Ironic (song)
"Ironic" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Alanis Morissette | ||||
from the album Jagged Little Pill | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | February 27, 1996 | |||
Recorded | 1994 – April 1995 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:48 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | Glen Ballard | |||
Alanis Morissette singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Ironic" on YouTube |
"Ironic" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released in February 1996 by Maverick and Warner Bros. as the third single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). It was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard, and was produced by him. The lyrics present several unfortunate situations that are described as "ironic"; this has led to debate as to whether any of these match the accepted meaning of irony.[2]
For six weeks, the track topped the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, eventually becoming the second-most-successful song of the year in the country. It also reached the top five in Australia, New Zealand, and Norway. In the United States, the song reached number four on April 13, 1996, and since then it has been her highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100. "Ironic" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song won the Juno Award for Single of the Year, and received two Grammy Award nominations in 1997, for Record of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video. French director Stéphane Sednaoui filmed the music video. In it, Morissette drives through a winter landscape, and she plays multiple roles as her passengers. MTV nominated the music video for six MTV Video Music Awards in 1996, winning three of them. The music video was listed on VH1's "Greatest Music Videos" list and was parodied by DBA Flip, Allison Rheaume, Rusty and "Weird Al" Yankovic.
"Ironic" was included on the set list of Morissette's Jagged Little Pill World Tour (1995), and her compilation albums MTV Unplugged (1999), The Collection (2005), among others. The song was covered by Mexican duet Jesse & Joy for their album Esta Es Mi Vida Sesiones (2007), and by American band Four Year Strong for their cover album Explains It All (2009).
Writing and composition
[edit]"Ironic" was written by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, and produced by the latter for her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995).[3] In an interview with Christopher Walsh of Billboard, Ballard explained how he and Morissette met, and how "Ironic" was written. He commented: "I'm telling you, within 15 minutes we were at it—just writing. 'Ironic' was the third song we wrote. Oh God, we were just having fun. I thought 'I don't know what this is—what genre it is—who knows? It's just good'".[4] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing, it is set in common time, with a moderate tempo of 92 beats per minute,[5] and played in the key of B major (with the chorus being based on the F♯ Mixolydian scale). Morissette's vocals range from the tone of E4 to A♯5, and "Ironic" chord progression starts with the sequence of Emaj7–F♯6–Emaj7–F♯6, before changing to F♯–Badd9–F♯–G♯m7 in the chorus.[5]
Linguistic dispute
[edit]The song's usage of the word ironic attracted media attention; according to Jon Pareles of The New York Times, it gives a distinct "unironic" sense in its implications.[6][7] According to the Oxford English Dictionary, irony is "a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what was or might be expected; an outcome cruelly, humorously, or strangely at odds with assumptions or expectations".[8] From a prescriptivist perspective, lyrics such as "It's a free ride when you've already paid" and "A traffic jam when you're already late" are thus not ironic.[9]
Morissette said: "For me the great debate on whether what I was saying in 'Ironic' was ironic wasn't a traumatic debate. I'd always embraced the fact that every once in a while I'd be the malapropism queen. And when Glen and I were writing it, we were not doggedly making sure that everything was technically ironic."[9] In 2014, Michael Reid Roberts wrote a defense of the song for Salon, saying that it cites situational ironies:[10] the "state of affairs or event[s] that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often wryly amusing as a result".[10] Michael Stevens of the YouTube channel Vsauce devoted time to the discussion of irony in the 2014 episode "Dord". In this video, Stevens considers the difference between the typically cited "situational" irony, versus "dramatic" irony. According to him, the irony of the song may not necessarily be in the situations themselves, but rather in the dramatic irony – when someone is unaware of the significance of the event while others are: the situations aren't ironic themselves, but life itself is ironic.[11]
