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Post by Lisa-Gail > Madonna on Nov 22, 2016 23:45:30 GMT -5
As it's my favourite Alanis song of all, I've been waiting to see where Head Over Feet landed and say that it's too low. It is though. The chorus is so good. I honestly can't remember the video at all, so I might check it out shortly.
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MIKEB
The King Of Rationality
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Post by MIKEB on Nov 23, 2016 21:57:13 GMT -5
#25 - Empathy from Havoc And Bright Lights (2012) The compression on her voice for this entire album is alarming. Listen to anything from any of her albums and then follow it with anything from Havoc And Bright Lights and the difference is insane. Her voice sounds so thin it’s almost tinny. It’s kind of a shame because while Havoc is my least favourite of her albums, it does have a few gems on it where Alanis rocks harder than anything since SFIJ. Empathy is more of a pop song with great piano melodies and a chorus that could have come from So Called Chaos. It’s a feel good song! #24 - Mary Jane from Jagged Little Pill (1995) Mary Jane used to be my least favourite song from JLP because of its lack of a real hook. It just kind of sat there. But after listening to it over the years with the album, some of it kind of sunk in more. It has one of my favourite lyrics. The line “I hear you’re losing weight again/Mary Jane/do you ever wonder who you’re losing it for,” would hit me because it captures so much in a single line, both from the point of view of Mary Jane and her current situation as a self-conscious woman who’s single, and also from people who know her. “I hear” signifies gossip and that Mary Jane is a topic of conversation. And she’s judged for not having anyone in her life. There’s a certain hint of shame in the question: who are you losing weight for? To be asked that question would be kind of a slap in the face realization that you’re truly alone. #23 - Receive from Havoc And Bright Lights (2012) Receive is another recent Alanis song that sounds like it could have come from an earlier album. It’s melody wouldn’t sound out of place on SFIJ and with the right production, it would fit right in. This is my favourite song from this album and did its part in keeping the Havoc album afloat. I’d be satisfied with an album made up of Receive-calibre tracks. #22 - So Called Chaos from So Called Chaos (2004) So Called Chaos was the song that jumped at me the most right from the beginning. As you can tell, I kind of have a preference toward Alanis returning to a harder, grittier sound and the title track of SCC was just that song. To me, it was the complete package. Huge chorus, lots od guitars and a fantastic finish! I even created a video of the song in my head that involved a lot of cheesy camera movements, a model castle made to look like the setting of the video and lightning. AND I once had a dream about an infomercial advertising an Alanis Greatest Hits that mocked her by making all of her songs sound the same - and when I woke up, I wrote down as much of the lyrics as I could remember and turned it into a song that was modeled after this one called Inside; Outside. #21 - Hand In My Pocket from Jagged Little Pill (1995) I agree this song feels too low. It was a huge favourite of mine once I started sipping the Alanis tea and has become such an essential song and music video from that period. Yet, as big as this was, it does feel like it got lost in the shuffle of her other songs but as soon as it comes on, it’s instantly recognizable for anyone who knows anything about 90s pop music. The whole writing one thing and feeling the other probably quickly became cliche but this song was still an important stepping stone in the rise and dominance of Alanis Morissette.
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MIKEB
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Post by MIKEB on Nov 23, 2016 22:40:32 GMT -5
#20 - Surrendering from Under Rug Swept (2002) This was actually the third radio single from the album in Canada and I remember it getting a decent amount of airplay over a period of time. I think like a lot of her mid-tempo pop songs, it doesn’t stand out a ton but is still a very pleasant song to listen to. #19 - So Pure from Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998) Like a good number of Alanis songs, So Pure was a brief obsession for me - especially when it became the official third single from the album. It was such a dancy pop/rock song that seemed like such an obvious choice for a single - only not so much, because it was so far outside of box of what people expected (or wanted?) from her by that time. But it was SO catchy and SO fun. I feel like today it would fare so much better, being an upbeat catchy pop song with a duration under 3 minutes. Slay. #18 - Ironic from Jagged Little Pill (1995) It does kind of feel wrong having this song outside the Top 10, even Top 5 yet here it is. I blame massive overplay, much of which was my own fault. This was the song that really sucked me in. You Oughta Know took time to grow on me and Hand In My Pocket did its part but it was Ironic that sealed the deal. This song was HUGE for me (and everyone) and kind of helped get me the reputation of resident Alanis fan at my school (plus resident music guy in general). I sang it everywhere and played it when I wasn’t singing it. This was my jam! Over the years, I grew to appreciate more of Alanis’ stuff beyond this one, which kind of sunk down a bit. I enjoy it when it comes on but I can also skip over it and not feel guilty so, yeah, it’s not as high as one might expect but I appreciate it all the same. #17 - Awakening Americans from Hands Clean - CD Single (2002) This b-side didn’t make any of Alanis’ albums yet it might stand as one of her most socially relevant songs - even today, with lyrics about the hypocracies of how society views certain issues, like censoring breasts on tv while glorifying violence and murder, praising historical figures who killed people en masse, etc, etc. It might be a bit preachy but that doesn’t make her commentary on western society any less true. I discovered this song around the time Under Rug Swept came out and it has been among my favourites of hers ever since. #16 - Princes Familiar from MTV Unplugged (1999) While the songs that made their debut on MTV Unplugged all sound fantastic, this was the one I most wish was available as a studio recording. I’ve always loved this song obviously but I feel like with tighter recording and production, it could be epic. Or maybe not. Alanis definitely captured magic with this recording and this song is no different. The piano always struck me, especially during the second chorus onward.
