Uninvited (song)

"Uninvited" is a song by Canadian-American recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette, released as a single from the soundtrack of City of Angels in February 1998, becoming Morissette's first new recording since her international debut album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). After the release of the album, Morissette was considered one of the biggest music stars, and many fans anxiously awaited a follow-up. Morissette wrote the song, while the production was handled by Morissette herself and Rob Cavallo. "Uninvited" is driven by four piano notes and builds to an instrumental climax, and haunting atmosphere accompanied by cryptic lyrics.

"Uninvited"
Single by Alanis Morissette
from the album City of Angels: Music from the Motion Picture
Released24 February 1998
Length4:34
LabelMaverick
Songwriter(s)Alanis Morissette
Producer(s)Alanis Morissette, Rob Cavallo
Alanis Morissette singles chronology
"All I Really Want"
(1996)
"Uninvited"
(1998)
"Thank U"
(1998)

Background and release

After the massive success of her breakthrough album, Jagged Little Pill (1995) (which spawned the worldwide hits, "You Oughta Know", "Ironic", "Head over Feet" and "You Learn"), Morissette was considered one of the biggest music stars in the world, and many fans anxiously awaited a follow-up album.[1] That would be Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, released in November 1998; however, she released "Uninvited" as the lead single from the City of Angels soundtrack prior to that.

"Uninvited", was released to American radio stations in March 1998 and was still receiving substantial radio airplay by the following August.[2] An internet and radio leak of "Uninvited" in early March forced Warner Bros. to release the entire soundtrack to radio before it became available in stores. According to a publicity manager for Warner Music Canada, the measure was "an inconvenience" taken to stop radio stations from playing low-quality versions of the song downloaded from the internet.[3]

Following the song's leak, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) took down several websites featuring the song. "Uninvited" was due for release on 31 March, but was leaked to radio on 6 March. Newsbytes, a computer industry news service, reported that fast-working fans in Los Angeles, upon hearing the song on KROQ, taped the track and uploaded it onto their websites. Several sites were involved, according to Newsbytes, including ones based in Los Angeles, London and Mexico City.[4] The unauthorized material was removed, and in several cases, the whole site was shut down. The action was part of a campaign by the RIAA to stop unauthorized reproductions of recordings on the internet.[4]

"Uninvited" was not included on Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, but a demo version was included as a bonus track on the Australian and Japanese releases of the album as well as a B-side in the UK CD single for "Thank U". The compilation Alanis Morissette: The Collection (2005) was Morissette's first album to include the song in its original studio format; she had performed an acoustic version of the song during her 1999 MTV Unplugged appearance, which was released as the album Alanis Unplugged. An acoustic version of the song was also included on the video album Live in the Navajo Nation.

Composition

"Uninvited" is driven by four piano notes and builds to an instrumental climax. According to one critic, "Uninvited" is a moody song that contains an "indelible melody and haunting atmosphere" accompanied by cryptic lyrics.[5]

Reception

"Uninvited" was nominated for three Grammy Awards in 1999: Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, Best Rock Song and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television, winning the former two categories.[6] It also won an ASCAP Award for Most Performed Song from Motion Pictures and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song - Motion Picture. Additionally, the song entered About.com's "Top 10 Alanis Morissette Lyrics" list at number 10, with Bill Lamb picking the lyrics, "Like anyone would be, I am flattered by your fascination with me, Like any hot blooded woman, I have simply wanted an object to crave" as the best.[7] Although never officially released as a single to retail outlets (which prevented it from charting on the Billboard Hot 100), the song became a hit for Morissette. "Uninvited" was Morissette's fourth number-one single on the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream chart and it reached the top five on the Adult Top 40 and the top 40 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Worldwide, "Uninvited" was a commercial success selling over 7 million copies.[8]

Music video

No music video accompanied the single's release, but three videos of performances of "Uninvited" were released: the first one at the 1999 Grammy Awards, another on the Feast on Scraps (2002) release, and another on the extended cut of VH1 Storytellers: Alanis Morissette. This performance was not included in the original Storytellers broadcast in 1999.