Comedian Ed Byrne performed a skit in which he jokingly attacked the song for its lack of ironies: "The only ironic thing about that song is it's called 'Ironic' and it's written by a woman who doesn't know what irony is. That's quite ironic."[9] Satirists Berger and Wyse parodied the song in one segment of their cartoon strip The Pitchers. In that episode, a superhero named "Irony Man" compared his superpowers to lyrics from Morissette's song, causing his cohorts to rename him "The Man from Alanis".[12] In December 2009, the comedy website CollegeHumor released a spoof video of the song called "Actually Ironic", featuring actress Sarah Natochenny, in which Patrick Cassels amended the lyrics in a form that would be appropriately ironic. For example, "it's like rain on your wedding day, to the Egyptian sun god Ra."[13][14] The CollegeHumor spoof was similarly replicated in July 2013 with a song called, "It's Finally Ironic" by sisters Rachael and Eliza Hurwitz, from New York City, who published their version on YouTube.[15] The sisters adjusted the lyrics to reflect irony (e.g., "it's a black fly in your chardonnay, that was specifically purchased to repel black flies") and sing the line "We fixed it for you, Alanis. You're welcome." throughout their video.[16] In his 2014 song "Word Crimes", "Weird Al" Yankovic references Morissette's lyrics by singing "Irony is not coincidence", and the music video for the song shows a fire truck burning (depicted as "Irony") compared with rain during a wedding (which is described as "Weather").[17] Morissette herself poked fun at her grammar mistakes during a 2013 performance of "Semicolon" with The Lonely Island on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. In it, Morissette cut off their song to explain that their use of hashtag rap to demonstrate the function of a semicolon is incorrect, to which they respond that her critiquing their grammar is "ironic".[18] Morissette further poked fun at herself in a 2015 performance of an updated version "Ironic" on The Late Late Show with James Corden, in which she added the line "It’s singing 'Ironic', when there are no ironies" to the song.[19]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]Jaime Gill from Dot Music commented on the original version of "Ironic", on his review of Jagged Little Pill Acoustic (2005), that "[Jagged Little Pill] gave us pop's greatest parlour game, with spot the genuine irony in 'Ironic'" and calling the song "pretty" and "catchy". Additionally, he noted that the acoustic version “actually sounds more relaxed and engaging without the hoary loud guitars of the original".[20] Even though Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic marked the track as one of the "All Media Guide track pick" of the album,[21] in a separate review, from the same website, the CD single release was rated with two-and-a-half out of five stars.[22] Pareles noted that in verses of "Ironic", and another song from the album ("Mary Jane"), "it's easy to envision Morissette on the stage of a club, singing wry couplets backed by acoustic guitar".[23] He also commented in another article he wrote, that the song was actually "unironic".[7] Victoria Segal from Melody Maker praised it as "a perfectly nice piece of bubbling folk rock."[24] A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, noting that it "builds into another powerful anthem with beautiful echoes of The Cocteau Twins. It could see her break into the Top 20 for the first time."[25] Dave Brecheisen of PopMatters felt that the acoustic version of "Ironic", was much worse than the original version.[26] The single won the Juno Award for Single of the Year at the 1997 ceremony,[27] and in the same year it was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the category of Record of the Year.[28][29][30]
Chart performance
