by Alexandra Galle
The year is 1995 and raging through the dorms of Geneseo are the same 13 songs on repeat…Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. Not only does everyone seem to have a copy of the album, but the radio is constantly playing “You Oughta Know,” “Ironic,” or “Head Over Feet” at least once an hour. You and your friends find yourselves screaming this relatively unknown musician’s songs on full blast as you’re driving down the road. You feel that this young artist really gets what it’s like to be a teenager living life right now. There is something about Morissette’s raw sound and powerful lyrics that you can’t quite pinpoint but you just know it feels current and right. Suddenly, as “Hand in my Pocket” is playing… again …your friend tells you that the freshest artist on the charts will be making an appearance right here on your own Geneseo campus.
Alanis Morissette was one of the most recognizable and popular voices of the 1990s and her album Jagged Little Pill launched a new era of women in music. Jagged Little Pill spent 11 weeks at number one for albums and at one point she had three top 40 hits simultaneously dominating the charts. Though many people assumed that this was Morissette’s first album, the Canadian born singer-songwriter had previously dropped two albums that were scarcely known outside of Canada. Even Grammy voters got it wrong when they put Morissette up for Best New Artist in 1996. To be sure though, it was Jagged Little Pill that made Morissette a celebrity, not only in Canada, but in the U.S and U.K. Morissette showed unprecedented vulnerability and maturity with her emotion-filled songs at only 19 years of age and her music seemed to be the anthem of the 90s and especially a hit for teens and college students across the country during this decade. Morissette changed the sound and look of what was acceptable for a female artist. Her music had unprecedented diversity in sound with post-grunge hard rock, alternative rock, and a pop influence. Most importantly, Morissette chose to incorporate her anger at life and society and not simply write about it but channel that same energy into the rhythm and tones of the songs. Her music allowed an entire generation to experience music in a new way, specifically through a female artist who was edgy and didn’t fit the cookie cutter model at the time.
While listening to certain songs such as “You Oughta Know” and “Right Through You,” there is a clear sound of anger and rage that mirrored how many teenagers were feeling with life and society. Listening to Morissette was an emotional release for listeners who felt that she really understood what life was like and could accurately represent others’ feelings with her songs. The 90s were a time of challenging social issues such as mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, illness, and sex and relationships. People were upset with society and wanted to see change for a better life but were often frustrated by little lack of improvement or progress. Morrissette was able to use her music as her own personal vent for her feelings about her experiences which related to many Americans at the time. People respected her for telling things like they were in a tone that had the same message. Jagged Little Pill talked about her experiences of female sexuality coming from a very Catholic upbringing, abuse of power in the music industry, marijuana and drug use, helping a friend through a tough mental time, and feelings of isolation in a world full of apathy. These ideas were already ingrained in the culture at the time, and Morissette was addressing these issues in a way that was powerful and relatable especially as she was not much older than her mostly teenage audience.
Morrisette came to Geneseo just as she was becoming one of the largest celebrated artists in the 90s. Jagged Little Pill was released in June of ’95 and was an instant hit. So when Morrisette performed in December of that same year on Geneseo’s campus, it was one of the biggest concerts of the decade. Everyone wanted a chance to see one of the biggest rising artists and because she was booked before she really hit mainstream popularity, it was a perfect time when she blew up and students could see her performance live with the songs that they were growing to love. Jagged Little Pill has sold over 17 million copies and is still in the top 25 best-selling albums of all time and a piece of the album and Morrisette’s story lives right here on our Geneseo campus.