G.O.A.T.: Ironic by Alanis Morissette (1995)

I’m engaging in the ultimate blogger affrontery and arrogance: Posting my favorite 100 songs as a definitive list, and updating in real time as iTunes randomly throws a song at me while I’m going about my day and I think, “Hey!  That’s a really great song!”

Then I write a post about it and throw some trivia or covers (or both) about it to you, my readers.

So far, here’s where we are:

  1. Layla by Derek and the Dominoes (1970) (link)
  2. Better Things by The Kinks (1981) (link); and: Covers of the top 30 Kinks songs here and here
  3. Somebody Told Me by The Killers (2004)(link)
  4. Tonight the Streets Are Ours by Richard Hawley (2007) (link)
  5. Misfits by the Kinks (1978) (link); and: Covers of the top 30 Kinks songs here and here
  6. Grindin’ by Clipse (2002) (link)
  7. Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum (1969) (link)

Today: Our first entry from the 1990s!

Jagged Little Pill is one of the best alternative albums of the 1990s, spawning half a dozen singles and full of lyrics that positively burn with insight and searing pain.  This song, one of my personal favorites, spawned intellectual debates as far and wide as The New York Times on the true definition of the word, “ironic.”  The Grammies didn’t care, and nominated the song for record of the year. Ed Byrne had some fun with it, though…

Further listening: Thank U, Hand in My Pocket, You Oughta Know

So, where does this song place on my list?  I’m thinking, high up–right above The Killers and below The Kinks.  Nice!

Covers: Not many have the guts to take on Alanis, but of course Weird Al was up to the challenge.




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