Basically, I had never stopped in my whole life, hadn’t taken a long breath, and I took a year and a half off and basically learned how to do that. When I did stop and I was silent and I breathed… I was just left with an immense amount of gratitude, and inspiration, and love, and bliss, and that’s where the song came from, you know.
– Alanis who talked with MTV about the break between LPs and the first single.
After the massive success of her breakthrough album Jagged Little Pill (1995), Morissette was considered one of the biggest music stars in the world, and many fans anxiously awaited a follow-up album. During a trip to India, in 1997, Alanis wrote some songs, including Thank U. The lyrics document Morissette’s spiritual awakenings following her trip to India, as well as other physical and internal journeys. In Thank U (later changed to Thank You on her 2005 Greatest Hits compilation), Alanis expresses the heartfelt gratitude, inspiration, and compassion that she felt at the time she wrote it.
I have always been a great admirer of this song and is my Desert Island Alanis song choice, although her 2019 hit Reasons I Drink is close on its tail.
Thank U was from her fourth studio album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998). The song was written by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, who produced her previous record, Jagged Little Pill. Alanis’ first entry here at Observation Blogger – Hand in My Pocket was from that same album. On the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Thank U peaked at number 17 and in Canada hit No. 1 and stayed there for 3 consecutive weeks. It also peaked at No. 15 on the Australian charts – where I first heard it.
Thank U was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2000 Grammy Awards, but lost to Sarah McLachlan’s I Will Remember You. Also, while we are on Sarah’s song, I point you to Andy Bernard’s version of it here from The Office.
The music video below for Thank U stands out for its bold depiction of vulnerability and self-exploration, making a significant impact alongside the song’s introspective themes. Morissette is completely nude with her long hair shrouding her breasts and her pubic region blurred out. It was directed by French director Stéphane Sednaoui (who previously directed “Ironic” for Morissette).
While being asked why she chose to be nude in the video, Morissette said, “Actually, the idea for that video hit me in my shower – I was thinking about the song and its simplicity and its baring itself, and I just thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if I could just walk around New York City or grocery stores in just a symbolism of being naked everywhere I went?‘ It was filmed in Downtown Los Angeles, under a closed set.
[Verse 1]
How ’bout getting off of these antibiotics
How ’bout stopping eating when I’m full up
How ’bout them transparent dangling carrots
How ’bout that ever elusive kudo
[Chorus]
Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you, thank you silence
[Verse 2]
How ’bout me not blaming you for everything
How ’bout me enjoying the moment for once
How ’bout how good it feels to finally forgive you
How ’bout grieving it all one at a time
[Bridge]
The moment I let go of it
Was the moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it
Was the moment I touched down
[Verse 3]
How ’bout no longer being masochistic
How ’bout remembering your divinity
How ’bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How ’bout not equating death with stopping
References:
1. Thank U – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
When it comes to Alanis Morissette, I think “Jagged Little Pill” was the only album from which I had heard any songs to date. I best remember “Hand in My Pocket,” which I’ve always liked. “Thank U” sounds pretty good as well. She has a pretty unique voice.
Alanis has made some really good songs (at least to my ears) since her mega-hit record ‘Jagged Little Pill’ including: ‘Hands Clean’, ‘Everything’, ‘Reasons I Drink’ and ‘Thank You’.
I don’t think I would want to be her boyfriend.
Back in her Jagged Little Pill days, you mean? Or still? Her music and persona seems to have mellowed over the years, and I wouldn’t complain being her boyfriend now. Haha.