Alanis Morissette – Live Minneapolis 1996
Introduction
In 1995 Jagged Little Pill made quite the impact. Many great songs, sincere emotion, fire and a benchmark for many women. How does Jagged Little Pill hold up today?
Alanis Morissette
On June 1, 1974, Alanis Nadine Morissette was born, 12 minutes after her twin brother, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. After appearing in a few television roles, Morissette started writing songs. In 1991 her debut album Alanis was released in Canada, which was a huge hit and was certified platinum. The single Too Hot was a major hit. She was characterized as being the Canadian version of Debbie Gibson. In 1992 her second solo album was released, Now Is The Time. That album was also released exclusively in Canda and sold half the copies her debut did. As a result, her contract with her record company was not extended.
After a short period living in Toronto, Morissette moved to Los Angeles, US, where she fairly quickly bumped into producer and composer Glen Ballard. He was impressed with Morissette and her songs and lyrics. He gave her unlimited access to his studio and it wasn’t before long they started working together intensively, pushing one another to great heights. The main contribution Ballard offered was to provide Morissette the space to find her own voice and sound.
Many demos and failed auditions later, Morissette was offered a deal with Madonna’s Maverick label. The hope going into this deal, was to sell just enough Jagged Little Pill records, in order to secure a deal for a second album.
Alanis Morissette – You Oughta Know – Video
You Oughta Know
The single You Oughta Know was released 8 days before the album. When the song reached a radio station in Los Angeles, they loved the song so much they started playing it every hour. Reactions were wild. The song was different, the anger and hurt burst through the listener’s speakers. The lyrics left nothing to the imagination and were in your face.
An older version of me
Is she perverted like me?
Would she go down on you in a theatre?…
No, and every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told
Me you’d hold me until you died?
‘Til you died, but you’re still alive…
Did you forget about me
Mr. Duplicity? I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner
But it was a slap in the face
How quickly I was replaced
And are you thinking of me when you fuck her© You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette, 1995
The expression, the sarcasm, the anger and the music made an unforgettable impression on millions of listeners. The lyrics were understood and felt by everyone, young and old, male and female. Everyone recognizes heartbreak, most of us have gone through the end of a relationship before. The lyrics and the feelings are universal, but never before had it been sung and told with conviction. It turned into a hit, funnily enough not the biggest one off the album, which sold better and better with every subsequent single release.
N.B.:
Despite the fact that the person the song is addressed to, is not a nice person at all, some former lovers have proudly stated the song was about them…
Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill
Jagged Little Pill
On June 13, 1995, the international debut album by Alanis Morissette (who was then just 21 years old) was released: Jagged Little Pill. The sales numbers steadily progressed over time. The single Hand In My Pocket was a particular turning point. By then, it was the third single release (and the third hit). With three great singles the album just couldn’t disappoint, now could it?
The alternative rock on the album struck a chord. Morissette was a singer with a completely own sound and diction. The album’s opener sets the mood. Relationships can be far from nice and cozy all the time. Nice detail comes with the phrase “Why are you so petrified of silence? / Here, can you handle this?”, actually stopping the song for a moment.
Perfect addresses parents who expect/want too much from their children. The beautiful Hand I My Pocket is a summation of contradictions people (Morissette?) feel and undergo. You Learn has a more upbeat tone: how can events and experiences add value to a richer existence. Things often happen for a reason (“You live, you learn”).
Mary Jane was written for the helpers and the (professional) care providers. The message: also think about yourself. You need attention as well. Morissette once stated she regarded this song her therapeutic song during the 18 month world tour that followed the album’s release.
So take this moment, Mary Jane
And be selfish
Worry not about the cars that go by
‘Cause all that matters, Mary Jane, is your freedom
So, keep warm, my dear, keep dry© Mary Jane, Alanis Morissette, 1995
The global hit Ironic describes remarkable and sometimes unpleasant situations, happening in quick succession, followed by the question “And isn’t it ironic? / Don’t you think?”, bursting into a heavy rocking chorus. The song’s title stirred up a global debate, for the examples Morissette conjures up in the song are far from being steeped in irony. Morissette had this to say on the issue in 2014.