[edit]In Canada, "Ironic" debuted on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks at number 95 on the issue dated January 8, 1996.[31] Twelve weeks later the track topped the chart, on April 1, 1996,[32] staying there for six weeks,[33] being replaced by "Closer to Free" by American band BoDeans.[34] Spending twenty-nine weeks within the top 100, it was last seen on July 22, 1996, at number 81.[35] It spent 14 weeks in the top 10 and was the number-two song of 1996, behind Morissette's own "You Learn" at number one. On other RPM charts, the single topped the Alternative 30 for a single week, spending 11 weeks in the top 10,[36] finishing 1996 as the number-five song for the year on that chart. It reached number six on the Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.[37]
In the US, the track debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 following its commercial release, becoming the highest debut on the issue ending March 16, 1996.[38] The single eventually reached its peak position, at number four, on April 13, 1996.[39] "Ironic" is currently Morissette's highest-charting hit on the Hot 100 chart.[40] On other US charts, the single became her third number-one hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart,[41] where it stayed for three weeks.[38][42][43] The song topped the Top 40/Mainstream chart, reached number five on Adult Top 40 and peaked at number 28 on the Adult Contemporary chart.[44]
In Australia, the song debuted at number 40 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[45] In its eighth week, it peaked at number three on May 12, 1996, where it stayed for two weeks. It was last appeared on the chart on July 21, 1996, at number 37. As of 2024, "Ironic" is her best-charting song on the country.[45] In New Zealand, where the song was released as a double A-side with "You Oughta Know",[46] it debuted at number 13 on April 21, 1996, peaked at number three on May 19, and made its last appearance on the chart at number 36 on June 30, staying at total of 11 weeks in the top 50.[47] Like in Australia, "Ironic" became Morissette's highest-peaking single in New Zealand, but only at the time; "Thank U" and "Hands Clean" would chart higher in 1998 and 2002, respectively.[48]
The song was generally well-received throughout Europe. In the United Kingdom "Ironic" debuted and peaked at number 11, on April 20, 1996. It left the chart eight weeks later, at number 67.[49] In the Norwegian Singles Charts, it debuted at number 18, rising to number 17 the next week. It rose to number five on its third week, and later peaked at number four, staying there for five weeks. It later dropped one place, and remained there for another two weeks. "Ironic" kept within the chart for seventeen weeks.[50] In Belgium, it reached sixth place on the Ultratop 50 (Flanders region), and ninth place on the Ultratop 50 (Wallonia zone).[51][52]
2001 Clear Channel memorandum
[edit]In September 2001, following the September 11 attacks, "Ironic" was included in Clear Channel Communications's (now iHeartMedia) list of "lyrically questionable" songs, commonly known as the Clear Channel memorandum.[53] This was presumably due to the song's second verse, which tells the story of a man flying in an airplane that crashes.[54]
Promotion
[edit]Music video
[edit]The music video for "Ironic" was directed by Stéphane Sednaoui[55][56] and released on January 23, 1996.[57] In the beginning of the video, Morissette is at a gas station, walking to her automobile (1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V) with a cup of coffee in her hand. Then, she drives her car through a winter landscape, and she begins to sing the song's first verse. When it comes to the chorus, a second Morissette comes in. She is in a green sweater and sits in the backseat on the passenger side. When the first chorus ends, a third Morissette comes in, and she is in a yellow sweater with braided hair, also in the backseat, but on the driver's side. Along the way, the yellow Morissette is singing and eating at the same time, and when it comes to the second verse, a fourth and last Morissette comes in, she is in a red sweater sitting in the front passenger seat. During the second chorus, she climbs out of the window when they are still driving and almost gets knocked out by a bridge, but still manages a smile after doing so. The camera comes back to the driving Morissette, after the breakdown, and she takes off her hat, tosses it into the back seat, and becomes as loud as the other three while singing the song. When Morissette sings the outro, she is still driving through the winter landscape, and suddenly the car breaks down (possibly having run out of gas, which may be "ironic" in itself since the video started with her at a gas station). Morissette (as the driver) gets out of the car, and all her "passengers" have disappeared.
