“It’s a free ride, but your Uber’s down the street” Alanis Morrisette updates Ironic lyrics for the digital age

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“It’s a free ride, but your Uber’s down the street” Alanis Morrisette updates Ironic lyrics for the digital age

By Amy Swales

10 years ago

Ah, the heady days of 1995. Relaxing in your sun-and-moon bedroom perhaps, dreamcatcher swaying in the breeze and tattoo choker that bit too tight as you practise drawing yin-yang symbols and idly ponder Alanis Morrisette's grasp of the concept of irony.

It's been 20 years since the singer released Ironic, from third album Jagged Little Pill, and she marked the anniversary by performing a jokey, updated version with James Corden on the actor-turned-host's The Late Late Show – complete with references to some of the online wonders of the 21st century unheard of in the nineties.

In the video, which you can watch below, Morrisette namechecks Facebook, Netflix, Snapchat and Twitter, as well as swapping one line to a Tinder-related woe, with, “It’s like swiping left on your future soulmate”.

Other new lyrics included, “A no-smoking sign when you brought your vape,” and “It’s like Netflix but you own DVDs. It’s a free ride but your Uber’s down the street”.

The star, 41, took the opportunity to have a quick dig at Corden, singing, “It’s 10,000 male late-night hosts when all you want is just one woman. Seriously.”

And Morrisette also addressed the criticism over her use of the word ‘ironic’ by adding in, “It’s singing Ironic, but there are no ironies.”

She has changed the lyrics to the track once before, in 2004 at the GLAAD (formerly Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Awards, singing, “It's meeting the man of my dreams, and then meeting his beautiful husband”.

The performance is not the only duet for 37-year-old Corden, who is releasing a Christmas single with Kylie Minogue this week. Yes, really.

Watch the clip below. The full, official video from The Late Late Show can be found on Youtube, but is only available to users in the United States.

We can only apologise for the fact you'll be humming this all day now.

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