Jewel drops inspiring single 'Grateful' on overcoming anxiety, fans say it is what they needed to lift spirits
Singer-songwriter Jewel has announced the release of her new single 'Grateful'. Featuring as the first single from an upcoming as-yet-untitled twelfth studio album, 'Grateful' comes as timely musical therapy during the global health crisis of coronavirus. Jewel's optimistically-charged track is about fighting off anxiety.
Jewel opens the song with "When everything's wrong. When I can't find my song. When darkness is all I see. There is a remedy" with softened angsty vocal texture before the song uplifts the music in tandem with its positive lyric structure.
The song uses smooth, cheery blues guitar riffs fused with a touch of R&B and gospel themes to portray its hopeful message. "It's all the little things that make the world go round. It's all the little things that are almost powerful. There's no politician, no sky too dark. No one, no one can take the love from my heart," Jewel sings.
On Instagram, Jewel shared an inspirational message on how she deals with anxiety. "Anxiety has been a teacher to me," she says.
"It has caused me to learn there are only two basic states of being: dilated and contracted, and that every thought, feeling and action led to one of those two states. Fear, anxiety, jealousy, anger, greed all led to contraction. Joy, curiosity, observation, love, gratitude all led to dilation," she notes.
Jewel used a simple concept as her remedy. She says, "I learned that if I was headed into a panic attack, I could hack my way into a dilated state by focusing very hard on a different feeling."
She adds, "I chose gratitude. It's amazing how profound such a single thing can be if you feel it deeply enough. It’s a practice I still use today. I’m pleased to release this new song inspired by the transformative capability of a simple feeling."
Fans on Twitter shared their excitement for the new song. "What a wonderful way to start the morning," said one fan. One fan thanked the singer "for the inspiring message of gratitude" while another described the song as "Beautiful!!".
A longtime fan also shared their gratitude, saying, "Jewel this song is so good. I love it. I've loved your music since 1996 with your debut Who will save your soul. You are such an inspiration and a beautiful soul inside and out. Not to mention a beautiful woman too. Please stay safe. As for me I'm going to enjoy the music.
Another fan shared, "Just what I needed to hear to lift my spirits! Thank you @jeweljk."
Jewel is not only trying to help others with music during the COVID-19 pandemic but is also offering free mental health tools through her online 'Never Broken' program, which seeks to aid those who are suffering from anxiety and depression during the pandemic.
According to Rolling Stone, she also raised $550,000 last month for homeless and at-risk youth through her 'Live From San Quarantine: A Livestream Concert'. The effort also has a longterm aim of getting 5,000 people to pledge $1 a day for a year.