Alanis Morissette

It has been four years since her last original studio album, but Grammy winning Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette has just released her seventh studio album and fifth international release Flavors of Entanglement. Collaborating with British electronica producer Guy Sigsworth, together they have co-wrote nearly two-dozen songs from writing sessions in London and Los Angeles. Only a select 13 though were granted the honor to be featured on the actual album. The songs feature both personal and political conflicts and can be described as a combination of all of Morissette's musical interests, which include hip-hop beats and organic instruments. Discussing the album, Billboard magazine said the album "balances world and folk-influenced tracks against the experimental pop leanings of producer Guy Sigsworth."

Morissette, now a seasoned veteran of the music industry, started honing her musical and entertainment talents relatively early in life. Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada and Germany, Alanis began playing the piano at the age of six and at the age of nine discovered her love of songwriting and dance. Two years later, she became part of the cast of the popular children's television show You Can't Do That On Television.

Using the money she earned from being a television star, Morissette started a record company with a friend and funded an independent single entitled "Fate Stay With Me." By the age of 14, she had signed a publishing contract and eventually a record deal with MCA Canada. In 1991 her album Alanis was released and went platinum, earning her Canada's Juno Award for Most Promising Female Artist. The follow-up album Now is the Time was released in 1992 and two years later Morissette moved to the United States in order to work with producer Glen Ballard.

Probably her most celebrated album was Jagged Little Pill, which introduced her to the world while simultaneously breaking numerous records worldwide. Selling 30 million records, it became the best-selling debut album by a female artist in the United States and the highest selling debut album worldwide. With singles such as "You Oughta Know," "Head Over Feet," "Hand in My Pocket" and "Ironic," "Jagged Little Pill" earned Morissette four Grammy wins and six Grammy nominations including Best New Artist and Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. A fifth Grammy was awarded to Alanis for her music documentary Jagged Little Pill Live as Best Long-form Music Video.

Her following albums were also received just as well. Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and the single "Thank U" was number one on the Adult Top 40 chart and number two on the Top 40 Mainstream. Under Rug Swept as well debuted at number one in 2002 on the Billboard 200 and the single "Hands Clean" stayed high on the Adult Top 40 chart at number 3. In 20004, "So-Called Chaos'" single "Everything" was an Adult Top 40 mainstay and "Eight Easy Steps" was a club hit.

Alanis Morissette though has not just done music for the benefit of her own career, but has rather worked with many others to expand her musical horizons. She has been a guest vocalist on Ringo Starr's cover of "Drift Away," as well as with the Dave Matthews Band in "Don't Drink the Water" and "Spoon." Also, she has contributed her musical and theatrical skills to many projects. Not only did she write the song "Still" for the soundtrack of the film Dogma but she also played the role of God in the movie. Her other soundtrack contributions include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back, Clerks II, The Break-Up and The Devil Wears Prada. Additionally, her on screen acting roles comprise of HBO's Sex and the City, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Nip/Tuck and a recent lead film role in the film adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel Radio Free Albemuth as well as her on stage performances in such plays as The Vagina Monologues and The Exonerated.

The year 2007 though gave way to a performance by Morissette on YouTube that could rival all her other accomplishments. The singer-songwriter delivered a parody of the Black Eyed Peas hit song "My Humps" gaining more than 13.5 million views and being named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the top downloads of 2007. In the video, Morissette sings the words of "My Humps" in a slow, mournful tune accompanied by piano as she dances provocatively with a group of men, hitting the ones who touch her. When she finally elaborated on how the video came to be, Morissette said that she was emotionally overloaded with working on her upcoming album, and it was done as a joke.

According to Alanis, "I live to heal ruptures and bridge the human and the divine aspects of life, and I hope that by sharing my own experiences through speaking, writing and art, I can support people in their personal journeys, wherever they may be at." So far Alanis Morissette's music has reflected this aspect and hopefully she will continue to do so for years to come.

— Lauren Vislocky


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