math of a bitter breakup with a boyfriend and con-
tains graphic references to sexual situations, convey-
ing a palpable sense of regret and disgust. The
second and third singles, “Hand in My Pocket” and
“You Learn,” incarnated more constructive attempts
to deal with romantic setbacks. The fourth single,
the more lyrical “Ironic,” spoke of life’s bittersweet
juxtapositions and incongruities (and was the sub-
ject of much controversy as to whether the word
“ironic” was used aptly therein). The fifth single,
“Head over Feet,” bouncily reassured a lover that he
had already won the singer’s love without totally be-
ing sure of it. The very fact that one album in itself
produced five hit singles is remarkable.Jagged Little
Pillbecame the best-selling rock album of the 1990’s
and the second best-selling album of the decade.
Morissette toured widely to support her album.
Its success meant that she was on the road for lon-
ger than anticipated. Exhausted, Morissette sought
spiritual relief in December, 1996, by traveling to
India and practicing yoga. She paid tribute to this
experience on “Thank U,” the first single from her
next album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
(1998). “Unsent,” the album’s second single, paid
poignant tribute to former boyfriends and tanta-
lized the listener with the sense that it was referring
to real relationships. Earlier in 1998, Morissette
had released “Uninvited.” This song, originally
composed for a movie sound track, was sad and
plaintive. It also became a major hit and received
wide airplay. Though Morissette’s second album
was not the pop culture phenomenon the first had
been, it sold millions of copies.Supposed Former In-
fatuation Junkieconfirmed Morissette’s rank as a
major rock star of the 1990’s.Impact Although the first wave of the “riot grrrl”
movement had passed by the timeJagged Little Pill
was released, Morissette’s angry yet introspective
songs confirmed the visibility of young women in the
media. Morissette helped ensure that the 1990’s was
a decade as associated with the prominence of
women and girls in popular culture as the 1980’s had
been with more masculine presences.Further Reading
Cantin, Paul.Alanis Morissette. New York: St. Martin’s
Press, 1998.
Tomashoff, Craig.You Live, You Learn: The Alanis
Morissette Stor y. New York: Berkley, 1998.
Nicholas BirnsSee also Alternative rock;MTV Unplugged; Music;
Women’s rights. Morris, Dick
Identification Political strategist
Born November 28, 1948; New York, New YorkA powerful bipartisan political strategist during the
1990’s, Morris assisted U.S. president Bill Clinton in win-
ning a second term in office during the 1996 presidential
election. During the campaign, he gained notoriety when
his relationship with a prostitute became public knowledge.584 Morris, Dick The Nineties in America
Alanis Morissette receives the Album of the Year award for Jagged
Little Pillat the 1996 Grammy Awards. She also won Best
Female Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song (both for
“You Oughta Know”), and Best Rock Album.(AP/Wide World
Photos)