“You Ougtha Know” by Alanis Morissette
“You Ougtha Know” is yet another song centered on a vocalist being caught up in her post-breakup feelings, while her ex has a new lover and seems to be having the time of his life. That said, relatively speaking, this song is quite specific, thus successfully giving the impression that it is in fact based on a real-life romance which Alanis was in.
And Morissette begins by wishing the addressee the best in his new romance, but she is doing so sarcastically. We know this because as the song progresses, she becomes increasingly hostile towards him. In the process, the vocalist reveals that said hostility is based on the fact that the addressee convinced her that he was committed but ultimately ended up, by the looks of things, unceremoniously dumping her.
And Alanis isn’t afraid to put forth that yes, she is indeed hurt and will likely so into the immediate future, if not forever. But she also believes that the addressee will come to miss her, as she apparently gave her all to their union.
Release Date of “You Ougtha Know”
Alanis Morissette, a singer from Canada released “You Ougtha Know” on the 6th of July, 1995. The song was released as a single from her third studio album, “Jagged Little Pill”.
Morissette was earlier signed to MCA Records, Canada. She however achieved very little success after the release of her first two albums, hence her decision to leave the record label. The Canadian singer met American songwriter and record producer, Glen Ballard in Los Angeles with whom she composed a series of songs.
“You Ougtha Know”, was released as one of six singles to help promote the album. The song actually served as the album’s lead single.
Success
The song performed astonishingly well. It peaked at No. 22 in the UK and was No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as the singer’s home country of Canada.
It received a gold certification in New Zealand, platinum in Australia and silver in the UK.
At the 38th edition of the Annual Grammy Awards held in 1996, “You Ougtha Know” was nominated in three categories, namely:
- “Song of the Year” (lost)
- “Best Female Rock Vocal Performance” (won)
- “Best Rock Song” (won)
Covers of “You Ougtha Know”
Since the mid 1990s, a number of cover versions of “You Ougtha Know” have been released. Here a few, worthy of notice:
- The Killing Moon (2006)
- Jonathan Coulton (2004)
- Scala & Kolacny Brothers (2006)
- ApologetiX (1997)
- Off the Beat (1996)
Did Alanis Morissette write “You Ougtha Know”?
Yes. Morissette teamed up with Glen Ballard to compose the song. Glen, being a record producer himself, later took up the task of its production.
The “Jagged Little Pill” Album
“Jagged Little Pill” was recorded in the following recording studios in Hollywood, California:
- Westlake Recording Studios
- Signet Sound
The album was released on June 13 of 1995. Aside from its 1995 official release, deluxe editions were released in October of 2015 and in June 2020 as part of its 20th and 25th anniversary commemoration respectively. “Jagged Little Pill” became Morissette’s first album to be released outside of her home country, Canada.
It was produced by Glen Ballard and released through the defunct American record label, Maverick and Reprise Records.
Aside from releasing six singles to assist with the album’s promotion, Morissette embarked on a concert tour, “Jagged Little Pill World Tour” in 1995 to create awareness for the album.
Album’s Success
Commercially, the album could be said to be very successful. It made it to the apex of charts in several countries including:
- Australia
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Portugal
- Scotland
- Switzerland
- US
- UK
The album recorded sales of over 33 million copies globally and is regarded as one of the most successful albums of all time.
The album’s attainment of double diamond sales made Morissette the first Canadian to achieve such a feat.
“Jagged Little Pill” was placed at No. 69 on the 2020 edition of Rolling Stone’s “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list.
The album has earned Morissette several Grammy nominations. For example, at the Grammys of 1996, it was honored with the “Album of the Year” award. It also won the Grammy in the “Best Rock Album” category.
Aside “You Oughta Know”, other notable singles from this album include:
- “Hand in My Pocket”
- “All I Really Want”
- “Ironic”
‘You Oughta Know’ is about love, heartbreak and pain. Most people believe Morissette wrote the song about her ex boyfriend but she mentioned that it was personal and that she wrote it for herself even though sometimes people from her past think it’s about them.
When you listen to the beginning, you realize that she is talking from a different sense of self. She wants the listener to know she’s a different version of herself from who she was before and at this point, we don’t know which self is happy for him though she says she’s happy for him.
She goes on to ask about the new woman; wants to know if she’s as naughty as she is and classy. If she is willing to bear a child for him though she is sure this woman will be a good mother.
She talks about how it seems the love they had was not enough for him. She wants to know if he told the new woman he had talked about being with her till the end even though he did not do that.
In the second verse of the song, she seems hurt as she talks about the mess he made with her and how unfair it was to her. She goes on to talk about how she’s struggling even though he looks fine. She wants to know if she was already out of his mind. She feels betrayed considering how fast he moved on from her but she wants to know if he thinks of her when they have sex.