In an interview for Vogue in 2015, Morissette revealed that her clothes in the video reflected the personalities of each character. The driver in a red knit beanie was the one in control, "the responsible one". The spunky character, who Morissette refers to as the “quirkster,” wears a yellow sweater with a crown of long swaying braids. Morissette liked the braids so much that she would often wear them on stage. The passenger-seat girl wearing a deep red sweater and pajama-type pants was "the romantic—wistful and thoughtful and also the risk-taker". As for the girl head-banging in the backseat in green sweater, Morissette said; "The girl in green feels the most like the 'whole me'. The green sweater girl—fun and frolic-y. [She] gets into trouble—she's the girl you want with you when you are heading to a water park."[58]
Blaine Allan noted in the book Television: Critical Methods and Applications (2002) how Morissette interacts with the watcher. He commented that unlike Britney Spears' "Lucky" music video, where Spears plays dual role of a girl named "Lucky" and her fan, and both appear together in some scenes helped by visual effects, "Ironic" does not utilize them, using solely editing, giving the sense that all the Morissettes interact with each other.[59] Journalist Carol Vernallis also found that Morissette's "chitchat" way of singing the song creates an intimate connection with the viewer. She mentioned the video in her book Experiencing Music Video: Aesthetics and Cultural Context (2004), where she studied how the audience may pay attention to the lyrics of the song in a music video. Vernallis added that "Ironic" music video functions as a limited example of how the meaning of a song's lyrics become "inaccessible" when they are videotaped and televised.[60]
Charles Aaron from Spin called "Ironic" music video "neat".[61] The video was nominated for six MTV Video Music Awards in 1996: "Video of the Year", "Best Direction in a Video", "Viewer's Choice", "Best Female Video", "Best New Artist in a Video" and "Best Editing", winning the last three.[62] It was nominated in 1997 for the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.[63] Also, it was listed number eighteen at VH1's 100 Greatest Videos.[64]
In late 1996, a parody version of the video was released featuring a 6-year-old Canadian girl named Allison Rheaume, who mimics Morissette's actions and wardrobe while lip syncing to the original song.[65] At the end, her father notices her in the car sitting in the driveway and tells her to stop fooling around. This version of the video, directed by David Rheaume,[66] was played on MTV and was included on Morissette's CD/DVD The Collection (2005).[67] Also in late 1996, the video was spoofed by Jimmy The Cab Driver during a commercial on MTV.[65] Inglewood, CA rapper DBA Flip parodied the video for his 1996 single "It's Friday Night (Just Got Paid)". At the end of the video, Flip's car runs out of gas as he rolls up on an Alanis Morissette lookalike carrying a gas can and wearing one of the jackets from the "You Learn" video.[68]
Canadian band Rusty parodied "Ironic" on the version 2 of the music video for their 1997 single "Empty Cell".[69] "Weird Al" Yankovic produced a parody version of the video in 2003 for his television comedy series Al TV, in which he takes the place of the fourth version of Morissette in the front passenger seat.[70][unreliable source] In 2018, Toronto R&B singer Ramriddlz paid tribute to "Ironic" on the music video for his single "Worst Love".[71]
Live performances
[edit]The single was added in the set list for Morissette's concert tour, Jagged Little Pill World Tour (1995).[72] The song was added to the tour's video album Jagged Little Pill Live (1997).[72] Since then, "Ironic" has been included in her albums MTV Unplugged (1999),[73] Feast on Scraps (2002),[74] Live in the Navajo Nation (2002),[75] and The Collection,[76] as well as 1997 Grammys and the MTV Unplugged compilation albums.[77][78]
With "Ironic", Morissette denoted her support for same-sex marriage. In March 2004, Morissette amended a lyric at the fifteenth annual GLAAD Media Awards: "It's meeting the man of my dreams /And then meeting his beautiful husband".[79][80] She commented to USA Today that her support about same-sex unions "goes a step further than clever lyrics."[81] She remarked that "[her] fantasy would now be to marry some of [her] gay couple friends."[81] Later in June 2004, she said to VH1: "I don't have any gay-couple friends who are formally engaged, but I would be honored to support the gay community in that way ... I did it as a sort of spontaneous thing at a radio station about a month ago with a couple, and my heart was so with them."[79] Morissette recorded an acoustic version of the song with the changed lyric for her iTunes Originals release, in 2004.[82] Another acoustic version was recorded for the album Jagged Little Pill Acoustic,[83][84] as well for the compilation album Cities 97 Sampler, Volume 16 (2004).[85] Morissette also performed the song with Avril Lavigne at the House of Blues in 2005.[86]