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MIKEB
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Post by MIKEB on Nov 27, 2016 14:17:52 GMT -5
#15 - All I Really Want from Jagged Little Pill (1995) Ugh, this song might be my favourite album introduction of all time. The energy builds up within the first few seconds of the song and just forces its way through the song, setting the stage for what I’ve LONG known will be an incredible musical journey. All I Really Want creates such a PERFECT tone for the rest of the record. Sometimes I crave the album and much of that is satisfied with the very first track. Few artists can claim to have a song as epic as Alanis with this one - and it’s really just the start. Pure fire! For years I thought Madonna cameoed on the song at the end speaking the “and all I really want is your patience and….” and I remember how awesome I thought that was because it totally fit in with her edgy persona as depicted on the Human Nature video, so I thought that was really cool. It was a bit of a letdown to find out it wasn’t her and that the two hadn’t met until years later, despite Alanis being on Madonna’s label. #14 - Thank U from Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998) This song was kind of like the Hello of its day - somewhat. It came less than half a year after her first release since JLP Uninvited so anticipation was eased a bit, but it was the lead single from her followup album, so the hype was there. Thank U was definitely a change of pace for Alanis, who was known for her grit and agression, and Thank U was soft, gentle, and even a little weird. The video got a lot of attention because she was naked in the most public of places and it was… odd. Even now looking back at the era, I’m realizing how strange everything was. Thank U was still a big hit but was her last big hit and didn’t quite have the longevity power of any of her JLP singles. It’s pretty much relegated to being and staying a 90s hit. #13 - Excuses from So Called Chaos (2004) This is a pleasant song that always reminds me of spring and warming afternoons - because the album came out in April 2004 and I listened to Excuses a lot. This would have made for a better single than either Everything or 8 Easy Steps, neither of which made this Top 50, though as a lead single, it might not have enough punch to it. I also love the ending and its nod to No Pressure Over Cappuccino from her Unplugged album. #12 - Incomplete from Flavors Of Entanglement (2008) Incomplete was the last track on the regular edition of Flavors Of Entanglement and I always thought of it as such a perfect conclusion. If Alanis had retired from music with this album, Incomplete would have made for the perfect sign-off song. It has such a nice and satisfying message that after the long journey, everything is going to be fine. I always thought the lyric “one day I’ll be secure like the women I see on their 30th anniversaries” was such a good line because it’s so confident and comforting. #11 - That I Would Be Good from MTV Unplugged (1999) This song is almost identical in theme to Incomplete except it comes from a place of less security than that one. Incomplete is something that comes from reaching your peak and coming to terms that you’re on the way down but you’re okay with that next step. That I Would Be Good is almost a self-reassurance that no matter what changes in your surroundings, and even with yourself as you age, you’ll still be the same person. But she isn’t convinced what she’s singing is true and in that sense, the lyrics are much more sombre.
