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Thank U, Consequence: Livestreaming with Alanis

Rachel: Life in the time of COVID-19 continues to be a catalyst for artists to create, share, and honor their feelings. This past week, Alanis Morissette and the Broadway cast of Jagged Little Pill, gathered to share songs from the new musical based on Morissette’s groundbreaking album of the same name, which is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. (Other songs from Morissette’s extensive back catalogue also feature in the musical.)

I was in New York City in January, and like most whirlwind trips, there wasn’t time to squeeze this one in. (Okay, “Moulin Rouge” won out. Who am I kidding?) This June, I also had tickets to Morrisette’s upcoming anniversary tour, which of course, has been postponed until 2021.

So You Live, You Learn: A Night with Alanis Morrisette and Jagged Little Pill seemed like a good way to kill a couple of hours and make up for lost chances—and I wasn’t wrong. The special live show opened with a rousing interpretation of “All I Really Want” and that’s what is really mind-blowing about these songs, how they were able to build them around a whole cast of characters. The orchestra also adopted some of the Indian psychedelic rock elements that Morrisette moved towards with “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie” but they don’t feel out of place. It actually makes it feel more cohesive. “You Learn” was another standout interpretation with the refrain of “Thank U” being woven in towards the end of the song. A new song, “Smiling” was filled with the trademark longing and lyrical power you’d expect:

This is my first wave of my white flag

This is the sound of me hitting bottom

This my surrender, if that’s what you call it

In the anatomy of my crash

And I keep on smiling

Keep on moving

Can’t stand still

Morrisette and her band also sang a laid back version of “Hand in my Pocket,” and she offered words of wisdom and also reminded us collectively to take a deep breath. (Literally, hand on heart.)