Track listings
[edit]
|
|
Personnel
[edit]Personnel are adapted from the "Ironic" CD single.[3]
- Alanis Morissette – vocals, producer, writer
- Glen Ballard – producer, guitar, writer
- Lance Morrison – bass guitar
- Rob Ladd – drums and percussion
- Michael Thompson – organ
- Basil Fung – guitar
- Chris Fogel – mixing
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[113] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[132] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP)[133] | Gold | 250,000* |
Italy (FIMI)[134] sales since 2009 |
Gold | 35,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[135] | Gold | 5,000* |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[136] | Gold | |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[137] | Gold | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[139] | Platinum | 664,000[138] |
United States (RIAA)[141] | Gold | 600,000[140] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canada | February 27, 1996 |
|
Warner Bros. | [142][143] |
France | [144] | |||
United States | [145][146] | |||
United Kingdom | April 8, 1996 |
|
Maverick | [147] |
Germany | April 19, 1996 | Warner Bros. | [148] | |
Japan | June 25, 1996 | CD single |
|
[149] |
Covers and use in media
[edit]In 2003, Ji-In Cho covered the song for the German version of the Fame Academy talent show, which became a success in the German charts.[150] "Ironic" was covered in 2007 by Mexican duo Jesse & Joy for their album Esta Es Mi Vida Sesiones,[151] and the pop punk band Four Year Strong for their 90s cover album Explains It All (2009).[152]
In the 1996 novel Naïve. Super by Norwegian author Erlend Loe, the protagonist watches the music video for the song on television and dreams about "meeting an Alanis-girl and living in a house together with her".[153] In a season 4 episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, entitled "Bob and Carol and Lois and Clark", several characters make joking references to the song not really being about irony at all throughout the episode.[154] In the Jay and Silent Bob comic Chasing Dogma (1998), the character Tricia Jones is singing "Ironic" before Jay steps into the shower.[155] The music of the song was featured in the romantic comedy film I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007), where Saoirse Ronan, as Izzie Mensforth, sings an altered version of the lyrics in a talent show.[156] It also made a predominant appearance as the opener to 2013 comedy film The Internship, starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, as they sing along to it.[157]
In 2015, Morissette appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden and sang a version of the song with new lyrics "updated" for the technology era, and an homage to the linguistics of the original mentioned above.[158]
See also
[edit]- List of Mainstream Top 40 number-one hits of 1996 (U.S.)
- List of RPM number-one singles of 1996 (Canada)
- List of RPM Rock/Alternative number-one singles (Canada)
- Number one modern rock hits of 1996
References
[edit]- ^ Myers, Owen (January 22, 2023). "Kylie Minouge - Impossible Princess". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Roberts, Michael Reid (May 8, 2014). "What everybody gets wrong about Alanis Morissette's "Ironic"". Salon. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ a b c Morissette, Alanis (1996). Ironic (Compact Disc). Alanis Morissette. California, United States: Maverick Records. 9362-43700-2 4.
- ^ Walsh, Christopher (June 30, 2001). "Boutique Distributors Make Noise Under The Radar". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 26. Nielsen Business Media. p. 38. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b "Ironic – Alanis Morissette Digital Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Universal Music Publishing Ltd. Musicnotes Inc. May 2009.
- ^ Waltonen, Karma; Du Vernay, Denise (2010). The Simpsons in the classroom: embiggening the learning experience with the wisdom of Springfield (XVIII ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company Inc. Publishers. p. 277. ISBN 978-0-7864-4490-8. OCLC 492091426.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon (May 16, 2004). "MUSIC; The Solipsisters Sing Out Once Again". The New York Times Company. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
- ^ "irony". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
- ^ a b c Horberry, Roger (2010). Sounds Good on Paper: How to Bring Business Language to Life (XVII ed.). London, England: A & C Black Publishers Ltd. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-4081-2231-0. OCLC 659730168.
A common misconception is that 'ironic' is a direct synonym for coincidental. The lyrics of Alanis Morissette's UK top 11 (and US top five) hit Ironic describes a number of apparently ironic situations, each verse ending with the refrain 'Isn't it ironic?' To which the answer must be a polite but firm 'no', as the lyrics are a succinct explanation of what irony isn't. How ironic.
