Along with counterparts Jewel and Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette was one of the most successful
singer/songwriters to ride in on the second wave of grrrl rock in the mid-'90s. Born on June 1,
1974, Alanis Nadine Morissette and her two brothers were raised in Ottawa, Canada by French-Canadian and Hungarian parents. By the age of 10, the precocious Morissette had landed a role
on the Nickelodean TV show "You Can't Do That on Television" and recorded her first single,
"Fate Stay With Me." She spent most of her pre-pubescent years performing throughout Canada,
singing "O Canada" at sporting events and even making the de rigueur appearance on "Star
Search." The hard work paid off and at 14 Morissette was offered a recording contract with
MCA/Canada. Her debut, Alanis, a collection of dance-pop songs, was released in 1991 and went
platinum in Canada. That year, Morissette won the Juno award (Canada's Grammy) for Most
Promising Female Vocalist. Her sophomore effort, 1992's Now Is the Time, was recorded and
released before Morissette graduated from high school. However, this album -- another collection
of teeny bop dance tunes -- sold only half as well as her debut, and at age 17 it looked as if
Morissette's career was on the wane. After high school, Morissette moved to Los Angeles where
she had the good fortune to hook up with songwriter/producer Glen Ballard, known for his work
with Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul and Wilson Phillips. The creative chemistry between Ballard
and Morissette was evident from the beginning. Ballard pushed Morissette to pursue darker,
edgier themes in her music, venturing away from the cutesy teenager and toward the introspective
young woman. "Most of the songs are, in a roundabout way, actually addressed to myself," says
Morissette of her work with Ballard at this time. "There's a certain aspect of the songs that's very
confessional, very unadulterated...It was a very unfettered, spiritual experience." The resulting
demo tape was shopped around to the major labels and Madonna's Maverick imprint eventually
signed Morissette. Jagged Little Pill, was released in the summer of 1995. On the strength of the
break-out single "You Oughta Know," the album reached platinum status and the Top 10. Follow-up singles "Hand in My Pocket," "All I Really Want" and "Ironic" kept Jagged Little Pill on the
album charts the next two years, ultimately selling 15 million copies. Morissette was showered
with industry awards for Jagged Little Pill, including Grammys for Album of the Year, Best Female
Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album. Her much-anticipated follow-up, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, was released in November 1998 on Maverick. -Christina Cramer
Along with counterparts Jewel and Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette was one of the most successful
singer/songwriters to ride in on the second wave of grrrl rock in the mid-'90s. Born on June 1,
1974, Alanis Nadine Morissette and her two brothers were raised in Ottawa, Canada by French-Canadian and Hungarian parents. By the age of 10, the precocious Morissette had landed a role
on the Nickelodean TV show "You Can't Do That on Television" and recorded her first single,
"Fate Stay With Me." She spent most of her pre-pubescent years performing throughout Canada,
singing "O Canada" at sporting events and even making the de rigueur appearance on "Star
Search." The hard work paid off and at 14 Morissette was offered a recording contract with
MCA/Canada. Her debut, Alanis, a collection of dance-pop songs, was released in 1991 and went
platinum in Canada. That year, Morissette won the Juno award (Canada's Grammy) for Most
Promising Female Vocalist. Her sophomore effort, 1992's Now Is the Time, was recorded and
released before Morissette graduated from high school. However, this album -- another collection
of teeny bop dance tunes -- sold only half as well as her debut, and at age 17 it looked as if
Morissette's career was on the wane. After high school, Morissette moved to Los Angeles where
she had the good fortune to hook up with songwriter/producer Glen Ballard, known for his work
with Michael Jackson, Paula Abdul and Wilson Phillips. The creative chemistry between Ballard
and Morissette was evident from the beginning. Ballard pushed Morissette to pursue darker,
edgier themes in her music, venturing away from the cutesy teenager and toward the introspective
young woman. "Most of the songs are, in a roundabout way, actually addressed to myself," says
Morissette of her work with Ballard at this time. "There's a certain aspect of the songs that's very
confessional, very unadulterated...It was a very unfettered, spiritual experience." The resulting
demo tape was shopped around to the major labels and Madonna's Maverick imprint eventually
signed Morissette. Jagged Little Pill, was released in the summer of 1995. On the strength of the
break-out single "You Oughta Know," the album reached platinum status and the Top 10. Follow-up singles "Hand in My Pocket," "All I Really Want" and "Ironic" kept Jagged Little Pill on the
album charts the next two years, ultimately selling 15 million copies. Morissette was showered
with industry awards for Jagged Little Pill, including Grammys for Album of the Year, Best Female
Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Album. Her much-anticipated follow-up, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, was released in November 1998 on Maverick. -Christina Cramer
