Also, with this CD, you get the lyrics to both "Hand In My Pocket" as well as "Not The Doctor" in both English and Japanese in the lyric booklet, plus other information on Alanis Morissette in Japanese text.

Let's face it, the tracks on this single aren't anything extremely special... you get the overplayed but awesome Alanis tune "Hand In My Pocket" and a live version of "Not The Doctor" from a Japanese concert, but thats it. This item is more of a collectible because of it's artwork not the music.

Japanese singles are getting harder and harder to find in stores worldwide for a fair price, and you might not think this price is fair, but it is. This single on a collectibles market is worth $ right now, and will go up in the future. Plus, even if you don't sell it, you still get the awesome artwork and OBI strip (Japanese info strip). It's basically your decision... I like it, but it's not for everyone.


A timeless and classic pop song from Alanis!   February 20, 2004
Busy Body (London, England)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

In 1995, Alanis Morissette released her debut album "Jagged Little Pill." At first the album was a slow-burner and sold a few hundred thousand copies. As the months went by, though, the album picked up speed and began selling considerably well. When the first single from the album, "You Oughta Know," debuted on radios and MTV stations across the world, I think about 98% of the global population stopped dead in their tracks and stood in awe at this angst-ridden vixen whine to us about a lover who left her for someone else. The woman was scored, and out for revenge. Jagged Little Pill soon enough started to climb the charts all over the world. Produced by Glen Ballard and apparently recorded in under three weeks, the album was perfect. It was just what everyone needed at this time, and it sold by the truckload. It topped the charts in the US, and went on to shift a staggering 17 million copies in America alone! In the UK, it topped the charts through 1995 and 1996 for 21 weeks and sold more than 3 million copies. In Australia at the time, it became only the second album in history to sell more than 1 million copies, breaking all possible records. This pattern was repeated across Europe, Asia and the rest of the known world. Alanis Morissette was a phenomenon, and Jagged Little Pill sold almost 30 million copies worldwide to become the biggest selling album by a female in the history of music.

"Hand In My Pocket" was the second single to be taken from Jagged Little Pill in October 1995. The song was a traditional mid-tempo pop song, with familiar rock influences. The song went on to become one of the biggest radio hits of the Nineties, but didn't do very well in the sales chart - probably because everyone already had it on the album! The lyrics on Hand In My Pocket completely reflect Alanis' wonderfully charismatic and laid-back approach to life. Her vocals on this song are exceptional and you can really sing along to it as much as you want. The lyrics are at times serious but mostly funny, and contain references that we can all relate to at times in our lives.

Hand In My Pocket starts off with the classic drum and guitar beat that made this song so popular and Alanis starts to sing the first verse, "I'm broke but I'm happy, I'm poor but I'm kind, I'm short but I'm healthy yeah! I'm high but I'm grounded, I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed, I'm lost but I'm hopeful baby!" What a simplistic verse, which is then, rather unsurprisingly, followed by the fantastic chorus, "And what it all comes down to, is that everything's gonna be fine, fine, fine! Cause I've got one hand in my pocket and the other one is giving a high five." Alanis then moves onto the second verse, "I feel drunk but I'm sober, I'm young and I'm underpaid, I'm tired but I'm working yeah! I care but I'm restless, I'm here but I'm really gone, I'm wrong and I'm sorry baby!" Alanis then sings the chorus once more, "And what it all comes down to is that everything's gonna be quite alright. Cause I've got one hand in my pocket and the other one is flicking a cigarette!" The song also picks up momentum and the guitar becomes louder.

The beat then trips into a catchy style, making way for Alanis' majestic harmonica solo which makes this song so retro with that classic mid-90's feel that brings back the memories. Alanis then sings the chorus, lyrically slightly altered, again, "And what it all comes down to is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet. Cause I've got one hand in my pocket and the other one is giving a peace sign!" Alanis then sings the final verse, "I'm free but I'm focused, I'm green but I'm wise, I'm hard but I'm friendly baby! I'm sad but I'm laughing, I'm brave but I'm chicken s**t, I'm sick but I'm pretty baby!" She then sings the chorus once more in my particular favourite tone, "And what it all boils down to is that no one's really got it figured out just yet. Well I've got one hand in my pocket and the other one is playing the piano! And what it all comes down to my friends, yeah, is that everything is just fine, fine, fine! Cause I've got one hand in my pocket and the other one is hailing a taxi cab!"

Hand In My Pocket is one of earliest memories of a song that I truly remember listening to on the radio and enjoying. I was only 8 year's old at the time, but I distinctly remember singing my little heart out in my dad's car and thinking "Wow! What a really catchy song!" And for that reason alone it's one of my most listened to and timeless songs ever. Alanis really made it big in 1995, and completely revolutionized the music industry at the same time as empowering women all over the world. An essential single for all.


Quite Good   July 2, 2000
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I have become an Alanis fan and I really enjoyed this import (even if it's a tad overpriced). 'Hand in My Pocket' is a really good song, and 'Not the Doctor' is one of my favorite Alanis songs. Almost entirely worth it.