You Were Meant for Me (Jewel song)

Infobox Single
Name = You Were Meant for Me


Caption =
Artist = Jewel
from Album = Pieces of You
B-side =
Released = November 12, 1996 (U.S.)
Format = CD single
Recorded =
Genre = Folk, Adult contemporary
Length = 3:45
Label = Atlantic Records, 1996
Writer = Jewel Kilcher/Steve Poltz
Producer = Ben Keith/Peter Collins
Certification = Platinum (Australia), Platinum (USA)
Chart position =
Last single = "Who Will Save Your Soul" (1996)
This single = "You Were Meant for Me" (1996)
Next single = "Foolish Games" (1997)
Misc =

"You Were Meant for Me" is a folk pop song written by Jewel and Steve Poltz and performed by Jewel on her first album, "Pieces of You". It relates the singer's incomprehension of a failed relationship, and her inadequate attempts at moving on with her life. It was the second single from that album and went on to receive a great deal of recognition. It became a hit and reached #2 on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100.

Foolish Games/You Were Meant For Me ranked at #15 on "Billboard's All Time Top 100." [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-titles-20.shtml]

About the record

"You Were Meant For Me" was Jewel's second single to be taken from her debut album. The original version was yet to be released. However, those plans were canceled in order for Jewel to record a more radio friendly version.

Two re-recordings surfaced before a final release. Jewel went back in the studio to record "The Sean Penn radio edit". A verse was taken from the original lyrical liner. A music video was made for this song, directed by Penn. Although Jewel felt the recording was more radio friendly than the original, plans to release this version were soon canceled.

Soon afterward, Jewel once again went back into the studio to record the version that is most famous now. A music video was also produced for this version, directed by Lawrence Carroll. Steve Poltz appeared in the video. This version ("You Were Meant for Me (Radio Edit)") would be the version released and the video would win Best Female Video honors at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.

Charts

Awards

Cover versions

Bellefire version

A single by the Irish girl group Bellefire was scheduled for release in June 2004, as the follow-up to "Say Something Anyway". The release was cancelled, although the track received some airplay in some far east countries. It is included on the album "Spin the Wheel".

A promotional video exists and is included on a special edition of the "Spin the Wheel" album. The video was directed by Andy Hylton.

Other versions

* The song was re-recorded by Hong Kong singer Fiona Sit in April 2005. The album was a success, leading to the release of a second edition, but the song was never promoted as a major single and acted as more of a 'bonus track' of the album.

* On the 2007 American Idols Live! Tour, season six winner Jordin Sparks covered an acoustic version of the song and played it on guitar.

References