Hands Clean

"Hands Clean"
Single by Alanis Morissette
from the album Under Rug Swept
Released	January 8, 2002 (2002-01-08) (United States)
Format	CD single
Genre	Pop rock
Length	4:31 (album version) 3:50 (radio edit)
Label	Maverick
Writer(s)	Alanis Morissette
Producer	Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette singles chronology
"That I Would Be Good" (2000) "Hands Clean" (2002) "Precious Illusions" (2002)

"Hands Clean" is a song by Canadian recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette for her fifth studio album Under Rug Swept (2002). It was released as the lead single of the album. The song was written and produced by Morissette herself. She reportedly said in an interview to US Weekly that the song is about an affair she had with a man when she was 14.

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, which some immediately chose the track as a album standout. "Hands Clean" did well through the charts. The song peaked at number twenty-three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song also peaked at number three on the U.S. Adult Top 40. But had topped the charts in New Zealand (Morissette's first number one) and Canada. A accompanying music video was released in 2002 for the single.

Background

The narrative voice of the song alternates; in the verses and bridge, an older man talks to a younger lover, whereas the chorus has the woman reminiscing about that past relationship. She reportedly said in an interview to US Weekly that the song is about an affair she had with a man when she was 14.

An acoustic version of "Hands Clean" was released as a B-side to "Precious Illusions", the album's second single, and included on the Under Rug Swept rarities collection Feast on Scraps.

"Hands Clean" is a "breezy" pop rock track, which is a more slower and describe as a lighter version on "You Oughta Know". The song voice vocal range goes from G3# to B4# chords, while the guitar chords go from B1# to C5#.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic had highlighted the song as a album highlight from Under Rug Swept. He also compared the lyrics and production to her earlier hit "You Oughta Know". Stephen Thompson from The A.V. Club gave it a mixed review. He said that Hands Clean was "so typically unambiguous". But did say the track is "infectious enough to surpass the direst moment of Under Rug Swept". As well as Entertainment Weekly, the had compared the track to "You Oughta Know", saying "'Hands Clean' could be the sequel to [You Oughta Know]".

NME had gave it a more average mixed review, but later finished in a positive review saying "A tolerable enough tune, mind, for those who think their chocolate craving says something poignant about their inner selves." Rob Mitchum joked saying "By assuming Coulier's voice and singing lecherous lines like, "Just make sure you don't tell on me, especially to the members of your family," and, "I might want to marry you one day if you'd watch that weight and keep your firm body," Morissette must be making Coulier very uncomfortable wherever he is today." Nikki Tranter from Popmatters had expressed comparisons to the lyrical content from Morissette's songs "Plastic" and "Jealous", from her first album Alanis. She said "they discuss male weaknesses and the effects that surrounding groups such as family, friends and exes can have on a relationship."

Chart performance

"Hands Clean" had done very well in the charts. The song peaked at number twenty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Adult Top 40 in the United States. The song debuted at number twelve on the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked there, but failed to go further, staying in the charts for seven weeks.

The song had debuted at number nine on the Australian Singles Chart, her highest since "Ironic", but peaked there, staying in the charts for thirteen weeks. The song had debuted at number forty-eight on the New Zealand Singles Chart. It became unsuccessful after ten weeks, but when it landed at number thirty, the next week went to number one, becoming not just Morissette's first number one, but the months biggest jump in 2002. The song also received gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). The song had debuted at number three in Italy and stayed in the charts for nine weeks. The song debuted at number sixty-six on the French Singles Chart, staying in the charts for ten weeks. The song had peaked at number seven in Norway, number five in Germany and number twelve in Austria.

Music video

Background and synopsis

Francis Lawrence directed its music video. It was televised and broadcasted for the single's worldwide release.

The video begins with Alanis sitting in a sushi bar when she spies Chris as he enters. She takes a moment to reflect upon her time with him, which, from the look on her face, was not so good. We see Alanis's memories played out on a television screen, and so the process begins, recorded for public viewing and re-viewing. We see her writing about the relationship, guitar in hand, creating a song which she then records and takes to a record producer, who presses it as a CD. She is soon posing for the CD sleeve photograph and shooting a video, which is played all over the world, just as the CD is being shipped across oceans, in order to be put on display at hip record stores, where it is snapped up by many eager hands. At the video's conclusion, set a year after its beginning, Morissette again sees her former boyfriend enter the same sushi bar. Through her song, and the process of it becoming a hit and then a memory, she has come to terms with her past relationship. On seeing the ex this second time, she is able to move on: before departing the restaurant, she picks up a napkin and wipes her hands clean.

Reception

"Hands Clean" received generally good reviews from music critics, many praising it for being a short and simple video. The song has currently received 1.7 million views on youtube.com.

Track listing

Australian CD 1 / UK CD 1
(242432)

1. "Hands Clean" (album version) – 4:29
2. "Fear of Bliss" (non-LP track) – 4:36
3. "Sister Blister" (non-LP track) – 4:10

UK CD 2

1. "Hands Clean" – 4:29
2. "Unprodigal Daughter" – 4:09
3. "Symptoms" – 4:15

EU maxi-single
(42433)

1. "Hands Clean" – 4:29
2. "Awakening Americans" – 4:25
3. "Unprodigal Daughter" – 4:09
4. "Symptoms" – 4:15

US CD single
(574CD2)

1. "Hands Clean" – 4:29
2. "Awakening Americans" – 4:25
3. "Symptoms" – 4:15

Official versions

• "Hands Clean" (album version) – 4:29
• "Hands Clean" (acoustic version) – 4:08
• "Hands Clean" (radio edit) – 3:50
• "Hands Clean" (sound check)

The album version has a repeat of the chorus before an instrumental solo plays until the end, while the radio edit only plays the chorus once at the end before the instrumental solo.

Charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	12
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	38
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)	40
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	1
Italy (FIMI)	3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	15
New Zealand (RIANZ)	1
Norway (VG-lista)	7
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	32
Switzerland (Swiss Music Charts)	5
United Kingdom (The Official Chart Company)	12
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	23
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks	3
U.S. Billboard Pop Songs	19

External links

• Plugged in Online