There are a lot of people that have shame around being stupid, and I did too. It was embarrassing to have the planet basically say: “you’re a dumbass for your malapropism!”. And at the same time, it is ironic that a song called “Ironic” isn’t filled with ironies.
December 2014 interview with The Huffington Post
Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill – Platinum award
Success
The singles helped the Jagged Little Pill sales, that just kept going up. It stayed in the top 20 of the American album charts for a year. The number of copies sold worldwide has exceeded 33 million by far. It’s the second best sold album by a female artists of all time and is one of the best sold albums of the 1990s. Totaling 18.7 million copies sold in 1996, it was the best sold album that year.
Review
Because of the singles I decided to buy the album and played it regularly, although I found myself skipping songs repeatedly. But, the songs I did like, I thought were excellent.
Re-listening this album for this article, I still feel the same way. It still is a two-faced album for me. Songs like You Oughta Know, Forgiven, Mary Jane and Ironic still make an impact, even after all this time. The stand-out track is Hand In My Pocket. Beautiful vocals, great lyrics and musically moving. Morissette at the top of her game. To me, most of the other songs are a dime a dozen and a bit bland musically at times.
Then again, my opinion is just one of millions, so why bother? Jagged Little Pill did have an indescribable influence on women and especially female artists. Never before had an album portrayed female feelings so openly and shamelessly. It hit a nerve; next to the predictable Morissette clones, it truly inspired a lot of female artists who would build their careers based on the foundations laid by Morissette. The music, the way of expressing and the lyrics were revolutionary. Since 1995, women have gained presence in the charts and artistic influence. Not a bad legacy for Morissette.
Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill – Singles
Singles
No less than 6 singles were culled from the Jagged Little Pill album.
- You Oughta Know
(released on June 5, 1995) - You Learn
(released on September 25, 1995) - Hand In My Pocket
(released on October 16, 1995) - Ironic
(released on February 27, 1996) - Head Over Feet
(released on July 22, 1996) - All I Really Want
(released on November 25, 1996)
Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill – Back cover
Nummers
All lyrics written by Alanis Morissette, all music written by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard.
- All I Really Want
- You Oughta Know
- Perfect
- Hand In My Pocket
- Right through You
- Forgiven
- You Learn
- Head Over Feet
- Mary Jane
- Ironic
- Not The Doctor
- Wake Up
- You Oughta Know (Jimmy The Saint Blend)
- Your House (A Cappella)
The last two songs were exclusively available on the CD release.
Musicians
- Alanis Morissette – vocals; harmonica on All I Really Want, Hand In My Pocket, Head Over Feet
- Glen Ballard – guitar on All I Really Want, Perfect, Hand In My Pocket, You Learn, Head Over Feet, Mary Jane, Ironic, Not The Doctor, Wake Up; keyboards on All I Really Want, Hand In My Pocket, Forgiven, You Learn, Head Over Feet, Not The Doctor, Wake Up; drum machine on Hand In My Pocket, You Learn, Head Over Feet, Not The Doctor; programming on All I Really Want, You Oughta Know, You Learn, Wake Up
- Dave Navarro – guitar on You Oughta Know
- Basil Fung – guitar on Perfect, Ironic
- Michael Landau – guitar on Forgiven
- Joel Shearer – guitar on Right Through You
- Lance Morrison – bass on All I Really Want, Perfect, Right Through You, Forgiven, Mary Jane, Ironic, Wake Up
- Flea – bass on You Oughta Know
- Michael Thompson – organ on Perfect, Ironic
- Benmont Tench – organ on You Oughta Know, Right Through You, Forgiven, You Learn, Mary Jane, Wake Up
- Rob Ladd – percussion on Ironic; drums on Perfect, Ironic
- Matt Laug – drums on All I Really Want, You Oughta Know, Right Through You, Forgiven, Mary Jane, Wake Up
- Gota Yashiki – groove activator on All I Really Want
Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill Tour – Band
Jagged Little Pill Tour
Morissette went out on an 18 month tour in promotion of Jagged Little Pill. In the beginning the band (which drummer Taylor Hawkins was part of, before joining the Foo Fighters) played small clubs, quickly moving to bigger halls and sometime later even filling stadiums. The tour was documented in the Jagged Little Pill, Live video, which received a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form in 1998.
