Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morissette was born on June 1, 1974, in Ottawa, Ontario. She began piano at age of six and wrote her first song at age nine. Alanis Morissette's 1995 release Jagged Little Pill sold more than 25 million copies around the world and won her four Grammy Awards. Its slew of hit singles, kicked off with the vituperative "You Oughta Know," made Morissette an alternative music star overnight. "Hand in My Pocket," "All I Really Want," "You Learn," "Ironic," and "All I Really Want" -- kept the album in the Top Ten for an astounding 69 weeks, and Alanis Morissette was nominated for six Grammys in early 1996. She won several of those awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year.

I began listening to Alanis at the early age of eleven, my best friend intorduced me to her. At the age of eleven I had no clue what she was singing about, I just absolutely loved her voice and that she played the harmonica. I borrowed my friends tape and began listening to it at home. Big mistake, as soon as my mom heard what I was listening to, she immediately confiscated it from me, listened to it for herself, and then demanded I return it to its rightful owner. Apparently it wasn't appropriate for me to be listening to, my parents were very strict about what music I could listen to as a kid. My mom ended up liking Alanis so much she went out and bought her tape, which I thought was totally unfair.

As I got older and more mature, I bought her CD, and realized music is way better when you understand what the artist is singing about. Alanis puts all of her emotion behind her songs, which is why I enjoy listening to her so much. She has an amazing voice and talent. When I'm having a bad day I pop in my Alanis CD, Jagged Little Pill, crank it up, and sing as loud as I can. Her music can always put me into at least a better mood, if not great mood.