The young ingénue was playing piano by the age of 6, and songwriting by the age of 9. Thrust into the spotlight at 10 years old, Alanis was cast in the children's television variety show You Can't Do That on Television. The child star also had a single on her plate, entitled, "Fate Stay With Me".
While her work on You Can't Do That on Television had already given Alanis name power, it was her meeting with Stephan Klovan in 1987 that turned her into a real pop diva. Impressed by Alanis' talent after having cast her to perform in Ottawa's Tulip Festival, Klovan helped Alanis land a string of gigs such as singing pop-inspired versions of Canada's national anthem at sporting events, and even a shot on the talent show Star Search.
Alanis was signed to MCA/Canada at the age of 14 and in 1991, her pop-induced self-titled debut (at the time she was penned simply as Alanis) was released. At a time where female pop music was at its peak and riding on the coattails of pop stars Debbie Gibson, Tiffany and Belinda Carlisle, Alanis was a hit.
While still in high school, Alanis already had a platinum album and a Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. After the pop princess did not see as much success with her second album release, Now Is the Time, Alanis had to reevaluate her career choice.
After becoming a high school graduate, the former teenybopper moved to Toronto in hopes of pumping some life into her fading career as a musician. But her efforts were in vain.
With nothing to lose and only plenty to gain, Alanis headed to Los Angeles, and had the good fortune of hooking up with songwriter-producer Glen Ballard in 1994. Along with Ballard, who had previously worked with Michael Jackson and Paula Abdul, Alanis was given the canvas to reach the core of her soul and sing with her emotions.
The resulting demo tape made its way to several record companies, but Madonna's Maverick was the lucky label that signed Alanis, and saw the fruits of her talent. Madonna even bought Alanis a hefty watch as a gift for the success of Alanis' album, Jagged Little Pill.
The album, which has sold more than 16 million copies since its release, spawned hit singles such as "Ironic", "You Learn," and "You Oughta Know." The latter can be considered a 90's version of "I Will Survive," a tribute to women who have been hurt in the past by a man.
Jagged Little Pill, the result of Alanis' introspection and soul-searching earned the female rocker Grammys for Album of the Year, Best Female Vocal Performance for "You Oughta Know" and Best Rock Album (out of a total of 6 Grammy nominations). The album also set the record for the best-selling US debut by a female solo artist, a record previously held by Whitney Houston.
After the phenomenal success of Jagged Little Pill, Alanis took some time off to contribute a single to the City of Angels soundtrack, and appear as God in the film Dogma. She also went to India to do some soul-searching of a different kind, this time to find inner peace.
The result of this hiatus was the follow up to Jagged Little Pill, entitled Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. With singles such as "Thank U", "Unsent" and "So Pure", listeners were treated to another side to the former "Jagged Pill": a much softer, less edgy one.
Although the album did receive critical acclaim, it did not see as much success as Jagged Little Pill (which was a tough act to follow). Alanis showed that she is no longer angry, and that she is more dimensional than the alternative rocker we once knew. She was finally at peace, having found herself, and the album had a sense of closure and renewal.
Her latest contribution to the music industry, Alanis Unplugged, consists of acoustic recordings. As for acting, she made her on-stage debut in March, performing in The Vagina Monologues, and recently appeared on an episode of Sex and the City, sharing an on-screen kiss with Sarah Jessica Parker.
Alanis Morissette's aggressive yet genuine lyrics have given women worldwide a voice, and have shown men and women everywhere what they "oughta know" -- that one can overcome adversity and heartache -- and soar.
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