic and funny", but she felt that the video was misunderstood and that "nobody got it."^[7]

Track listings and formats

U.S. CD single

1. "Intuition" – 3:49
2. "Standing Still" (Live Acoustic Version) – 4:56

U.S. CD maxi single

1. "Intuition" (Todd Terry In-House Mix) – 5:41
2. "Intuition" (Gabriel & Dresden Hi-Tek Digital Mix) – 10:50
3. "Intuition" (Markus Schulz Coldharbor Mix) – 10:21
4. "Intuition" (Ford's Extended Mix) – 7:17
5. "Intuition" (Tee's Freeze Mix) – 5:39
6. "Intuition" (Gabriel & Dresden Rhythm Club Mix) – 8:17
7. "Intuition" (Tee's Kat Mix) – 6:10
8. "Intuition" (Gabriel & Dresden Lo-Tek Analog Dub) – 10:30
9. Making of "Intuition" Music Video

European CD single

1. "Intuition" (Album Version) – 3:49
2. "Intuition" (Ford's Radio Mix) – 4:17

European CD maxi single

1. "Intuition" (Album Version) – 3:49
2. "Intuition" (Ford's Radio Mix) – 4:17
3. "Intuition" (Tee's Kat Dub) – 6:46
4. "Intuition" (Markus Schulz Club Mix) – 6:45

UK CD single

1. Intuition" (Album Version)
2. Intuition" (Todd Terry In-House Mix) – 5:41
3. Intuition" (Ford's Radio Mix) – 4:17
4. Intuition" (Tee's Kat Dub) – 6:46
5. Intuition" (Video)

Australian CD single

1. Intuition" (Album Version) – 3:49
2. Intuition" (Gabriel & Dresden Hi-Tek Digital Mix) – 10:47
3. Intuition" (Tee's Kat Dub) – 6:10
4. Intuition" (Markus Schulz Club Mix) – 6:46

Remixes

1. Todd Terry In-House Mix
2. Todd Terry Radio Mix
3. Gabriel & Dresden Hi-Tek Digital Mix
4. Gabriel & Dresden Lo-Tek Analog Dub
5. Gabriel & Dresden Rhythm Club Mix
6. Markus Schulz Club Mix
7. Markus Schulz Coldharbor Mix
8. Markus Schulz Radio Mix
9. Ford's Extended Mix
10. Ford's Radio Mix
11. Tee's Freeze Mix
12. Tee's Freeze Mixshow
13. Tee's Kat Mix
14. Tee's Kat Dub
15. Tee's Rub-A-Dub
16. Tee's Deep Dub
17. Tee's Dub Mix
18. Hot Tracks Mix

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[10]	4
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[11]	2
Canada (Nielsen Soundscan)[12]	34
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[13]	86
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14]	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15]	9
Germany (Official German Charts)[16]	77
Germany (Germany Airplay Top 100)	33
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17]	17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18]	87
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[19]	17
Japan (Tokio Hot 100)	42
Taiwan (Taiwan Charts)	2
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[20]	50
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[21]	52
US Billboard Hot 100[22]	20
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[23]	5
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[24]	1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[25]	7
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[26]	22

See also

• List of number-one dance singles of 2003 (U.S.)

References

1. Walker, Rob (2003-07-07). "Shilling for Schick". Slate.com. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
2. Slomowicz, DJ Ron. "Jewel – 0304 CD Review". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "304 – Jewel – Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March,54322, 14, 2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
4. Cinquemani, Sal (June 6, 2003). "Jewel: 0304". Slant Magazine. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
5. Petridis, Alexis (August 22, 2003). "Jewel: 0304". The Guardian. guardian.co.uk. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
6. Howard, Theresa (10 August 2003). "Ads crank up the volume with tunes". USA Today. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
7. "Jewel - Intuition on Greatest Hits". YouTube. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
8. Burns, Todd (September 1, 2003). "Jewel – 0304". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
9. "UKMIX - Reviews - Jewel - Intuition". UK Mix. 18 August 2003. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
10. "Australian-charts.com – Jewel – Intuition". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
11. "Ultratop.be – Jewel – Intuition" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
12. "Chart Data: Jewel". Mariah-Charts.com. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
13. European Hot 100 www.billboard.com
14. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Jewel search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Jewel – Intuition" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
16. "Musicline.de – Jewel Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
17. "Charts.org.nz – Jewel – Intuition". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
18. "Swisscharts.com – Jewel – Intuition". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
19. "Spanishcharts.com – Jewel – Intuition" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
20. "Archive Chart: 2003-08-24". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
21. "Jewel: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
22. "Jewel – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Jewel. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
23. "Jewel – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Jewel. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
24. "Jewel – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Jewel. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
25. "Jewel – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Jewel. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
26. "Jewel – Chart history" Billboard Radio Songs for Jewel. Retrieved 2010-08-31.

External links

• VH1 Jewel interview