- ^ a b Roberts, Michael Reid (May 8, 2014). "What everybody gets wrong about Alanis Morissette's "Ironic"". Salon. Salon Media Group. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ Michael Stevens (August 12, 2014). Dord (video). Vsauce. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
- ^ Berger, Joe; Wyse, Pascal (2008). "The Pitchers > 2008". The Pitchers. Berger & Wyse. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ^ Cassels, Patrick; Carl Sondrol (December 2009). "Actually Ironic". CollegeHumor. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
- ^ Cassels, Patrick (December 26, 2006). "Lines From Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic,' Modified to Actually Make them Ironic". CollegeHumor. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
- ^ Hurwitz, Rachel (July 10, 2013). "It's Finally Ironic" (Video upload). YouTube. Google, Inc. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Orenstein, Hannah (July 20, 2013). "Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic' Is Now Finally Ironic". Mashable Inc. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Wickman, Forrest (July 15, 2014). "Weird Al Is Tired of Your "Word Crimes" in New Video". Slate. Graham Holdings Company. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ Coulehan, Erin (June 7, 2013). "Lonely Island, Alanis Morissette Team Up on 'Kimmel'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- ^ Meyer, Robinson (May 9, 2015). "At Last, Alanis Morissette Recognizes It's Not Ironic - The Atlantic". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
- ^ Gill, Jaime (August 2, 2005). "Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill Acoustic". Yahoo! Music UK. Yahoo! Inc. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ "Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Ironic – Alanis Morissette". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (August 13, 1995). "Recordings View; A U.S. Debut, but She's No Debutante". The New York Times Company. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
- ^ Segal, Victoria (April 13, 1996). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 36. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. March 30, 1996. p. 10. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
- ^ Brecheisen, Dave (August 30, 2005). "Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill Acoustic". PopMatters. Archived from the original on January 5, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
- ^ "Yearly Summary". Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
- ^ Walsh, Christopher (June 30, 2001). "Boutique Distributors Make Noise Under The Radar". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 26. Nielsen Business Media. p. 40. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ Germain, Georges-Hébert (1998). Celine: The Authorized Biography of Celine Dion (I ed.). Toronto, Canada: Dundurn Press Ltd. p. 403. ISBN 1-55002-318-7. OCLC 41527907.
- ^ Kot, Greg (January 8, 1997). "Pumpkins A Smash With 7 Grammy Nominations". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Company. p. 12. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 62, No. 21, January 08 1996". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. January 8, 1996. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- ^ a b "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2933." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ *Peak chart positions for "Ironic" on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart:
- "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 8, April 08 1996". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. April 8, 1996. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 9, April 15, 1996". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. April 16, 1996. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 10, April 22, 1996". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. April 22, 1996. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 11, April 29, 1996". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. April 29, 1996. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 12, May 06 1996". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. May 6, 1996. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 13, May 13, 1996". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. May 13, 1996. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 63, No. 23, July 22, 1996". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. July 22, 1996. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
- ^ a b "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 2920." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ a b "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2964." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ a b "Billboard: The International, Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 11. Nielsen Company. March 16, 1996. p. 110. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Billboard: The International, Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 15. Nielsen Company. April 13, 1996. p. 100. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
- ^ "Alternative Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Company. March 23, 1996. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
- ^ "Alternative Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Company. March 30, 1996. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
- ^ "Ironic – Alanis Morissette". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ a b "Alanis Morissette – Ironic (Song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
- ^ "The Official NZ Music Charts 19 May 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- ^ a b "Alanis Morissette – Ironic". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Search for: Alanis Morissette". Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- ^ "Archive Chart – 20th April 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic (Song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic (Nummer)" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic (Chanson)" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
- ^ "It's the End of the World as Clear Channel Knows It". Slate. The Washington Post Company. September 17, 2001. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
- ^ Rock, Michael (September 9, 2021). "25 Songs That Were Banned From the Radio After 9/11". WBSM. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "The Work of Director Stéphane Sednaoui (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster, Inc. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
- ^ "The Work of Director Stéphane Sednaoui [DVD]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette - Ironic". mvdbase.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
- ^ Satenstein, Liana (February 27, 2015). "Isn't It Ironic? Alanis Morissette Weighs In on Her 4 Iconic Fashion Choices for "Ironic"". Vogue.
