In 1997, a charismatic folk singer appeared on MTV, singing in a public bathroom, the hit single Who Will Save Your Soul. In a music world that was torn between alternative and bubblegum, this new mix of alternative lyrics with a popish appeal, paved the way for worldwide applause for the new blonde bombshell, simply known as Jewel.

After hits like You Were Meant For Me, Foolish Games and Hands, Jewel has returned to MTV with her new single, Standing Still from her new album This Way. Sporting a country-like appearance and a little more spring in her step, Jewel is showing off her maturity as a musician and as a woman who has achieved the ultimate dream - superstardom.

This Way is probably the most diverse album by Jewel. Ditching the alt-folk and pop songs for some of the record, Jewel explores new sounds and styles that come out exotic and rich. Serve the Ego first starts out like some alternative electronica ditty by The Smashing Pumpkins, before it quickly turns to a New Age percussion melody. Dreamy, soft and almost danceable, the song is as alluring as any of Jewel's hits. The current single, Standing Still is typical Jewel with the gloss of modern production and Jesus Loves You makes me think of what she must have sounded like back in the days she played coffee shops in LA.

The title track, This Way, is romantic in a goosebumps-on-the-arm kind of way, almost as a prelude to You Were Meant For Me. Jewel gets a little country-rock in Love Me, Just Leave Me Alone while Till We Run Out of Road is a collection of styles and moods, much like the life of the touring musician that Jewel sings about.

For the critics that say Jewel was only a memorable musician and writer during her success of her first album, Pieces of You, and that her later releases and poetry book were unimpressive grabs for attention, I tell them that This Way surpasses the artistic beauty of what Jewel has previously done. Jewel, without question, can sit down in the flowerbed of her success as an artist who has done things Her Way.

Official Jewel Website

How much do YOU know about Jewel? Take our quiz and find out.

1. During the success of Pieces of You, Jewel was often seen playing a beautiful acoustic guitar painted the color

a) Pink
b) Red
c) Blue

2. Jewel was born in

a) Hawaii
b) Alaska
c) Utah

3. On which video did Jewel ride a horse?

a) Foolish Games
b) Hands
c) You Were Meant For Me

4. Jewel's first book of poetry was titled

a) A Knight With Armor
b) A Night Without Armor
c) A Nite Without Armor

5. Jewel's special talent is that she can

a) perform classical ballet
b) rock climb
c) yodel

For other music that will make your eyes sparkle this holiday season, check out Zone Tones musical wish list.