It’s impossible to believe that Alanis Morissette – star since the late 90s – had never played the historic Glastonbury music fest until this summer. When the Canadian songstress took to the Friday night Pyramid Stage last month for her long-awaited Glasto debut, her performance clips went instantly viral, with her brand new performance of her greatest hit, “Ironic,” amassing a staggering 750,000 YouTube views in just over a week!
“Ironic” was an entire moment back in 1996; an inescapable pop-rock radio hit. A UK #11 single off Alanis’ UK #1 album, “Jagged Little Pill,” this song totally transcended its mediocre chart position, with nostalgia for the track now building as sky-high as if the song were a British chart-topper.
Almost 30 years on from its original release, Alanis’ hit has been simmering in the collective consciousness, just waiting for its primal, electric energy to be unleashed at a rare gig such as this. And Alanis didn’t let fans down for a moment.
As soon as her hit kicks off, Alanis hands the mic to the Worthy Farm audience, as if proving the undying legacy of her career-defining single. Thousands of voices rise from the sun-soaked audience, chanting her verse lyrics like they’ve been imprinted on their souls. It’s one thing to chant the legendary chorus word-for-word, but these Alanis fans took their love a whole step further in this wholesome moment.
While one Glasto-goer amps up the irony holding a Sharpied cardboard sign reading, “It rained on our wedding day,” Alanis takes reign of her hit, her voice aged like fine wine and toned with vivid authenticity.
Alanis’ fourteen-song set opened with the “Jagged Little Pill” hit, “Hand In My Pocket,” running through tracks including “Head Over Feet,” “You Oughta Know,” “All I Really Want,” and “Smiling,” before closing the set with “Thank U,” taken from her 1998 album “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie.”
With this clip going viral on YouTube, fans have been rushing to share their thoughts on Alanis’ long-awaited Glastonbury debut. As one top commenter wrote, “What an incredible feeling it must be as an artist to have thousands of people singing your song 30 years later,” another added, “Love how her voice has matured but is still characteristically her sound.”
Other fans were taken aback by Alanis’ longevity as a top-tier artist, writing, “The fact she was only 19 when Jagged Little Pill was released is insane. Incredible talent!” and “It absolutely warms my heart to see her stand the test of time the way she has.”
Alanis Morissette’s timeless allure continues to captivate audiences worldwide, as demonstrated by her unforgettable Glastonbury debut. With a performance that turned nostalgic anthems into viral sensations, she reaffirmed her iconic status in the music world. To dive deeper into Alanis’ artistic journey and experience more of her electrifying performances, explore the links below.