Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1998
Unsent
Buy Unsent now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Unsent
| cover = Alanis Morissette - Unsent.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Alanis Morissette
| album = Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
| released =
| recorded = Mid-1998
| studio = Royaltone (Los Angeles)
| genre =
| length = 4:08
| label =
| composer =
| lyricist = Alanis Morissette
| producer =
| prev_title = Joining You
| prev_year = 1999
| next_title = So Pure
| next_year = 1999
| misc =
}}
"'Unsent'" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette from her fourth studio album, 'Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie' (1998). The lyrics were written by Morissette, who also composed the music with Glen Ballard. It was released as the album's third single on March 18, 1999. It was one of the few 'Junkie' tracks on which she played her harmonica. Morissette directed the music video for the song. Without a chorus or hook, "Unsent" has an unconventional song structure. The lyrics consist of letters addressed to Morissette's former boyfriends and friends. The single became a moderate hit, reaching number nine in Canada, number 28 in New Zealand, and number 58 in the United States.
Background
While introducing the song on VH1's 'Storytellers' special in 1999, Alanis Morissette said:
A demo version of the song included lyrics about Morissette's former touring drummer, Taylor Hawkins.
Music video
Alanis Morissette directed the song's music video. Its format reminds of a movie, with subtitles portraying everything that the characters are saying. It opens with "Matthew" playing the guitar to Morissette, who feels she's bothering him and says she should leave. He says she should, but in a kind way. Alanis looks happy, but uncomfortable and leaves. The second act shows Morissette, with curly hair, sitting with "Jonathan" at a bar, asking if she could come to wherever he is going the next day. She's concerned girls are coming on the trip too. He says she can, but doesn't look too interested.
The third act shows Alanis and "Terrance" (played by Josh Hopkins) by the lake, having a conversation about whether he is coming to visit her, to which he jokingly responds that he's "too busy". They laugh and look happy. "Marcus" is the fourth to be shown. They kiss on a sofa, and he says he is very proud of Alanis. "What for?" she replies, and he says "[to be] open to testing different waters at the same time". Morissette looks confused, awkward, and sad. The last scene shows Morissette entering a car driven by "Lou". They say "hi" to one another, but the only other dialogue is when Lou says "What are you thinking?" at the very end of the video.
A 10-minute movie of the video is available with no music and no subtitles, but the actors speak this time. It shows extended footage of all five stories.
Track listings
'Canadian and Australian CD single'
# "Unsent" (album version) 4:08
# "Are You Still Mad" (BBC/Radio One live) 3:59
# "London" (Bridge School Benefit live) 4:46
'US promo CD'
# "Unsent" (album version) 4:09
# Call-out research hook 4:11
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
Category:1999 singles
Category:1998 songs
Category:Alanis Morissette songs
Category:Maverick Records singles
Category:Reprise Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Glen Ballard
Category:Songs written by Alanis Morissette
Category:Songs written by Glen Ballard
Buy Unsent now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1998