The dates August 1 and 2 of 2023 are memorable for a lot of gen-X and millenials as they spent the evening watching Alanis Morissette sing her hit songs. 

This writer, for one, had tears welling up when she saw Alanis’ family photos flashed on the screen. “I’m happy for her. I’m happy for all of us,” was the thought bubble that popped up. As we sang along to Alanis’ songs, I had flashbacks of how life was back then when her songs were just released and how life has changed (for the better) since then. It was an evening to be grateful—for her songs that assured us that we weren’t alone in this journey of adulting, for the friends who stayed with us through thick and thin, and for the lyrics that helped us endure and get through the most trying times.

The next few days, the social media feed was filled with emotional posts on how the concert “moved” them. We asked them to share their sentiments that one night they listened to Alanis Morissette—live.

Sing, scream, and cry
"After all the existential crisis this year has brought me, and the continuous burden and difficulties of being a woman may it be in business, at home, or wherever we may be… It only took one night with Alanis to be able to sing, scream, and cry my angry heart out. 
I hope that I’d still be dancing, screaming, and moving around with this world as my stage as freely as she did on that stage, even when I’m 50 years old. 
This concert was supposed to be a gift for my sister—because this woman has gone through so much and she just wanted a night away singing the songs that we’d listen to, side ! and side B, on automatic repeat. Little did I know that it’ll be for the both of us, with my BFF Pat Villanueva as the cherry on top."
— Dr. Rica Cruz

So much more meaning now
"The lyrics have so much more meaning now than in high school when I first sang them. In high school, you sing songs of being in love or of heartbreak without really having gone through it yet. Like the line “you are the bearer of unconditional things” from “Head Over Feet”—it has so much meaning now on how it is to truly love someone. "
—Zerline Chan-Ortiz Luis

All in good time
“I racked my brain but nobody had the intensity of our angst today, but I guess teens aren’t as angry now because they get to voice out their issues—and this is a good thing! Another one is that I, for one, really grew up with her songs in my background—same time as when I was in my angry teen phase. And you compare it to our lives now, with the guys we (us and Alanis) ended up marrying and having kids with… you just want to give our teenage versions a hug and say “All in good time. When the right one comes along, everything is just so easy. And you will be so happy—and we are!’”
—Bea Tongco

To be young again
"I felt young again, like I was back in the ‘90s singing her songs with the audience. They remind me of my high school and college days. Core memories were beach days with my barkada as we sang “Ironic” on the car’s CD player."
—Lindsay Bustamante
 

The anthems of our generation
"'Jagged Little Pill' was one of the CDs that was on repeat for the better part of my 20s. Sadly, I missed getting tickets to Alanis Morisette’s 2020 concert. When I heard she was coming back this year, I was going to be there, with ripped jeans, and Chuck Taylors in tow. 

There were too many feelings, and not enough feelings going on when Alanis walked on stage along with the first chords of “All I Really Want.” By the time she got around to “You Learn,” I was bawling!

While also singing along and taking it all in. As she jumped—literally and figuratively—it was an emotional rollercoaster ride through “Jagged Little Pill,” angst and all. Except that Alanis’ songs hit different now. “Head Over Feet” and “Thank U” each brought a fresh wave of tears, and I unashamedly let them flow. Thank you, Alanis, for the anthems of our generation."
—Bebeth Timbol