National Post (National Edition)
In touch with Alanis
As of July 1, if you say “Alexa, Happy Canada Day,” Alanis Morissette will sing O Canada via your virtual assistant.
And beginning Friday, the You Oughta Know hitmaker shares seven different Canadian thoughts of the day, including growing up in Ottawa, by simply saying, “Alexa, what’s Alanis’s thought of the day?”
Others Canadians featured singing the anthem in the Amazon Canada campaign include country artists The Reklaws, rapper Shad (a spoken word reflection), Josh Ramsay of pop act Marianas Trench, Quebec’s Bobby Bazini and pop star Johnny Orlando. Just ask, “Alexa, sing the national anthem by (the artist’s name).”
We caught up with Morissette, 46, from her home in the San Francisco Bay area.
Q When you think of Canada, what do you think?
A I think of a country that is lush in its beauty, filled with friendly people who only snap sometimes (laughs) and like their health insurance.
Q Is it hard to be away from your hometown right now during the pandemic?
A I miss Canada every day. And can’t wait to go back.
Q You’re now a mother of three. What do you tell your kids about Canada? Or do they know it well through visiting?
A Ever and Onyx and Winter, too, they all know they are Canadian, as well as American, and I never let them forget it.
Q Have you sung the anthem in any major circumstances previously? Is it hard to sing?
A The anthem is gorgeous and super fluid to sing. I have performed the anthem countless times at sports events, etc.
Q You were supposed to be on tour this summer for Jagged Little Pill (JLP)’s 25th anniversary but COVID-19 put a stop to that. What have you been doing instead?
A The tour has been rescheduled for a time when it is safe for us all to gather (2021). I have been recording songs, being a mom, nursing my new baby boy Winter. (I have) a new record called Such Pretty Forks in the Road. (There’s) the Broadway musical (version of Jagged Little Pill). We did a Zoom chat. And I have been teaching and leading meditations. And many more things.
Q What would you tell Alanis from JLP days?
A I would encourage her to have guardians around her who really take her well-being into account. I was surrounded by a lot of people who had agendas around “getting” by being associated with me. I felt pretty alone.”