Charts

Notable covers

Freemasons version

"Uninvited"
Single by Freemasons featuring Bailey Tzuke
from the album Unmixed
Released22 October 2007
Recorded2007
GenreElectronica, progressive house
Length3:08
LabelUniversal
Songwriter(s)Alanis Morissette
Producer(s)Freemasons
Freemasons singles chronology
"Nothing but a Heartache"
(2007)
"Uninvited"
(2007)
"When You Touch Me"
(2008)
Bailey Tzuke singles chronology
"Uninvited"
(2007)
"All I Need"
(2013)
Music video
"Uninvited" on YouTube

English band Freemasons recorded a version of "Uninvited" featuring British singer and songwriter Bailey Tzuke for their 2007 album Unmixed. This version experienced success in the United Kingdom and European markets. To date, the song is the band's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom, peaking at number eight on the Official Singles Chart for three weeks, topping the UK Dance Chart, and receiving a Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry for selling more than 200,000 copies. The single experienced the most commercial success in the Flanders region of Belgium, reaching number two on the Ultratop 50 in February 2008.

Weekly charts
Chart (2007–2008) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[21] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[22] 11
France (SNEP)[23] 11
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[24] 1
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[25] 8
Ireland (IRMA)[26] 50
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 5
Scotland (OCC)[29] 9
UK Singles (OCC)[30] 8
UK Dance (OCC)[31] 1
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[32] 23
Year-end charts
Chart (2007) Position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 99
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[34] 55
Chart (2008) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[35] 13
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[36] 43
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[37] 11
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[38] 42
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[39] 52
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[40] 67

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other covers

Japanese rock band Coldrain recorded a cover of "Uninvited" for their 2017 album, Fateless. It would put an unusual twist on the song, adding in a 45-second guitar solo from the middle, towards the end of the song.[42] Australian singers Greg Gould and Damien Leith covered the song for Gould's album 1998.[43] American rock band Earshot released a cover version on 15 May 2020.[44] American rock band Red Sun Rising released a cover of the song as a single in 2017.[45]

References

  1. "Rock on the Net: Alanis Morissette". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  2. Rosen, Craig. "'City' A Set-Up For New Alanis, Goo Goo Dolls Albums". Yahoo! Music. 27 August 1998. Retrieved 11 November 2006.
  3. Cairney, Richard. "Cover Story" Archived 18 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine. SEE Magazine. 19 March 1998. Retrieved 11 November 2006.
  4. "Morissette's "Uninvited" Websites Shut Down, No Tours on the Books".
  5. "MTV Unplugged - Alanis Morissette - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  6. "1998 41st Grammy Awards". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Lamb, Bill. "Top 10 Alanis Morissette Lyrics". About.com. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  8. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (25 December 1999). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. via Internet Archive.
  9. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3592." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  10. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3562." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  11. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3559." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  12. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (14.5. – 21.5. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 15 May 1998. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  13. "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  14. "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  15. "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  16. "Alanis Morissette Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  17. "Danishcharts.com – Alanis Morissette – Uninvited". Tracklisten.
  18. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63 no. 12. 14 December 1998. p. 20. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  19. "RPM's Top 50 Alternative Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  20. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1999. p. 34. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  21. "Ultratop.be – Freemasons feat. Bailey Tzuke – Uninvited" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  22. "Ultratop.be – Freemasons feat. Bailey Tzuke – Uninvited" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  23. "Lescharts.com – Freemasons feat. Bailey Tzuke – Uninvited" (in French). Les classement single.
  24. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  25. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  26. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Freemasons". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  27. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 1, 2008" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  28. "Dutchcharts.nl – Freemasons feat. Bailey Tzuke – Uninvited" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  30. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  31. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  32. "Freemasons Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  33. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2007". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  34. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2007". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  35. "Jaaroverzichten 2008" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  36. "Rapports annuels 2008" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  37. "Dance Top 100 – 2008" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  38. "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2008" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  39. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2008". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  40. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2008" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  41. "British single certifications – Freemasons ft Bailey Tzuke – Uninvited". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 April 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Uninvited in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  42. "UNINVITED – coldrain". YouTube. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  43. "1998 album". Apple Music. April 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  44. "New Single: coming Friday May 15, 2020 to all digital music stores and online streaming services". May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020..
  45. "2017 single". Apple iTunes. March 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
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