One of the biggest acts of the 1990s is without a doubt Alanis Morissette. Unlike a lot of artists, Morissette was acquainted with fame and show business from a young age, as she was a successful teen pop star in Canada. As a matter of fact, at 18 years old, Morissette had released her platinum-selling debut album, Alanis. However, her Canadian music career did not make her a household name or an international success. Rather, that was her 1995 album, Jagged Little Pill.
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On this day, June 13, 1995, Alanis Morissette introduced herself to the world and forever changed her life by releasing her major debut album, Jagged Little Pill. Since the release, the singles on the album that have stood the test of time include “You Oughta Know”, “Ironic”, “Hand in My Pocket”, and “You Learn”. Also, needless to say, the album itself has stood the test of time, as it is often cited as one of, if not the most successful of Morissette’s albums.
How Alanis Morissette Cemented Herself as a Major Voice in Music
Following the release, Jagged Little Pill debuted at No. 117 on the Billboard 200. While that is impressive, those numbers don’t necessarily make history. However, weeks later, Morissette would go on to make history. Roughly four months after its release, Morissette’s major debut album finally peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Upon reaching the top of the chart, Morissette’s album remained at the top spot for 12 weeks. Furthermore, it remained in the Top 10 for a total of 72 weeks. What makes Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette truly historical is that it was the first No. 1 album on the chart from a female Canadian artist.
The album and its single “You Oughta Know” garnered the Canadian artist four Grammy Awards, one of which was Album of the Year. Furthermore, she also received the nomination for Best New Artist. Alanis Morissette’s climb to the top is a tale that tells many different stories. One of those stories is seemingly about how quickly fame and success can come in the commercial pop industry. Yes, Morissette was a recording artist before this. However, this one album turned her into something larger than herself.
Since the album, Morissette has had an illustrious career, as she has scored several more hit songs and numerous other awards, including some more Grammys.
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Audacy
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