"All I Really Want" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, and produced by Ballard for Morissette's third album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). It was released by Maverick Records as the album's sixth and final single in the United Kingdom in November 1996, and in Australia in February 1997. The song is also the opening track of Jagged Little Pill. It was the last song written for Jagged Little Pill but originated from a song called "The Bottom Line", which was the first song Morissette wrote with Glen Ballard. The single peaked at number 14 on the US BillboardModern Rock Tracks chart in December 1995, number 40 on the ARIA Charts in Australia and number 59 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1996.
"All I Really Want" opens the album Jagged Little Pill with a raw, energetic sound. The song features prominent harmonica, distorted guitars, and drum programming, creating an alternative rock and pop-rock arrangement. Morissette's vocal delivery is characterized by rapid-fire, stream-of-consciousness phrasing that shifts between melodic singing and spoken-word passages. The production, helmed by Glen Ballard, combines the song's aggressive instrumental textures with polished studio clarity, reflecting the post-grunge aesthetic popular in mid-1990s alternative rock. The track's structure alternates between verses driven by Morissette's breathless vocal cadence and a more anthemic chorus section.
Lyrics
The lyrics of "All I Really Want" express a desire for genuine connection and personal freedom. Throughout the song, Morissette references Estella, the cold and emotionally distant character from Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations, using the comparison to explore themes of emotional unavailability and learned defensiveness in relationships. The song's stream-of-consciousness style presents a series of desires and frustrations, with Morissette listing what she wants from a partner and from life, including honesty, understanding, and the freedom to be herself without judgment. Rather than focusing on a single narrative, the lyrics capture a restless, introspective state of mind, moving rapidly between vulnerability and self-assertion.
Critical reception
Helen Lamont from Smash Hits gave "All I Really Want" five out of five and named it Best New Single, writing, "Aww, wow! This is fantastic! This is definitely the strangest Single of the Fortnight — and the best. Alanis growls her way through from start to finish, squealing over a dancebeat and tripping over her words. Her vocals are—uh—distinctive (the closest thing is Dolores from The Cranberries), but when you get past all the gimmicky fancy bits, what you've left with is still a brilliant, original tune. There's not many bands who can do both, because having both makes a top song indeed."[6]
In 2011, jazz musician Louis Durra recorded a version of "All I Really Want" with DJ Rob Swift, which appeared on the Tangled Up In Blue EP and the album Arrogant Doormats.
In 2020, Melbourne electronic artist Sui Zhen released a cover of the song for the Remote Control Records compilation Bloom and Simmer. Zhen explained that she chose the track because the lyrics resonated with her, noting that despite over 20 years since purchasing Jagged Little Pill, she could still remember all the words.
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