I rarely watch TV, but the other evening I was watching and on came the new song/video from Alanis Morissette - “Everything”. In the early part of the video a TTT/pursuit bike team cruises through the field of view as Alanis walks down a desert road. The are going very slowly and she gives one of the cyclists a high five - I think( The scene was all over in a few seconds)! I thought this was very cool - cycling has made it into mainstream North American pop culture, albeit briefly.
I have to imagine that there was some thought put to this. It’s my understanding that these videos are not just an artistic expression but also strategic in the success of the song/album and the artist.
There was some anectdotal reports of her “doing a few triathlons” a few years back as well.
Not sure if that was the inspiration for the cyclists in the current video or not. It’s just very rare to see this sort of image in main-stream pop art of any kind in North America - as I pointed out in my lead post.
"What do you do in your spare time when you’ve sold more records than Wendy’s has bacon cheeseburgers? If you’re Alanis Morissette (and there’s a pretty good chance you’re not), you enter long-distance running events under a false name. The Canadian alt-thrush, sporting a black one-piece bathing suit and a fetching shower cap, entered an event called Mike & Rob’s A Day At The Beach Triathlon in Ventura, CA, three weeks ago under the name Nadine Burke, according to Radio & Records supersleuth Jeff Axelrod.
So what you really want to know, we’re sure, is how did the former child actress/singer do in the race. Well, out of 91 women, she finished in the middle of the pack,"
Actually, my cycling team and I were in her “Hand in My Pocket” video a few years back. It was the 2nd vido from the “Jagged Little Pill” album. We were part of a parade scene and had to ride very slowly and then the shot was shown in slow motion to boot. We were only Cat 3’s and 4’s but I suppose that we still qualify as “real” cyclists.
That’s great that you got to be in the video. She seems to have a thing for cycling and cyclists. Are we sure that it’s Cheryl Crow that is dating Lance and not Alanis!
My apologies about the “real” cyclists reference. It’s just that you never know for this kind of thing - they can use real cyclists or that can get actors to look like real cyclists. You are obviously the real McKoy!
She swam competitively when she was younger (up until about 13) in the Ottawa area. She quit when her first album was released back when she was just Alanis and was singing some really painful 80’s type manufactured pop. Her brother continued to swim for a few years after that.
Based on this - the triathlon thing seems very credible.
There was some anectdotal reports of her “doing a few triathlons” a few years back as well.
I heard a few years back that she cashed out her MP3.com options with several million bucks and to celebrate bought herself a Cervelo Eyre Tri. I always thought this was funny, and cool, that she could buy any model and buys our entry-level bike. I guess it is in keeping with her anti-over consumption stance, I have to admire that.
When I was working for Sugoi I was always amazed when I would get reports of “star” people who had bought the gear at retail and were seen and photographed wearing the gear around.
There are certain high profile entertainment types who definately play-up the profile. There are also those like Alanis and others who play-down the whole thing. I recall standing in the check-in line at LA airport a few years ago next to KD Lang and chatting with her for a bit and it was like I was talking with my sister or a good friend - very low key and personal in the best sort of way.
I was once out riding, north of Toronto, when I cam across the great Steve Fleck. He seemed down to earth as well, easy to talk to. and he was riding a Cervelo Eyre. What is it with low-profile celebrities and Cervelo Eyres? Not sure if K.D. Lang rides an Eyre though. Robin Williams has a P2 and a P3 I believe. Not so low-profile I guess.
I was once running around Skaha Lake in Penticton (more like Shuffling), when down the road, I see a larger than life Fleck running at a sub 3 hour pace DURING an Ironman. The man is no low key celebrity. If he gets off his ass and starts actually training all you 40 years olds are in BIG trouble.
