Alanis Morissette Performs ‘You Oughta Know’ on MGM’s ‘Words + Music’

Alanis Morissette has been performing “You Oughta Know” for 30 years, and yet the record remains a striking encapsulation of her artistry. The singer-songwriter appears on the MGM+ documentary series Words + Music to deliver a chilling live rendition of the Jagged Little Pill single and reflect on the three decades that have passed since its release.

During the episode, scheduled to air on Dec. 21, Morissette is joined on stage by three musicians, who provide a sparse backdrop to her powerhouse vocal performance. The screen behind them flashes with images from throughout her career, including packed festival appearances and intimate concerts. Morissette’s complete performance will feature other hit songs as well as new material, all filtered through her reflections on healing and anger in connection to creating art.

Words + Music revitalizes the audio series launched by Audible in 2021. “Musicians express what we mere mortals think and feel, but they do it better….and with a melody,” Gunpowder & Sky CEO Van Toffler shared in a statement. “Adapting Words + Music for a visual medium gave our studio, and our producing partners Alex Coletti and Bill Flanagan, an incredible opportunity to merge lyrics, music, performance, and visual art. The result is something as intimate as a backstage confession and as cinematic as a feature film. These aren’t just stories about iconic songs – they’re portraits of how those songs, and the artists behind them came to be.”

Morissette’s episode will follow deep dives with John Legend, Sheryl Crow, and Elvis Costello. According to a release, the series, which debuted on Nov. 30, “will feature iconic artists sharing stories about songs pivotal to their careers, followed by all-new performances of those songs either solo or with a band.” New episodes premiere on Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on MGM+.