Hatch Love Song A Kennedy Hit Demo Wants Jewel To Record Gift To Couple
You thought Orrin Hatch and Sen. Ted Kennedy made an odd couple?
Imagine this: Utah’s starchy senior senator stroking a piano accompaniment for the sultry rock crooner Jewel.
It may not be so far out after all.
Kennedy wants the Grammy-winning singer to record one of the Utah songsmith’s tunes, “Souls Along the Way,” Hatch says.
It’s a love song Hatch penned for the liberal Massachusetts Democrat and his wife, Vicki.
The way Hatch tells the story, Kennedy learned about the song after the senators quarreled last spring about the child-health-care bill. When Kennedy stopped by Hatch’s office the next day to patch things up, Hatch told him about the song, and an “incredulous” Kennedy asked to hear it.
“I played it on a stereo cassette in my office (performed by country singer Madeline Stone) … and he got teary-eyed,” says Hatch, who sent his colleague home with a copy. “The song acknowledges they have joined souls along the way, that they have a beautiful thing going for them.”
A few weeks later, Kennedy phoned Hatch at his Salt Lake City office. Kennedy was calling from the sailboat where he and Vicki were celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary.
“I just played it for Vicki, and she’s crying,” Hatch recalls Kennedy saying. “It’s so beautiful.”
Hatch isn’t new to music. He already has released a compact disc of inspirational music. And his second CD of patriotic music was released Friday.
He has no trouble with the idea of Jewel performing the song, even on MTV.
“She has a beautiful voice,” says Hatch, whose repertoire also includes rap. “I don’t care where she sings it … whoever hears it will be inspired.”
Even at 23, Jewel’s personal history is legendary among teen music listeners. She grew up in Alaska, lived in a car for a while and became a sensation in San Diego, where she was renowned for singing at the Inner Change coffee house.
And what does Jewel think of singing a song written by the Utah senator?
Her publicist at Atlantic Records didn’t return calls, but there is reason to believe she is no stranger to Hatch’s musical roots. Jewel’s bio says the singer does not smoke or do drugs and that she was raised Mormon until age 8.
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ‘Souls Along the Way’ I’ve been searching all my life - then you came into view. I was scared to trust my heart your eyes told me you knew. Promise me no lies - and never patronize. We are souls along the way - in my heart you stay. You know my secrets, I have cried your pain. When the winding road takes us up and down - We’ll keep holding on, it’s love we’ve found. Forever and a day - We are souls along the way. All those days of bitter cold - and nights without end. You showed me time and time again - the meaning of a friend. You will always be, the one who reaches me. We are souls along the way - In my heart you stay. You know my secrets, I have cried your pain. And when the winding road takes us up and down - We’ll keep holding on, it’s love we’ve found. Forever and a day - We are souls along the way.