| "Flinch" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotional single by Alanis Morissette | ||||
| from the album Under Rug Swept | ||||
| Released | May 2002[1] | |||
| Length | 6:03 | |||
| Label | Maverick | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Alanis Morissette | |||
| Producer(s) | Alanis Morissette | |||
| Alanis Morissette singles chronology | ||||
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"Flinch" is a song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette for her fifth studio album, Under Rug Swept (2002). The song, written, arranged and produced by Morissette herself, is inspired by an old flame she previously dated when she was younger. Lyrically, "Flinch" is about feeling ashamed and embarrassed after seeing an ex-boyfriend, and how much he still affects her, with the protagonist claiming that she will eventually grow up and will not even flinch at his name.
The song was released in Brazil as the album's third single, after being onto the soundtrack of the Brazilian soap opera "Desejos de Mulher" in 2002. Critics were divided with the song; some praised its lyrics and Morissette's vocal performance, but others felt it was not as good as her other ballads. The song charted on Brazil's Hot 100 chart, reaching the top-forty. Morissette has performed the song live numerous times, including on her "Toward Our Union Mended Tour" (2002) and her "Live at Montreux 2012 CD/DVD".