August 1 and 2 – Alanis Morissette came to perform for a jam-packed two-night concert at MOA Arena for the Manila stop of the Jagged Little Pill Tour. The multi-Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter is one of the most notable female rock icons that emerged in the ‘90s. 

Released 28 years ago, the album that shares the tour title had sold 33 million copies worldwide and had defined a whole generation of Gen X and Millennials. Her fans, now dubbed as titos and titas of the Philippines, pushed their way to travel despite the persistently heavy rains all over Manila. Presented by Ovation Productions, the concerts were a glorious return for the iconic singer as well as a celebration of an era long gone (but clearly never forgotten).

Ice Seguerra opened for the show. He performed the hit “Pagdating ng Panahon”, a haunting acoustic cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and The Beatles’ “Come Together”.

Before Alanis appeared onstage, a video montage featuring some of her most notable appearances on TV including her guestings in SNL, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, her MTV Unplugged set and her cameo in the 1999 movie Dogma where she played God. It also featured snippets of Justin Bieber singing “Ironic” with James Corden on Carpool Karaoke, a hopeful youth singing “Uninvited” for her American Idol performance, a skit featuring Justin Timberlake in 2016 – proof of how Alanis Morissette’s influence thrived in the 90s and spread like waves to the following generations.

When the opening riffs of “All I Really Want” was heard across the Arena, everyone was cheering loudly. Alanis Morissette sprang across the stage in a white baggy shirt and jeans, and sang like she owned the stage. Her ever powerful vocals, her fiery rock n’ roll charisma and the great live band backing her up were enough to take the crowd back to the ‘90s.

It was 1996 when Alanis Morissette played Manila, but it would seem the years did not take a toll on her. She blazed from one song to the next, effortlessly singing while flipping her long locks of hair and spinning like crazy. 

The Filipino crowd went off singing along karaoke-style to the ever favorites “Hand in My Pocket”, “Head Over Feet” and “Ironic”. There was also the screaming angst in “You Learn” and “Forgiven” in contrast to the enthralling fragility in “Mary Jane” and “Unforgiven”. Alanis also inserted a few songs from her 2020 album Such Pretty Forks in the Road — “Reasons I Drink”, “Ablaze” and “Smiling”. 

For the finale, she thanked the crowd for coming and ultimately performed “Thank U”.

Special thanks to Ovation Productions

Written by Sandra Mae Laureano
Photos from Ovation Productions (Denise Vina/Kris Rocha)

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Alanis Morissette Live in Manila 2023 Setlist
All I Really Want
Hand in My Pocket
Right Through You
You Learn 
Forgiven 
—Everything (snippet)
Mary Jane
Reasons I Drink
Head Over Feet
Ablaze 
Perfect
Wake Up
Not the Doctor 
Ironic
Smiling
You Oughta Know

Your House
Uninvited
Thank U