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MIKEB
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Post by MIKEB on Nov 27, 2016 14:47:14 GMT -5
#10 - Wake Up from Jagged Little Pill (1995) Wake Up was the poppiest song on the album with upbeat drums backing up the obvious-90s guitar in the verses and Alanis coo-ing the verses. Wake Up was an early favourite of mine from Jagged Little Pill and probably the most underrated song on there, possibly due to its placement as the last track (before the hidden ones) or because the album is so damn strong that really, the competition is fierce. #9 - Hands Clean from Under Rug Swept (2002) The most unfortunate thing about this song is that Alanis allowed her rumoured relationship with Dave Coulier to resurface with it - even though at that point it had still been just celebrity gossip, and nothing against Dave but just picturing young teenage Alanis with a much older big-kid from Full House is just… creepy. Plus, the lyrics of Hands Clean kind of touch on that level of creepy anyway. Luckily, Hands Clean is a great pop song and Alanis’ continued evolution from angry rocker to mellowed out pop singer. #8 - You Learn from Jagged Little Pill (1995) I was in grade 6 when this song was out and I remember it had just hit the chart when I was chosen as the music guy for my Grade 6 dance. My teacher thought Alanis Morissette was vulgar and that we shouldn’t be allowed to listen to her but I really wanted to play this song because, obviously, I was obsessed. So I let her read the lyrics from the CD booklet while I played other music. She said no, it wasn’t appropriate. Whatever, teacher. I didn’t get to play it anyway sadness. But that’s cool. I think we all know who won in the end. You Learn came along at the peak of my Alanis stanning days. Ironic was still riding high on the charts. I was still high from the huge success it had gotten and then along comes You Learn as the fourth single. I love love loved the video and liked the song even more than Ironic, so when it blasted up to #1 all over the place again, I was living on cloud 9 as a fan! MuchMusic played an awesome live video that rocked my socks all over again. It was amazing! #7 - Out Is Through from So Called Chaos (2004) I think this was a single in Brazil maybe? It should have been the second single everywhere. This is classic Alanis right here. #6 - Precious Illusions from Under Rug Swept (2002) The 1-2 punch of Hands Clean-Precious Illusions was so epic! They’re both pretty similar in tempo, melodic and have catchy melodies. Precious Illusions I liked just a little bit more than Hands Clean so I was delighted when it was chosen as the second single - only it flopped. Hands Clean was Alanis’ last Top 40 hit on the pop chart. Precious Illusions reached just outside the Top 50 and that was it. It was all over.
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MIKEB
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Post by MIKEB on Nov 27, 2016 17:27:44 GMT -5
#5 - Joining You from Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998) My favourite song from this album! It still blows my mind today that this was only an alternative single and not released to other formats. I think it only peaked at #26 or something on alternative but still, what a song!
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MIKEB
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Post by MIKEB on Nov 27, 2016 17:34:48 GMT -5
#4 - Uninvited from City Of Angels Soundtrack (1998) I forget the first time I heard Uninvited. It may have been on the radio but shortly after during a visit to the city, I bought the City of Angels soundtrack and then saw the movie in the theatre while the unopened CD sat in the car (this was before streaming, car CD players and discmans for me). I remember hearing so many great songs and couldn’t wait to get home to listen to the CD. Alanis’ song played over the closing credits and I stayed for the whole thing and it was so epic! It was Uninvited and Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls that got me to appreciate strings in rock music. The instrumental break of Uninvited is among my favourite moments in music ever. Uninvited is largely buried by Alanis’ other hits but it’s release is one of my favourite times as a pop chart follower.
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MIKEB
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Post by MIKEB on Nov 27, 2016 17:49:32 GMT -5
#3 - You Oughta Know from Jagged Little Pill (1995) When I first thought about making this list, my initial thought was that this song would be #1. It was #1 on my Top 100 of the 90s list, afterall. But, in thinking about it harder, and in listening to all of the songs prior to making this list, it dawned on me. It’s not quite so simple. Plus, I don’t like to be that predictable and I’m sure anyone who knows me probably all think this would be #1. Sorry, it’s not. But it’s not #1 because I’m being difficult. You Oughta Know is definitely a solid song through and through no doubt about it. I think I mentioned in the Best of the 90s list about how I wasn’t into the song at first. It took some time for me to get into it and by then, Alanis had already had a couple singles out. You Oughta Know was a cultural event. It was a moment in pop culture that hasn’t really been matched since.
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MIKEB
The King Of Rationality
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Post by MIKEB on Nov 27, 2016 17:56:21 GMT -5
#2 - Forgiven from Jagged Little Pill (1995) With each of JLP’s singles, I had periods of obsession with each of them before finally graduating to the album tracks. Wake Up was my initial favourite and it went from there. I cycled through most of the album, landing on each song to be my favourite for the time being, but it never really came back to Forgiven. I don’t know exactly at what point I decided Forgiven was my favourite song from Jagged Little Pill. I suspect it might have been around the time I was starting to question my own identity and being and my relationship with whatever I felt my religious beliefs were. Forgiven is a pretty surface-area critic on religion but one that, for me, packed a punch. So when I reevaluated my own beliefs and came out of the closet, Forgiven was a song that spoke to me. So for about half of JLP’s existence, Forgiven has been my favourite.
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MIKEB
The King Of Rationality
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Post by MIKEB on Nov 27, 2016 18:08:54 GMT -5
#1 - No Pressure Over Cappuccino from MTV Unplugged (1999) I lowkey knew this would be #1 on this list. Like Forgiven, this wasn’t always near the top of my Alanis favs. I actually preferred Princes Familiar over this from the Unplugged album for the longest time but at some point, something changed. The song kind of touches on people who don’t fit into social norms and I remember reading at one point that Alanis wrote it about her brother who was struggling with coming out and that always stuck with me, in particular with the bridge where she sings “Well, you may never be or have a husband/You may never have or hold a child/You will learn to lose everything.” This song has been a rollercoaster for me!
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