The 1990s generation was a sight to behold at the Alanis Morissette 2023 World Tour at the Mall of Asia Arena on Aug. 2. These Millennials were in high school and college when the Jagged Little Pill album was released 25 years ago. The crowd were singing their hearts out with the 38th Grammy Awards Album of The Year and Best Rock Album (Jagged Little Pill) and Best Female Rock Performance and Best Rock Song (“You Oughta Know”) Canadian-born singer.
Exactly before 8 p.m., Ice Seguerra opened the concert calling the audience, “Batang ’90s” with his popular rendition of “Pagdating ng Panahon” and ended the front act with Eraserheads’ “Huling El Bimbo,” which was apt for the crowd as they got ready for the 49-year-old alternative rock singer.
A video was played showing the journey of Alanis with different people worldwide singing her songs. Her first song was “All I Really Want” and when she played the harmonica, the crowd went crazy.
Wearing a light yellow shirt and rubber shoes, Alanis walked left to right onstage singing “Hand in my Pocket” to her fans. The popular song had many contradicting emotions: “I’m broke, but I’m happy / I’m poor, but I’m kind / I’m short, but I’m healthy, yeah / I’m high, but I’m grounded / I’m sane, but I’m overwhelmed / I’m lost, but I’m hopeful, baby.” She wrote the song with album producer Glen Ballard in 15 minutes while chronicling her different emotions.
In “You Learn,” she stood at the center of the stage, making others feel that this was the mission statement song of her generation—everything is a learning experience. The album title Jagged Little Pill came from the lyrics, “Swallow it down, what a jagged little pill!”
“Mary Jane” shows Alanis’ vocal high range in this slow song about self-care and empathy to her female admirers. “What’s the matter Mary Jane? / You had a hard day /As you place the ‘Don’t disturb’ sign on the door / You lost your place in line again, what a pity / You never seem to wanna dance anymore.” The vulnerability of the artist was heard in the 20,000 seating capacity of the venue.
After “Reasons I Drink,” “Head Over Feet,” “Ablaze,” “Perfect,” “Wake Up,” and “Not A Doctor,” the crowd went wild when Alanis’ biggest hit, “Ironic” took its turn on the concert stage. During the 18-month world tour after the album release in 1995, Taylor Hawkins was the drummer before he joined the Foo Fighters. At the end of “Ironic,” a tribute to Taylor was flashed onscreen.
Alanis was full of energy, spinning like a turumpo (toy top) non-stop, and continuing with “Smiling” from the album, Such Pretty Forks in the Roads.
“You Oughta Know” was a blast with the audience angrily shouting while singing, “And I’m here, to remind you / Of the mess you left when you went away / It’s not fair, to deny me /
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me / You, you, you oughta know.” This song boosted Alanis to international stardom.
The encore was “Your House,” “Uninvited,” and “Thank U.” “Uninvited” was from the soundtrack of the film City of Angels (1998) starring Nicolas Cage. “Thank U” was written after her soul-searching trip from India.
Onstage, Alanis was not the type of person who would chitchat with or explain to the audience. The only thing we heard from her after singing was “Thank you so much.” The three-time MTV Video Music Awards winner simply said, “We’re so happy we’ve finally come back. We love you, Manila, so much.”
For the last number “Thank U,” netizens’ message of gratitude were flashed onscreen. “This song is for you,” she continued.
Jagged Little Pill sold 33 million copies worldwide. We started listening to Alanis when her albums were in cassette tapes and then compact discs. And all the crowd at the MOA Arena also said, “Thank you, Alanis, for rekindling the teenage memories and nostalgia of the ’90s generation. Rock on!”