Alanis MorissetteIronic (3:48)

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About This Track

“Ironic” is a song written by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard and produced by Ballard for Morissette’s third album Jagged Little Pill (1995). It was released as the album’s fourth single in 1996.

Musically, the song is a glossy take on a basic grunge music format with delicate, sparsely-instrumented verses alternating with loud, aggressive chorus sections. Lyrically, it comprises a series of vignettes describing situations that end with the question “Isn’t it ironic?”

Because “Ironic” was Morissette’s first single to be given a commercial release in the United States, it was eligible to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number four. As of 2008, it was her highest-peaking single in the US. “Ironic” became Morissette’s third number-one hit on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart and her first on the Top 40 Mainstream chart and received frequent rotation on Adult Top 40 radio stations. It reached the Top Ten in Germany and peaked just outside the Top Ten in the United Kingdom, becoming Morissette’s first top twenty hit there.

“Ironic”, which contains a reference to a plane crash (…”and as the plane crashed down, he thought, ‘well, isn’t this nice?’”), was on the list of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks, and subsequently left off the set list during her 2002 tour.
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  • h2oleeds

    I think she must have known none of the examples were ironic, as this actually makes the song itself incredibly ironic.

    last week
  • EricValeev

    i like it! :)

    last week
  • rosanak

    And isn’t it ironic… don’t you think?

    13 days ago
  • KingFahtah

    Yeah..it's really bad luck. I thought only Americans didn't understand irony

    19 days ago
  • I_See_sound

    No, it's unfortunate!

    last month
  • xxlostandfound

    its a free ride, when you've already paid. ♥

    last month
  • heldenzeit-

    Childhood memories. :)

    last month
  • richhudsonsmith

    I didn't realise how much I liked Alanis Morissette. I now have 5 of Alanis Morissette songs in my library. Jaged Little Pill is now one of my favourite songs of all time. Thank You Last FM.

    last month
  • lastinglove

    Just a good bashing song. Pure 90's. :D

    March 2012
  • V7C2784

    hipsters made this their theme song ironically ....

    March 2012
  • cazyd2003

    love this track never get sick of it its great work

    March 2012
  • BrandersonWade

    though she is not using the correct term. this is my childhood

    February 2012
  • jacobfreakscene

    none of these things are ironic

    February 2012
  • vickles_

    <3 Love this.

    February 2012
  • pharmman52

    an amazing album she was never going to top it

    January 2012
  • flickothewrist

    Favourite song of hers, from for me, her finest work. an incredible album packed with wonderfully creative songs, the deep and emotional lyrics are amazing, superb stuff

    January 2012
  • djdd123

    <3 this

    January 2012
  • KeithJones

    Such a great song! [2]

    January 2012
  • kemp678

    Who woulda thought? It figures.

    December 2011
  • dandymark

    Such a great song...........LOVE IT!!!!

    December 2011
See all 410 shouts

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