Read Review of Alanis Morissette - VH1 Storytellers
Review Summary
About the Author
Alanis Morissette Performs Beautifully for VH1 Storytellers
May 04 '05
Pros Lovely performances, great honestly, interesting banter, genuinely wonderful songs...
Cons Too short.
The Bottom Line Fans of Morissette rejoice! VH1 Storytellers is on shelves now and includes two never-before-seen performances of Uninvited and Head Over Feet.
Full Review
Alanis Morissette made her major label debut at a time when the music industry was looking for a new voice—someone with widespread appeal and the talent to back it up. That’s when she arrived toting her substantial vocals and writing skills in a tightly wound and incredibly appealing package. Morissette touched on a nerve for men and women alike. Jagged Little Pill (1995) is certainly one of the best recognized, most popular, and most important album of the 1990’s. It has sold, to date, no fewer than 16 million albums and ranks easily among the most popular releases in history from any artist. It also won four Grammy Awards.
What carried Morissette through the touch patches and to the top of the industry was amazing talent mixed with an air of confidence that is incredibly unusual in a young woman barely in her twenties. She lay to rest any question of her staying power with the release of a second LP. Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998) was quite nearly as acclaimed as the debut. Morissette seemed more comfortable in her skin. The years had changed her outlook on life and made her somewhat more introspective (rather than explosive). The fusion of Eastern music with pop made for some outstanding moments that satisfied fans and critics alike.
On July 26, 1999 Morissette recorded an episode of the VH1 Storytellers series. Storytellers encouraged a melding of low-key acoustic performances and artist banter. Morissette admitted in her first breath that she was encouraged to speak a lot between songs but that it is something she rarely does. It’s hard not to agree with her next sentiment—“I Feel like I’m speaking so much in my songs themselves.” The intimacy of the performance was captured for television audiences and has now been released on DVD with two additional songs in addition to the original seven songs which represented some of her best and most popular.
A lovely and abbreviated rendition of Hand in My Pocket kicks off Storytellers. Morissette smiles as she sings—the joy permeates every honest note of the song. She follows this with an intro to her performance and a story about how You Learn came to be. It was as she admits a song was an emotional experience for her which resulted in a sense of urgency across the whole thing. What I find particularly refreshing about this DVD is that Morissette is completely comfortable with her material. She seems relaxed and her face reflects her satisfaction with the outstanding material. Morissette uses her vocal instrument to its fullest and makes the most of the unplugged Storytellers environment.
Morissette responds to a question prior to Thank U. The audience member (or “this lovely woman” in the artist’s words) asks whether the words or the melody of her songs are written first. The singer-songwriter admits that they usually come together at the same time. She then goes on to talk about the realization that everything is an illusion and that because of this she sought a real “consistent bliss” and inner peace. Out of the fear that this uncertainty brought she came to have compassion for herself and subsequently for everybody else. This is, of course, how Morissette was led to write the self-explanatory Thank U. Once again, the performance is genuinely impressive and naturally expressive. Her joy and confidence shine through and lead nicely into the less positive Unsent.
Speaking candidly about Unsent, Morissette admits that the people mentioned are real. She says she commonly (and conveniently) wrote about individuals in her songs. Unfortunately when she realized that the song would make her album she was forced to face the individuals and compelled to contact them. It is clear that Morissette is less comfortable speaking about real situations with the real attached names. This quirky bit of uneasiness is both unexpected and refreshing. She seems even more real. This leads directly into her admission that she has problems emotionally performing most of her songs. She goes on to say that performing You Oughta Know on a nightly basis was most difficult because there was no closure in the situation. The subsequent performance of the gut-wrenching song comes across as a confessional and is stirring in its honesty.
Picking up her flute, Morissette performs the light opening to the song she admits to writing in her closet—That I Would Be Good. The camera circles around the steady performer as she reveals that she would be grand, good, okay and fine if things weren’t perfect and if things didn’t turn out well. It’s one of the most subdued performances of the DVD. The final song of the original VH1 performance was Still. Morissette preludes the new song (inspired by the film Dogma) with a brief introduction. It is her take on what she believes god to be. It’s a little rough, a little new, and not all the wrinkles are ironed out but this makes it even more endearing.
The real treat in the Alanis Morissette VH1 Storytellers DVD comes with the addition of two songs that were not broadcast. Included in the “extras” section, Uninvited is just as difficult and emotional as one would expect. Morissette puts her heart and soul into the ballad. While I’m unclear why it was originally cut outside of the dark and shaky cameras early on, I can say that it is beautiful. Head Over Feet is the second bonus and is also easily one of my favorite Morissette songs. She picks up her guitar, takes a seat, and sings easily and with great confidence.
Storytellers was the perfect setting for her to really be expressive. The collection of nine songs is lovely and revealing and unflawed. I can’t imagine any Alanis Morissette fan not wanting this performance in their collection. It is truly magnificent and well worth the purchase price.
Hand in My Pocket
You Learn
Thank U
Unsent
You Oughta Know
That I Would Be Good
Still
Uninvited *
Head Over Feet *
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