My 10 Favorite Alanis Morissette Songs, Ranked

by Marisa Torrieri Bloom

Alanis Morissette is a lot of things — rock icon, the voice of feminine rage and healing in the 90s, and mom of three. I’ve been obsessed since Jagged Little Pill dropped, and I haven’t stopped. Here are my 10 favorite Alanis Morissette songs of all time, ranked.

#10: “Will You Be My Girlfriend” (Havoc and Bright Lights)

This low-key, coffeehouse-worthy, introspective song from 2012’s Havoc and Bright Lights album is vulnerable and beautiful, and a lovely, quiet counterpoint to her bigger — and louder — hits.

#9: “Thank U” (Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie)

This song’s verses flow like a good humanitarian speech, as Alanis offers gratitude for all the little things many of us take for granted. It was apparently inspired by a trip to India (which makes sense, given that she thanks India first in the chorus). The video of her traipsing naked and vulnerable across cityscapes makes the message truly sink in.

#8: “Guardian” (Havoc and Bright Lights)

Alanis spreads her wings in this soaring musical score off her 2012 album Havoc and Bright Lights, which goes deep lyrically before latching onto an anthemic chorus. The video flips between Alanis and her band rocking out, and images of her dressed like a guardian angel, walking through a city.

# 7: “Empathy” (Havoc and Bright Lights)

The lyric “there are so many ways that I have cut off my nose to spite my face” sticks with the listener long after the guitars fade in this piano-driven rocker.

[SEE RELATED: MY TOP 10 FAVORITE GRACE POTTER SONGS IN HONOR OF THE ROCKMOMMY’S 6/20 BIRTHDAY]

#6: “Hand In My Pocket” (Jagged Little Pill)

If the infectious beat doesn’t grip you, the lyrics that juxtapose opposites — “I feel drunk, but I’m sober/I’m lost but I’m hopeful” — will. Little infusions of harmonica make this a truly unique tune off one of the most iconic 1990s albums.  

#5: “Hands Clean” (Under Rug Swept)

A solid pop-rock song that begs to be cranked up and sung along to, “Hands Clean” is one of her stronger early ’00s singles.

#4: “Precious Illusions” (Under Rug Swept)

This single off Alanis’ fifth studio album is surprising and recalls both her early-career pop rock sensibilities and her search for deeper meaning in relationships.

#3: “You Oughta Know” (Jagged Little Pill)

Alanis’ big breakout hit is a seething tirade of coiled rage and snarling vocals — loaded with feminist angst and a solid hook. At the time it came out, the song was nothing short of revolutionary, defining the great “women in rock” movement that the mid-90s brought to the surface of our collective conscience.

#2: “Uninvited” (City of Angels, Music from the Motion Picture)

Sweeping head voice, airy, weighty song and its layers of vocal harmonies against a building soundscape is just spectacular in this 1998 hit.

#1: “Ironic” (Jagged Little Pill)

This pop-rock song about situational irony may be the fourth single off Jagged Little Pill, but the first Alanis tune that got me to crank up the volume and (eventually) fall for the rest of her catalogue. Just seeing the title makes me want to scream, “It’s like RAY-E-AIN …. on your wedding day!”

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the founder and editor of Rockmommy.