Unsent

---

title: "Unsent" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1999-singles", "1998-songs", "alanis-morissette-songs", "maverick-records-singles", "reprise-records-singles", "song-recordings-produced-by-glen-ballard", "songs-written-by-alanis-morissette", "songs-written-by-glen-ballard", "breakup-songs", "songs-about-friendship", "songs-about-letters-(message)"] description: "1999 single by Alanis Morissette" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsent" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1999 single by Alanis Morissette ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

Field	Value
name	Unsent
cover	Alanis Morissette - Unsent.png
border	yes
type	single
artist	Alanis Morissette
album	Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
released
recorded	Mid-1998
studio	Royaltone (Los Angeles)
genre
length	4:08
label
composer
lyricist	Alanis Morissette
producer
prev_title	So Pure
prev_year	1999
next_title	That I Would Be Good
next_year	1999
misc
::

| name = Unsent | cover = Alanis Morissette - Unsent.png | alt = | border = yes | type = single | artist = Alanis Morissette | album = Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie | released = | recorded = Mid-1998 | studio = Royaltone (Los Angeles) | genre = | length = 4:08 | label = | composer = | lyricist = Alanis Morissette | producer = | prev_title = So Pure | prev_year = 1999 | next_title = That I Would Be Good | next_year = 1999 | misc = "Unsent" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette from her fourth studio album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998). The lyrics were written by Morissette, who also composed the music with Glen Ballard. It was released as the album's third single on March 18, 1999. It was one of the few Junkie tracks on which she played her harmonica. Morissette directed the music video for the song. Without a chorus or hook, "Unsent" has an unconventional song structure. The lyrics consist of letters addressed to Morissette's former boyfriends and friends. The single became a moderate hit, reaching number nine in Canada, number 28 in New Zealand, and number 58 in the United States.

Background

While introducing the song on VH1's Storytellers special in 1999, Alanis Morissette said:

A demo version of the song included lyrics about Morissette's former touring drummer, Taylor Hawkins.

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor of Billboard wrote positively of "Unsent", naming it the most affecting single out of all the Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie singles. He called Morissette's vocals "lovely" and that it would bring the singer back to "a dominant place on the playlists of modern rock, adult, and mainstream top 40."

Music video

Morissette herself directed the song's music video. Its format reminds of a movie, with subtitles portraying everything that the characters are saying. It opens with "Matthew" playing the guitar to Morissette, who feels she's bothering him and says she should leave. He says she should, but in a kind way. Alanis looks happy, but uncomfortable and leaves. The second act shows Morissette, with curly hair, sitting with "Jonathan" at a bar, asking if she could come to wherever he is going the next day. She's concerned girls are coming on the trip too. He says she can, but doesn't look too interested.

The third act shows Alanis and "Terrance" (played by Josh Hopkins) by the lake, having a conversation about whether he is coming to visit her, to which he jokingly responds that he's "too busy". They laugh and look happy. "Marcus" is the fourth to be shown. They kiss on a sofa, and he says he is very proud of Alanis. "What for?" she replies, and he says "[to be] open to testing different waters at the same time". Morissette looks confused, awkward, and sad. The last scene shows Morissette entering a car driven by "Lou". They say "hi" to one another, but the only other dialogue is when Lou says "What are you thinking?" at the very end of the video.

A 10-minute movie of the video is available with no music and no subtitles, but the actors speak this time. It shows extended footage of all five stories.

Usage in media

In the American television show Cougar Town, Season 4 Episode 10 'You Tell Me', the video is referenced due to character Grayson Ellis', (played by Josh Hopkins), appearance as Terrance, which he wants to keep a secret. The secret gets out and another character Andy Torres, (played by Ian Gomez), shares his secret that he appeared in the Alanis Morissette Video 'Hands Clean' as the Music Executive.

Track listing

Canadian and Australian CD single

1. "Unsent" (album version) – 4:08
2. "Are You Still Mad" (BBC/Radio One live) – 3:59
3. "London" (Bridge School Benefit live) – 4:46

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1999) | Peak position | Australia (ARIA) | US Adult Alternative (Radio & Records) | US CHR/Pop (Radio & Records) | US Hot AC (Radio & Records) | US Pop/Alternative (Radio & Records) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 85 | | | | | | | | 29 | | | | | | | | 16 | | | | | | | | 12 | | | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (1999)	Position	Canada Top Singles (RPM)	Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)	US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)	US Hot AC (Radio & Records)
42
61
58
62
::

References

References

1. "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie".
2. (1999). "Unsent". [[Maverick Records]].
3. (September 20, 2022). "Alanis Morissette - About 'Unsent' (1999 Storytellers)".
4. "Alanis Morissette -- VH1 Storytellers Transcript".
5. (September 11, 2020). "Alanis Morissette - Dear Taylor".
6. Taylor, Chuck. (January 23, 1999). "Reviews & Previews — Singles: Alanis Morissette, "Unsent"". [[Prometheus Global Media]].
7. "Josh Hopkins".
8. (July 13, 2007). "Unsent movie – video Dailymotion".
9. (1999). "Unsent". Maverick Records.
10. "ariaNET The Chart! Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 5th April 1999". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
11. (February 19, 1999). "R&R The Back Pages – National Airplay Overview: February 19, 1999".
12. (February 26, 1999). "R&R The Back Pages – National Airplay Overview: February 26, 1999 – CHR/Pop".
13. (February 12, 1999). "Pop/Alternative Top 20".
14. "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks".
15. "RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary".
16. (December 24, 1999). "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999".
17. (December 10, 1999). "Top 99 of 1999 – Hot AC".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::