Book Description
Alanis Morissette, the Canadian singer/songwriter, burst onto the music scene in 1995 with her controversial single 'You Oughta Know', a hate letter to a lover who had betrayed her. It was a massive hit and brought widespread fame to the singer, showcasing her versatile voice with its range from a breathy whisper to a frenzied, angry howl. Her Jagged Little Pill album has since earned her four Grammy awards and gone multi-platinum, selling over 9 million copies and topping the charts around the world.
This was not Alanis Morissette's first taste of fame, however: a former child prodigy, she began playing music at six, recorded her first single at ten and by thirteen had formed her own record label. Nor did many new fans know that she had been a teenage pop idol in Canada before finding her new musical direction, one that is innovative and critically acclaimed as well as incredibly popular.
Stuart Coles, a British music journalist, focuses on the events that transformed her from teen disco-queen to an icon of alternative music and figurehead for 'angry young women' everywhere. He traces her growing disillusion with her musical direction and fading sales, her move to Los Angeles in search of inspiration, and her realisation that through music she could overcome the frustrations and insecurities of her life. Looking at the contradictions in this singer's remarkable life, he examines her anti-star beliefs and unusual opposition to drugs, alcohol, caffeine and smoking. Placing her in the context of female musicians in rock history, he also assesses the controversy surrounding her success, with critical claims that she is a 'record company invention' and that her angry young woman attitude is just a facade. Alanis Morissette: Death of Cinderella is the first book to explore this talented singer's rollercoaster life.
Synopsis
Traces the life and career of the popular Canadian rock singer, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at her recordings.
