By shelz.

There have been plenty of people pondering how the U.S.  allowed an import from Canada to blow the rap door off its hinges with his less than rude boy shtick.  Prior to Drake, the only thing we allowed such carte blanche from the land of maple leaves and socialist medicine was bacon right?  Nope.

Fifteen years ago we invited a little known Canadian singer into the fold who immediately taught us a thing or two about lady rage.  Alanis Morissette’s aesthetic was more subdued than Kelis’ and her edges were better rounded than Courtney Love’s, but she still managed to bring some psychosis to the table.

You could relate to her hopes and fears.  You could co-sign her happiness and anger. And above all else you can still remember who you would have dedicated “You Oughta Know” to, if you had once grown the balls during that time to do it.

“You Oughta Know” was a raunchy crawl through the dark, broken spirit of a woman scorned.  The catalyst was a simple thought.  He left ME?!? Then popped up with THAT bitch?!? Don’t put your sista girl Kumbaya mask on now. You know you’ve had that thought dart through your mind.  We all have. However, instead of burying it in shame and directing her ire only to the deserving participant (the lame ass ex-boyfriend) Morissette ran with it, blasting from both barrels.  The catharsis involved in a simple listen was enough to keep you from keying the new tramp’s car.

In honor of the 15^th anniversary of this fabulous song, Planet Ill is going to look at some of the lyrics that made it the Jagged Little Pill that is was.  So fasten your seatbelts, disturbed ramblings from the ex are always a bumpy ride.

An older version of me?  Is she perverted like me?  Would she go down on you in a theatre?

The shock heard round the world in reference to the opening lyrics was deafening.  Radio refused to play it. Cable music stations bleeped it all to hell and women were reminded that knob slobbin’ during the opening credits at the local cinema was not automatic cause to wife a chick.

And every time you speak her name does she know that you told me you would hold me until you died.  Until you died!  Well, you’re still alive!.

Liar, liar pants on fire. However, ladies this is a perfect example of why pillow talk should be considered null and void when you put your panties back on.  If a man is going to lie to you, chances are it will be somewhere near the bedroom. On the flip side, he may have totally meant it when he said it, but your psychotic break rendered that oral contract worthless.

And I’m here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away.

Okay, the question of course is where is here?  Your doorstep?  The lobby of the office building where you work?  The bushes outside of your girlfriend’s house?  Yes.. to all of that.

Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity?  I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner.  It was a slap in the face.  How quickly I was replaced and are you thinking of me when you fuck her?

Morisette did for the word duplicity what Lauryn Hill did for reciprocity and prior to her, stalking was relegated to late night hours. But asking that last question is a double edged sword. It may give you a second of triumph if he says yes.  “You Oughta Know” that if he does answer in the affirmative though, it’s probably just the first step in a rouse to get back in your bed while his new girl is working late.

All women (well at least all the women I know) have a foolish side that makes every one of these thoughts plausible. We can’t help but respect the power of this little tune.  She said what we wouldn’t; what we couldn’t, but what we wished we could after a bottle of jack and a tub of haagen daz.  She spoke to our inner crazy lady and made it okay for about 3 minutes to feel that way.  Then after all that anger boiled over and spilled out of your speakers, you could take a deep breath and keep it moving.  He didn’t deserve you anyway. Bravo Alanis.  Bravo.

Alanis Morisette-You Oughta Know

Alanis_Morissette_-_You_Oughta_Know

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