- ^ Allan, Blaine (2007). Television: Critical Methods and Applications (3rd ed.). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. p. 310. ISBN 978-0-8058-5415-2. OCLC 71005849.
- ^ Vernallis, Carol (2004). "Experiencing Music Video: Aesthetics and Cultural Context". Journal of the Society for American Music. New York City, New York: Columbia University Press: 139–140. ISSN 1752-1963. OCLC 4669115003.
- ^ "Smashing Pumpkins: Welcome to Their Jungle". Spin. 12 (3). New York City, New York: Camouflage Associates. June 1996. ISSN 0886-3032.
- ^ "MTV Video Music Awards | 1996". MTV Networks. MTV. 1996. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
- ^ The 39th Annual Grammy Awards (Television production). Grammy Awards. New York City, New York: National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. February 26, 1997. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ 100 Greatest Videos (Television production). VH1. Viacom Productions. May 7, 2003. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ a b "Cindy Gets Tea-d Off". Chicago Tribune. October 15, 1996.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette [Imitator] – Ironic". MuchMusic. CTVglobemedia Inc. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
- ^ Morissette, Alanis (2005). Alanis Morissette: The Collection (Liner Notes) (DVD). Alanis Morissette. United States: Maverick Records, Warner Bros. Records. 0 9362-49563-2 7.
- ^ "DBA Flip - It's Friday Night (Just Got Paid)". YouTube. June 16, 2016. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021.
- ^ "Rusty - Empty Cell - Version 2 [Official Video]". YouTube. January 30, 2018. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021.
- ^ "Weird Al" Yankovic (June 17, 2003). Weird Al Presents Al-TV (Television production). Los Angeles, California: VH1. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
- ^ Darville, Jordan (February 14, 2018). "Ramriddlz's new video is a faithful Alanis Morissette tribute". The Fader.
- ^ a b Phares, Heather. "Jagged Little Pill Live". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Alanis Unplugged". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ "Feast on Scraps [DVD]". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ "Live in the Navajo Nation". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2011.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Collection". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ Ankeny, Jason. "1997 Grammy Nominees". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
- ^ Rob, Theakston. "Very Best of MTV Unplugged". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ^ a b Vineyard, Jennifer (June 4, 2004). "Alanis Isn't Angry Anymore — She's In Love". VH1. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on August 29, 2005. Retrieved August 23, 2006.
- ^ "Swimsuit Special: 18 Pages of Guy Candy". Out. 14 (8). Here Media: 41. February 2006. ISSN 1062-7928.
- ^ a b Keck, William (March 28, 2004). "Politics in play at gay awards". USA Today. Gannett Company, Inc. Retrieved August 23, 2006.
- ^ Morissette, Alanis (2004). iTunes Originals – Alanis Morissette (Digital Download). Alanis Morissette. United States: Maverick Records.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Jagged Little Pill Acoustic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ Morissette, Alanis (2005). Jagged Little Pill Acoustic (Compact Disc). Alanis Morissette. United States: Maverick Records, Warner Bros. Records. 9362-49345-2.
- ^ Cities 97 Sample, Volume 16 (Compact Disc). Various Artists. Minneapolis, Minnesota: KTCZ-FM. 2004.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Morissette, Alanis; Avril Lavigne (2005). Alanis Morissette (feat. Avril Lavigne) – Live – House of Blues (Compact Disc). Alanis Morissette. Hollywood, California: House of Blues.