After Jagged Little Pill
Late December 1996 Morissette spent some time in India to focus on Iyengar Yoga, which she had recently started to practice. After returning she performed on albums by Ringo Starr and the Dave Matthews Band and sang on Uninvited as part of the soundtrack to the City of Angels movie (1998), which yielded her further Grammy’s in 1999 in the categories Best Rock Song and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
Alanis Morissette – Thank U
On October 12, 1998, the first single of the upcoming album was released. Unfortunately, Thank U was a (relative) commercial letdown, but the song itself is stunning. I consider it the best Morissette has ever released. The video is quite remarkable, showing Morissette naked in the couple of public places (metro, shop, street). The nudity is far from being sexual in nature. Morissette:
Actually, the idea for that video hit me in my shower – I was thinking about the song and its simplicity and its baring itself, and I just thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could just walk around New York City or grocery stores in just a symbolism of being naked everywhere I went?”. Less about overt sexuality and more about the symbolism of being really raw and naked and intimate in all these environments where you’d seemingly need protection, like in a subway and those kinds of places. So that hit me in the shower and then we executed it.
Alanis Morisette, Popmatters, 27-10-2088
Op November 3, 1998, the long awaited Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie was released. The music and lyrics differed greatly from that on Jagged Little Pill, many fans were disappointed and the album sold a fraction of its predecessor. But, 8 million copies sold can hardly be called a failure. The reviews were positive. One year later (November 9, 1999) the MTV Unplugged album clearly demonstrated Morissette’s commercial momentum was over.
The 2002 release of Under Rug Swept saw Morissette writing and producing everything herself. It would turn out to be her final platinum certified album in the US (and Canada). In May 2004 she released So-Called Chaos, in November 2005 followed by the compilation Alanis Morissette: The Collection.
Late May 2008 marked the release of Morissette’s seventh studio album Flavors Of Entanglement. It was the last album to appear on the Maverick label. In August 2012 Morissette released Havoc And Bright Lights. It would take 8 years before any other new music was released. In Juli 2020 Such Pretty Forks In The Road was released, followed by The Storm Before The Calm in June 2022. Apparently, Morissette is currently working on a new album.
Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill – Re-releases
Jagged Little Pill re-releases
The Jagged Little Pill album was never far off since 1995. In June 2005 Morissette looked back with the release of Jagged Little Pill Acoustic, an album that was exclusively available through Starbucks’ Hear Music concept for a period of six weeks. Ten years later the twentieth anniversary was celebrated with the release of Jagged Little Pill – The Collector’s Edition, which contained the original album, demos, live recording and the aforementioned Jagged Little Pill Acoustic.
On May 5, 1998, the musical Jagged Little Pill premiered, with Morissette contributing two new songs. In the fall of 1999 the musical hit Broadway. The musical received no less than 15 Tony Award nominations and won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2021.
And, in June 2020 a 25th anniversary Jagged Little Pill world tour would commence, but the Covid pandemic intervened. The tour was postponed, actually closing in 2023.
Actress
When she was just 11 years old Morissette played a part in a television show: Nickelodeon’s You Can’t Do That On Television. In 1991 she played and sang in the movie Just One of the Girls. Her friendship with director Kevin Smith landed her the role of God in his 1999 movie Dogma. She played the same part in 2001’s Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back.
In closing
What’s your take on Alanis Morissette and Jagged Little Pill, the album that would dominate her entire career? Let me know!
Video/Spotify
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill. The A Pop Life playlist on Spotify has been updated as well.
