You Were Meant for Me (Jewel song)

"You Were Meant for Me" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Jewel, released on her first album, Pieces of You (1995). It was written by Jewel and Steve Poltz. It describes a failed relationship and the narrator's inadequate attempts at moving on with her life.

"You Were Meant for Me"
US CD cardboard variant of standard artwork
Single by Jewel
from the album Pieces of You
B-side	"Foolish Games" "Cold Song" "Rocker Girl"
Released	November 12, 1996 (1996-11-12)
Genre	Pop
Length	4:13 (album version) 3:45 (radio edit)
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Jewel Kilcher Steve Poltz
Producer(s)	Ben Keith Peter Collin
Jewel singles chronology
"Who Will Save Your Soul" (1996) "You Were Meant for Me" (1996) "Foolish Games" (1997)
Music video
"You Were Meant for Me" on YouTube

"You Were Meant for Me" was released as the second single from Pieces of You. It reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for a single week. In 1997, a reissue of the single containing the unreleased "Foolish Games" allowed the song to rebound to number seven on the Hot 100, eventually totaling 65 weeks in the top 100, which at the time was a record. "You Were Meant for Me" reached number three in Australia, number two in Canada and number 32 in the United Kingdom.

"Foolish Games" / "You Were Meant for Me" ranked at number 15 on Billboard's "All Time Top 100" list in 2008.^[1] When the All Time chart was retabulated for the chart's 55th anniversary in 2013, it remained in the top 20 at number 17.^[2] The song was also re-recorded for Jewel's Greatest Hits album with backing vocals from the country trio Pistol Annies.

Background

"You Were Meant for Me" was Jewel's second single to be taken from her debut album. Atlantic Records had Jewel re-record the song for a more radio-friendly version. Initially, the first version that was released was the "Juan Patino Radio Mix" (with a music video produced by Sean Penn). This version omits the first two lines of the chorus and the last four lines of the second verse, and did not gather much attention. It was later cancelled, with the video pulled from MTV and VH1. Jewel recorded the song for a third time, and the resulting version produced is known as the "radio version" and is featured on Greatest Hits.

The original radio version, "Juan Patino Radio Mix", only appeared on a promotional LP titled Phyllis Barnabee Finally Gets a Bra in 1996, and its only commercial release came on a Canadian various artists compilation entitled "Now! 2" that same year. The actual "radio version" was released on a commercial CD single and later on a re-release of Pieces of You.

Composition

"You Were Meant for Me" is written in the key of E minor with a moderate, swinging tempo of 114 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of Cadd9–G/B–C–Em, and Jewel's vocals span from G₃ to C₅.^[3]

Release

"You Were Meant for Me" was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on October 15, 1996.^[4] Following its release as a commercial single later in the year, the song appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, climbing to a peak of number two in April 1997.^[5] As the single began descending the chart, radio stations began airing the B-side, "Foolish Games", and it soon garnered enough airplay to become the new A-side according to Billboard chart rules.^[6] Although the single was deleted from retail in July 1997, constant airplay kept "Foolish Games" / "You Were Meant for Me" within the upper reaches of the Hot 100.^[7] On October 7, 1997, the single was re-released to retail.^[8] With physical sales now combined with airplay points, the single re-entered the top 10, reaching number seven early the following month.^[9] In December, the single spent its 56th week on the Hot 100, surpassing Everything but the Girl's "Missing" as the longest-lasting single on the ranking at the time.^[6] In total, it spent 65 weeks on the Hot 100.^[5]

Critical reception

Steve Baltin from Cash Box picked "You Were Meant for Me" as Pick of the Week, writing that "this simple, charming pop ditty shows why Jewel's star is rising at a meteoric rate, with no sign of slowing down." He added, "A staple of VH1 and Triple A for the past couple of months, Jewel has just landed a role in the star-studded pop version of The Wizard of Oz. The ensuing publicity from that, coupled with the previous success of 'Who Will Save Your Soul', should break this song out in a big way. It couldn't happen to a more deserving artist or song."^[10] Another editor, Daina Darzin complimented it as "a sweetly affecting, charming tune whose easy groove showcases her effortless, lovely voice."^[11] British magazine Music Week gave it four out of five, describing it as "[an] acoustic cross-fertilisation of Tori Amos and Alanis Morissette."^[12]

Music video

A music video was directed by Lawrence Carroll for the Radio Edit. Steve Poltz appeared in the video. In the video Jewel and Poltz appeared together in numerous scenes, most of them depicting how both of them want to be together but always separated. In one scene, Poltz tries to reach for Jewel's hand, but a curtain appears between them separating their hands. In another scene, Jewel lies in front of Poltz and starts to undress and reveals her underwear, but instead of reaching for him, she moves away from him, leaving Poltz with his arms raised towards her. Other scenes include Jewel lying beside a little pond with some little ships (which is also the single's cover), sitting inside a boat in the middle of a room alone, and lastly sitting on the side of a bedroom while Poltz, shirtless, is on the other side and tries to reach for her. The video won the award for Best Female Video at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.

Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1997	"You Were Meant for Me"	MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video	Won
		MTV Video Music Award – Viewer's Choice	Nominated
		MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year

Track listings

US CD single and cassette single[13][14] "You Were Meant for Me" (album edit) – 3:48 "Foolish Games" (album version) – 5:38 US CD single re-release[15] "You Were Meant for Me" (album edit) – 3:48 "Foolish Games" (album version) – 5:38 "Foolish Games" (radio edit) – 4:01 * The "Foolish Games" radio edit is not listed on the inlay of the single

UK and Australian CD single, UK cassette single[16][17] "You Were Meant for Me" (album edit) – 3:39 "Cold Song" – 1:03 "Rocker Girl" – 1:44

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1996–1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 3 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[20] 2 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[21] 37 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[22] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 69 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 22 Scotland (OCC)[25] 30 UK Singles (OCC)[26] 32 US Billboard Hot 100[5] 2 US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[27] 6 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] 1 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[29] 1 US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[30] 26 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[31] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Australia (ARIA)[32] 25 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[33] 2 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[34] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[35] 2 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[36] 3 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 4 US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard)[38] 2 US Triple-A (Billboard)[39] 22 Chart (1998) Position US Billboard Hot 100[40] 87 Decade-end charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard Hot 100[41] 5 All-time charts Chart Position US Billboard Hot 100[42] 22

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43]	Platinum	70,000^
United States (RIAA)[44]	Platinum	1,300,000[45]
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	October 15, 1996	Contemporary hit radio	Atlantic	[4]
	November 12, 1996	CD cassette		[citation needed]
	October 7, 1997 (re-release)			[8]
United Kingdom	November 10, 1997			[46]

References

1. "Billboard Hot 100 Chart 50th Anniversary - All-Time Top Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 13, 2008.
2. "Hot 100 55th Anniversary: The All-Time Top 100 Songs | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 3, 2013.
3. Poltz, Steve (June 22, 2009). "Jewel "You Were Meant for Me" Sheet Music in E Minor (transposable) - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
4. "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1167. October 11, 1996. p. 63. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
5. "Jewel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
6. Bronson, Fred (December 27, 1997). "The Year in Music 1997: The Year in Charts". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. p. YE-8. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
7. Taylor, Chuck (September 20, 1997). "'Batman' Soundtrack Soars at Radio, but Sales Disappoint". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 38. p. 75. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
8. Sandiford-Waller, Theda (October 25, 1997). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 43. p. 97. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
9. Bronson, Fred (November 15, 1997). "Chart Beat". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 46. p. 92. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
10. Baltin, Steve (November 25, 1995). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
11. Darzin, Daina (September 21, 1996). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
12. "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 1, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
13. You Were Meant for Me (US CD single liner notes). Jewel. Atlantic Records. 1996. 2-87021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. You Were Meant for Me (US cassette single sleeve). Jewel. Atlantic Records. 1996. 4-87021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. You Were Meant for Me (US CD single liner notes). Jewel. Atlantic Records. 1997. 2-87021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. You Were Meant for Me (UK & Australian CD single liner notes). Jewel. Atlantic Records. 1997. A5463CD, 7567-85463-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. You Were Meant for Me (UK cassette single sleeve). Jewel. Atlantic Records. 1997. A5463C, 7567-85463-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. "Jewel – You Were Meant for Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3203." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
20. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3225." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
21. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (13.3. '97 – 19.3. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 14, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
22. "Jewel: You Were Meant for Me" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
23. "Jewel – You Were Meant for Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
24. "Jewel – You Were Meant for Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
25. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
26. "Jewel: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
27. "Jewel Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
28. "Jewel Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
29. "Jewel Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
30. "Jewel Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
31. "Jewel Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
32. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
33. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved October 2, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
34. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Retrieved October 2, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
35. "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
36. "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-82. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
37. "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-83. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
38. "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 38.
39. "Best of '97: Triple A Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 28, 1997. p. 28.
40. "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
41. "Billboard's Top Songs of the '90s". Billboard. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
42. "Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
43. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
44. "American single certifications – Jewel – You Were Meant for Me". Recording Industry Association of America.
45. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 5. January 31, 1998. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
46. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 8, 1997. p. 35. Retrieved August 24, 2021.