- ^ Morissette, Alanis (1996). Ironic (Liner Notes) (Maxi Single). Alanis Morissette. California, United States: Maverick Records. 9362-43700-2.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 32. August 10, 1996. p. 11. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Nr. 165: Vikuna 13.4. – 19.4. '96". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 13, 1996. p. 38. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ironic". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Alanis Morissette" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic". VG-lista.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette – Ironic". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
- ^ "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1996". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ "Ultratop Belgian Charts" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ "Ultratop Belgian Charts" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved June 4, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "RPM Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Retrieved June 4, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "RPM Year End Alternative Top 50". RPM. Retrieved June 4, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Music & Media 1996 in Review – Year End Sales Charts" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. December 21, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "Classement Singles – année 1996" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1996" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ "Árslistinn 1996". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1997. p. 25. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ "Dutch Top Year End". MegaCharts. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996" (in Dutch). Retrieved June 4, 2018.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1996" (in German). Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ "1996: The Year In Music". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. Nielsen Company. December 28, 1996. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1996" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 33. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Mainstream Rock Tracks" (PDF). Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 23. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
- ^ "This Year in Music: Hot Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. December 28, 1996. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
- ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs Of 1996" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 30. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs Of 1996" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 32. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Alanis Morissette – Ironic". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ "French single certifications – Alanis Morissette – Ironic" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Alanis Morissette – Ironic" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 2, 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Ironic" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Alanis Morissette – Ironic / You Oughta Know". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – Alanis Morisette – Ironic". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Copsey, Rob (March 2, 2020). "Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill at 25: From slow-burner to trailblazer". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "British single certifications – Alanis Morissette – Ironic". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 3. BPI Communications Inc. January 18, 1997. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
- ^ "American single certifications – Alanis Morissette – Ironic". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Ironic / Forgiven / Not the Doctor / Wake Up [Maxi, Import] ". Amazon Canada. Amazon Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ "Ironic/Forgiven/Not the Doctor (Audio Cassette)". Amazon Canada. Amazon Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ "Ironic / Forgiven / Not the Doctor / Wake Up [CD single, Single Maxi, Import] " (in French). Amazon France. Amazon Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ "Ironic / Forgiven / Not the Doctor / Wake Up [Single]". Amazon United States. Amazon Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ "Ironic/Forgiven/Not the Doctor". Amazon United States. Amazon Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 6, 1996. p. 47.
- ^ "Ironic/You Oughta Know/Mary Ja [Single, Maxi]" (in German). Amazon Germany. Amazon Inc. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
- ^ "アイロニック | アラニス・モリセット" [Ironic | Alanis Morissette] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ "Fame Academy featuring Ji-in Cho: Ironic". Musicline.de (in German). Phononet GmbH. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
- ^ Garibay, Daniel (October 1, 2008). "Comparten Jesse y Joy sus 'sesiones'". Reforma (in Spanish). Grupo Reforma. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
[P]laticó Jesse, acerca de Esta es mi Vida Sesiones, su nuevo disco ... También contiene el cover de Alanis Morissette, "Ironic"...
- ^ Leahey, Andrew. "Explains It All – Four Year Strong". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
- ^ Loe, Erlend (2001). Naïve. Super. Vol. 1 (I ed.). Edinburgh, Scotland: Canongate Books. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-84195-672-5. OCLC 60418971.
- ^ "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" Bob and Carol and Lois and Clark (TV Episode 1996) - IMDb, retrieved April 16, 2023
- ^ Smith, Kevin; Duncan Fegredo (w, a). Chasing Dogma, vol. 1, no. 1, p. 8 (1998). Oni Press, 158240206X.
- ^ I Could Never Be Your Woman (DVD) (Motion picture). California: Bauer Martinez Studios. 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ "Review: The Internship". Toronto Film Scene. June 7, 2013. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
- ^ Alanis Morissette Updates 'Ironic' Lyrics (Television). 2015. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
External links
[edit]- "Alanis Morissette – Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 23, 2006.
- Boon, Andrew, "The Search for Irony: a textual analysis of the lyrics of Ironic by Alanis Morissette", The Reading Matrix, 5: 129–142 (2005).
- How we learned to love Alanis Morissette's 'irony' – discussion of the definition of "irony" which is hotly disputed in this song
- CS1: unfit URL
- 1990s ballads
- 1996 singles
- 1996 songs
- Alanis Morissette songs
- Irony
- Juno Award for Single of the Year singles
- Maverick Records singles
- MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
- Music videos directed by Stéphane Sednaoui
- Rock ballads
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- Songs based on actual events
- Songs about death
- Songs about old age
- Songs written by Alanis Morissette
- Songs written by Glen Ballard
- Warner Records singles