Experience I have been a fan since 1995. Met her a few times. Run a web site devoted to her. Run a mailing list as well.
Be sure to visit my website:
http://www.alanis.nadine.morissette.com
Question What are the songs Sympathetic Character, One, Would Not Come, So Pure, and Joining You about? Thanks! =]
Answer Hi Alex,
Sorry for the super delay, I did not realize I had a pending question. My site actually answered your question, this link: http://members.aol.com/am69dana/sfijm.html
Below are her explanations of the song, this was courtesy of Reprise Records website back in 1998.
Enjoy,
Dana
Sympathetic Character:
I needed to get to the root of why I was so afraid of conflict and being around anger. We live in a society that sees rage as something that is to be repressed or something that is explosive and destructive...we aren't taught how to express our rage, having it be heard and released in a non-destructive way. This song was my recounting my fears of having spent a lot of time around people that couldn't control (their rage). The writing of this song enabled me to be able to see rage as natural and not to fear my own.
One:
I was safe enough with this person to show him parts of myself that I needed to express in order to change them. I hadn't been able to do this in the past because those parts of myself would have been judged. In being judged I would not have been able to move through them. I also explore and understand the concept of our interconnectedness.
Would Not Come:
Revelations based on what happened in the past three years in particular. Fame, money, "status" ... constantly feeling I had to look outside of myself to see who I was and to feel bliss. Having to "achieve," run, grasp or "become" something other that what I was in order to be worthy/accepted. Putting it down on paper made me realize the disservice I was doing to my true self and how transparent and unfilling it can be to put all my happiness in the hands of external brass rings.
So Pure:
Both the expression of anger and the expression of joy have been equally vulnerable for me at the different times in my life. I allowed myself to be inspired and infatuated with this person who is unapologetically and exuberantly themself.
Joining You:
My reaching out to a friend who was questioning his own suffering by my saying that who we are within can manifest itself externally rather than allowing society's illusions to define who we are.
