Alanis Nadine Morissette was born on 1 June 1974 in Ottawa, Canada.
In the mid-'90s, a music movement emerged of self-aware, free-spirited rock women such as Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Tracy Bonham and, of course, our very own Anouk. Thanks to a very clever marketing strategy, Alanis Morissette quickly became the most popular and successful of the 'angry young women'.
The singer grew up in Ottawa, where she learned to play piano and write songs as a child. At ten, she appeared on a popular children's show 'You Can't Do That On Television'. On her own Lamor label, she released her first single 'Fate Stay With Me'. At 14, Alanis Morissette signed a contract with MCA Canada, which released her official debut album Alanis in 1991.
Originally, she released sweet dance pop and ballads that mainly found success only in Canada. On her second album Now Is the Time (1992), she repeated this cheerful success formula. When the singer moved to Los Angeles, she met composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Glen Ballard. (He produced for Aerosmith and was responsible for Michael Jackson's 1988 hit 'Man In The Mirror'.)
Sunday Morning Classic: Jagged Little Pill
The duo decided to go for alternative but radio-friendly rock and assertive lyrics. The result was the legendary album Jagged Little Pill, released in 1995 on Maverick, Madonna's label. The single 'You Oughta Know' was strongly supported by an MTV video, which also generated much interest in the album.
The singer's first two albums were released only in Canada in 1991 and 1992. These two records featured songs influenced by new jack swing and dance pop and were coolly received by the public. Morissette herself was also dissatisfied with the sound she presented on her earlier albums. For her third album, she wanted to sound rawer, edgier and less commercial. The album was released worldwide in June 1995. Thanks to the successful singles (You Oughta Know, Hand in My Pocket, All I Really Want, Ironic, You Learn and Head Over Feet), it became one of the most successful albums of the 90s, selling over 33 million copies. A record that few female singers have matched since. The album also ranks among the 'best-selling albums of all time' and won five Grammys.
On 9 January 2022, Jagged Little Pill was our Sunday Morning Classic.
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
In 1996, Morissette won no fewer than five Grammy Awards for Jagged Little Pill. In Europe, she appeared at Pinkpop and the Torhout/Werchter festival. In 1998, the long-awaited follow-up Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie was released (featuring the hit 'Thank U'), a reflection of a spiritual journey through India. 'Uninvited', a song Alanis wrote for the 'City Of Angels' soundtrack, is not included on this album.
Hands Clean
A year later, MTV Unplugged was released with several new tracks, including The Police cover 'King Of Pain'. The release of Under Rug Swept was repeatedly postponed. The final release date was 25 February 2002. 'Hands Clean' was the first single and became a big hit. The second single, 'Precious Illusions', flopped.
Hit
The follow-up to Under Rug Swept was released in 2004 and called So-Called Chaos. The first single, 'Everything', became a modest hit. In June, she announced her engagement to actor Ryan Reynolds.
Seal
Jagged Little Pill acoustic and Alanis Morissette: The Collection followed quickly in 2005. The first was released to celebrate the album's tenth anniversary. The Collection is a compilation of her greatest hits, with the single cover of Seal's 'Crazy'.
Pinkpop
In 2008, Morissette performed with her band at Pinkpop and released her new album Flavors of Entanglement with the single 'Underneath'. She also collaborated with other well-known artists on the album Songs for Tibet, a tribute to Tibet and the Dalai Lama. Songs for Tibet was released simultaneously with the opening of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Havoc and Bright Lights
Morissette's eighth album was released in August 2012. Havoc and Bright Lights was announced by the singer in October. The single ‘Guarding’ preceded the brand-new album. Several concerts were also planned for her European tour. She came to the Netherlands on 8 July.
'Today'
In May 2014, Alanis Morissette released the single 'Today'. With this single, Alanis supported spiritual politician Marianne Williamson during the 2014 election campaign.
Top 2000
In the 23rd edition of the Top 2000, Alanis has 4 entries:
In 2018, she performed at Concert at Sea at the Brouwersdam on the border between Zeeland and South Holland. In February 2020, she performed at Carré and also on De Wereld Draait Door. At the end of July 2020, her album Such Pretty Forks in the Road was released, which critics hailed as her best album in years.
source: Wikipedia and NPO photo: By Justin Higuchi from Los Angeles, CA, USA - Alanis Morissette 5/19/2014 #8, CC BY 2.0,
