Jewel: Why She Filmed the Video for ‘Who Will Save Your Soul’ in a Bathroom
Some of Jewels’ music videos have a lot of production value, but she shot the video for her song “Who Will Save Your Soul” in a bathroom. During an interview, she revealed bathrooms have a special significance for her. In addition, she discussed why she decided to write music about celebrity culture in the first place.
Jewel wrote a song so she could raise money for a trip
During an interview with Elle, Jewel revealed why she wrote “Who Will Save Your Soul.” “I wrote it when I was 16 so I could hitchhike to Mexico for spring break, like all parents hope their children will do one day,” she said. Jewel hoped she could make enough money singing on docks to raise the funds for her travel expenditures.
Jewel wrote over 300 verses for “Who Will Save Your Soul,” but she eventually narrowed them down. She decided to discuss fame in the song. She believes celebrity is a timeless topic, as it’s existed in many forms for all of history.
Jewel’s ‘people-watching’ inspired the music video for ‘Who Will Save Your Soul’
Jewel ultimately shot a music video for the song. The video depicts Jewel playing near stalls while different people enter and leave the bathroom. “It was a really cheap video; we did it for almost nothing,” she said.
Jewel discussed why she shot the video in a bathroom. “I would go in bathrooms and just chill out,” she recalled. “I was built to be a writer and not necessarily a road dog, so I found it really hard. I used to go in bathrooms and just kind of chill and meditate and gather myself, and so I decided to shoot the video in a bathroom, because it makes for the best people-watching.”
The way the world reacted to ‘Who Will Save Your Soul’
“Who Will Save Your Soul” peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 30 weeks. It’s Jewel’s most popular song besides the double A-side of “You Were Meant for Me” and “Foolish Games.” Its parent album Pieces of You, reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. It lasted on the chart for 114 weeks.
“Who Will Save Your Soul” also became a minor hit in the United Kingdom. According to The Official Charts Company, it reached No. 52 in the U.K. and remained on the chart for two weeks. Meanwhile, Pieces of You peaked at No. 82 in the U.K., staying on the chart for six weeks.
Even many years after it charted, Jewel has warm feelings about the song. “I’m 42 and I wrote it when I was 16, so you’d think I’d be sick of singing it, but I actually really enjoy singing that song still,” she said. “I find new meaning in it, a new relevance in it every time I sing it.”
While the music video for “Who Will Save Your Soul” wasn’t shot in the most glamorous place, the song still seemed to resonate with audiences — and with Jewel.
