What will it take to bring a ’90s pop rock icon back to life? A bar, some bands and a very dedicated fan
SHE’S NOT EXACTLY IN THE PRIME OF her career but to Ed Cruz, Alanis Morissette is still the queen. “She’s like oxygen to me. I can’t live without her,” he said.

The 28-year-old tech support guy has been a fan of the pop rock icon since the ’90s, and his love for her hasn’t wavered.

“I love Alanis because she helped me and continuously inspires me to express myself fully and to become a better human being. Her music has been a great source of inspiration, consolation and introspection,” he says.

Back in the late ’90s, Ed put up Alanis2.com, a fan site for Alanis which soon became an online haven for Alanisettes.

“We are a group of people who obviously love Alanis’ music and everything else about her. Most of us have something in common and this is just a bonus. We gather at least once a month to keep ourselves updated.”

It has always been Ed’s desire to host an event that would celebrate Alanis’ musical legacy. Tonight, this dream unfolds at Route 196 in Katipunan with Alanis ’09: Thank U.

“I invited musicians and other special performers for a special tribute night. Each band or performer will be playing an Alanis song. I will also be giving away copies of Alanis’ latest album ‘Flavors of Entanglement,’ which is currently available in record bars in Metro Manila.”

Performers include Top Junk, Swissy, Paramita, Tether and Beng Calma of Drip. Super asked some of these musical acts to share their thoughts on Alanis.

Head over to Katipunan tonight for Alanis ’09: Thank U. This is more than just a gig, this a love letter from a fan.

Alanis ’09: Thank U will happen tonight at 9 p.m at Route 196, 196 Katipunan Ave., Quezon City. Entrance is P150 with one drink. Visit www.alanis2.com or connect with the Alanisettes on Facebook.

Paramita

(Ria Bautista on drums and vocals, Marco de Leon on guitars, Alsey Cortez on bass)

On Alanis: “It’s hard not to know Alanis. She’s one of the best of the ’90s.”

Favorite Alanis song: “‘You Oughta Know’—one of the few songs where you can almost taste the angst.”

Swissy

Sounds Like: The Sundays, The Cardigans

On Alanis: “I have a lot of respect for Alanis. She’s versatile in the sense that she can be appreciated by both the music snobs as well as the mainstream audience. I think she’s an excellent songwriter. Her lyrics are emotional, relatable and full of angst—that’s why we all love her! I think she’ll go down as one of the legendary songwriters of our time.”

Favorite Alanis song: “‘Tapes’ because it’s a song that I see myself in.”

Top Junk

(Marizel Sarangelo on vocals, Jerico Placido on guitars, Dennis Leung on the drums)

Sounds Like: New if you’re young and want to live forever

On Alanis: “Alanis opened up the riot girl movement into a more accessible and palatable form of feminism in a Grammy Award-winning way.”

Favorite Alanis song: “‘Head Over Feet.’ Because it’s sweet and jaded and I can play it with the simplicity of a teenager’s bleeding heart.”

Beng Calma of Drip

On Alanis: “I like her. She was a part of my rebellious high school days.”

Favorite Alanis song: “‘You Oughta Know.’ She was so angry then and I wonder how she feels about that now. Hehe.”