Unsent
Encyclopedia
"Unsent" is a song by Alanis Morissette
on her 1998 album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
. It was released as the album's third single
on March 18, 1999 and was not as successful as Morissette's earlier singles. It was one of the few Junkie tracks on which she played her harmonica
. Morissette directed the music video
for the song.
Without a chorus or hook
, "Unsent" is an unconventional song. The lyrics consist of letters addressed to Morissette's former boyfriends and friends. The demo
version of "Unsent" contains the real names of the friends: "Matthews" (referring to singer Dave Matthews
from the Dave Matthews Band
), "Eric", "Terry", "Marc", "Terrance", "Christian" (Christian Lane
from the band Loud Lucy), and "Taylor" (Taylor Hawkins
from the Foo Fighters
).
For the studio cut, some letters were dropped. Only five of them survived, but the people mentioned were renamed to protect their privacy: "Matthews" became "Matthew"; "Eric" became "Jonathan"; "Terry" became "Terrance"; "Marc" became "Marcus"; "Christian" became "Lou".
It opens with "Matthew" playing the guitar to Morissette, who feels she's bothering him and says she should leave. He says she should, but in a kind way. Alanis looks happy, but uncomfortable and leaves.
The second act shows Morissette, with curly hair, sitting with "Jonathan" at a bar, asking if she could come to wherever he is going the next day. She's concerned girls are coming to the trip too. He says she can, but doesn't look too interested.
The third act shows Alanis and "Terrance" (played by Josh Hopkins
) by the lake, having a conversation about whether he is coming to visit her, to which he responds jokingly that he's "too busy". They laugh and look really happy.
"Marcus" is the fourth to be shown. They kiss on a sofa, and he says he is very proud of Alanis. "What for?" she replies, and he says "[to be] open to testing different waters at the same time". Morissette looks confused, awkward, and sad.
The last scene shows Morissette entering a car driven by "Lou". They say "hi" to one another, but the only other dialogue is when Lou says "What are you thinking?" at the very end of the video.
A 10 minute movie of the video is available with no music and no subtitles, but you can hear the actors speak this time. It shows extended footage of all five stories.
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
on her 1998 album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie is the fourth album and second internationally released album by singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released by Maverick Records in the United States on November 3, 1998...
. It was released as the album's third single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
on March 18, 1999 and was not as successful as Morissette's earlier singles. It was one of the few Junkie tracks on which she played her harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
. Morissette directed the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song.
Without a chorus or hook
Hook (music)
A hook is a musical idea, often a short riff, passage, or phrase, that is used in popular music to make a song appealing and to "catch the ear of the listener". The term generally applies to popular music, especially rock music, hip hop, dance music, and pop. In these genres, the hook is often...
, "Unsent" is an unconventional song. The lyrics consist of letters addressed to Morissette's former boyfriends and friends. The demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
version of "Unsent" contains the real names of the friends: "Matthews" (referring to singer Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
from the Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
), "Eric", "Terry", "Marc", "Terrance", "Christian" (Christian Lane
Christian Lane
Christian Lane is an American born singer-songwriter. His first band, Loud Lucy, was part of the Chicago indie-rock scene of the early-to-mid-1990s.-Career:Loud Lucy's debut album, Breathe, was released by Geffen Records in 1995....
from the band Loud Lucy), and "Taylor" (Taylor Hawkins
Taylor Hawkins
Oliver Taylor Hawkins is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters....
from the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
).
For the studio cut, some letters were dropped. Only five of them survived, but the people mentioned were renamed to protect their privacy: "Matthews" became "Matthew"; "Eric" became "Jonathan"; "Terry" became "Terrance"; "Marc" became "Marcus"; "Christian" became "Lou".
Music video
The music video was directed by Alanis Morissette herself. Its format reminds of a movie, with subtitles portraying everything that the characters are saying.It opens with "Matthew" playing the guitar to Morissette, who feels she's bothering him and says she should leave. He says she should, but in a kind way. Alanis looks happy, but uncomfortable and leaves.
The second act shows Morissette, with curly hair, sitting with "Jonathan" at a bar, asking if she could come to wherever he is going the next day. She's concerned girls are coming to the trip too. He says she can, but doesn't look too interested.
The third act shows Alanis and "Terrance" (played by Josh Hopkins
Josh Hopkins
William Joshua Hopkins is an American actor.-Career:Hopkins joined the fourth, and last season, of New York Undercover in 1998. In 1999 Hopkins starred in Alanis Morissette's "Unsent" music video...
) by the lake, having a conversation about whether he is coming to visit her, to which he responds jokingly that he's "too busy". They laugh and look really happy.
"Marcus" is the fourth to be shown. They kiss on a sofa, and he says he is very proud of Alanis. "What for?" she replies, and he says "[to be] open to testing different waters at the same time". Morissette looks confused, awkward, and sad.
The last scene shows Morissette entering a car driven by "Lou". They say "hi" to one another, but the only other dialogue is when Lou says "What are you thinking?" at the very end of the video.
A 10 minute movie of the video is available with no music and no subtitles, but you can hear the actors speak this time. It shows extended footage of all five stories.
Track listing
- "Unsent" (album version) – 4:08
- "Are You Still Mad?" (BBC/Radio One live) – 3:59
- "London" (Bridge School Benefit live) – 4:46
Charts
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
58 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream | 21 |
| New Zealand | 28 |
| Canadian | 9 |