Why we love to hate Avril

[catatoniaone]

Why we love to hate Avril


Nevermind the Grammy wins, the Juno nods or the fact that she's sold more albums than most of her contemporaries: At the end of the day, it's not easy being Avril.
For the last several years, she's been the music industry's favorite whipping boy, the target of of everyone from punk rock elitists to grocery store tabloids and, of course, Perez Hilton, who openly delights in pouring salt into her faux pas wounds. Adding insult to injury, her 40-city "The Best Damn Thing" tour of North America has been met with less-than-stellar reviews and poor ticket sales - in both Buffalo, New York, and West Palm Beach, Fla., tickets went for a whopping $9, while the venue in Uncasville, Conn., just up and gave them away).
While "the best damn thing" plays like a cruel joke to most of the country, Rio Grande Valley fans are singing a different tune. Don't hold your breath for last-minute free tickets, Dodge Arena officials warn - in fact, expect something closer to a full house.
"The real fans won't believe stuff like that that they've heard," said Richard Nieto, a self-proclaimed No. 1 Avril fan from Weslaco. "She's unique and doesn't care about what anyone thinks."
Nieto, a 16-year-old Weslaco East High School sophomore, takes pride in his love, er, borderline obsession with the singer. The walls in his room are equally divided between Britney Spears (his other obsession) and Lavigne.
Five years ago he begged a Wal-Mart manager for a life-size cutout, which he still holds near and dear to his heart.
"Everyone's going to be talked bad about and she just doesn't care," he said. "With tickets not selling, when you really look into it on YouTube it's not anything like that."
Come Thursday, Nieto and his entire family will be up close at Dodge Arena, marking his second time seeing Lavigne in concert.
What is it about the Canadian singer that gets people so riled up? Is it her angst-ridden persona, her infectious pop songs or the fact that she's still going strong even in a dark time in the music industry?
Ask the tween rebels. The college co-eds and their boyfriends in the frat. The metalhead with a soft-spot for a cute scowl and a manicured middle finger.
Lavigne's deeply diverse and widespread fan base has kept its allegiance ever since the the pint-sized spit fire exploded onto the scene as the antichrist of the Britney/Xtina religion that flourished at the turn of the millennium. Lavigne's fist-pounding antics, punk-lite uniform and against-the-grain mentality galvanized millions of young, middle-class teenagers who liked the idea (if not the reality) of rebelling through rock.
Not everybody, however, was so convinced. Since her debut in 2002, she's been branded time and again with the scarlet letters of the industry: P-O-S-E-R. To many, she's a sheep in wolf's clothes, yet another pop product whose ragtag look and "screw you" attitude are just a bastardized replica of the real thing.
Even Avril is bewildered by her own paradox.
"Music and fashion? I don't really know if the way I dressed influenced people to listen to different music, I'm not sure," she told The Weekly Dig during a teleconference.
"I don't think I would really know. I do think what was cool about my first record, and how I was dressing had a lot of people, a lot of my fans ... ended up dressing like me, so I was a little trendsetter. I think that was cool. I'm not sure. If you want to talk about a fan of mine ... if I probably talked about ‘Oh, I like to listen to Green Day' ... or whatever. Maybe they would go buy a Green Day record."
Uh, yeah.
For most casual audiophiles, Lavigne falls into that happy midpoint between Beatles heaven and Monkees hell - the Guilty Pleasure.
We still blast 2002's "Complicated" when it comes on the radio. We've managed to forget "Sk8er Boi." "My Happy Ending" fit our sour mood in 2004, and "Boyfriend" kind of reminded us why she's the "mother(expletive)ing princess," emphasis on the adjective.
Nieto hopes to hear "I Can Do Better," "Losing Grip" and "My Happy Ending."
"Her music deals with real life situations not like any other kind of music," he said. "I'm happy that she's not like everyone else is, getting into trouble, no matter what her music is what helps us and that's why we like her."
Lavigne, or Mrs. Deryck Whibley (she tied the knot in 2006 with her longtime love, also the lead singer for the band Sum 41) insists she's done some growing up and her live show proves that notion.
"The show is going to be very upbeat and the production will be bigger in the sense of what you just said, ... dancers on a couple of songs, and LED screens, and I'm going to have checkered flooring," she said. "I have a pink sparkle drum kit, a pink piano being made, flags.
"Over time I just learned how I need to be on stage. I'm more confident. It's just more dynamic, brighter, and more colorful. I'm excited about it because I've been working on the show for a very long time now and this is going to be really fun to finally go play."
Uh, yeah.



Now: Why we love to hate Avril | music, lavigne, avril : TheMonitor.com

[ALe_Av]

Oh that was the guy who posted his interview here, yeah he's room is kinda creepy

It was a bitter-sweet article, lol, "Boyfriend"

if I probably talked about ‘Oh, I like to listen to Green Day' ... or whatever. Maybe they would go buy a Green Day record."

funny

t4p!

[Jimmyzz]

^Good assessment.

Best quote of the article:
"Or the fact that she's sold more albums than most of her contemporaries"

You know what I think, I really don't care if I am the last person on earth to like Avril, 'Under My Skin', is one of my most played CD's in my vast collection of CDs, most of my other music consists is Rock. What can I say I love our little Avril, she is my guilty pleasure and I don't care if other people say they don't like her. In spite of all their criticisms towards Avril, she is still hugely successful and will continue to be for many more years.

IMO people often-just mimic what other says, and often don’t think for themselves, so they repeat and keep recycling what they hear others say about Avril, but in spite of it all Avril continues to be a huge force in the music world.

If you don't believe me, then check this link out and see for yourself just how successful Avril has been in the last 12 months: http://www.avrilbandaids.com/forums/...ml#post1693990

[ALe_Av]

^I agree with you at everything you said

[DALE]

Originally Posted by Jimmyzz

^Good assessment.

Best quote of the article:
"Or the fact that she's sold more albums than most of her contemporaries"

You know what I think, I really don't care if I am the last person on earth to like Avril, 'Under My Skin', is one of my most played CD's in my vast collection of CDs, most of my other music consists is Rock. What can I say I love our little Avril, she is my guilty pleasure and I don't care if other people say they don't like her. In spite of all their criticisms towards Avril, she is still hugely successful and will continue to be for many more years.

IMO people often-just mimic what other says, and often don’t think for themselves, so they repeat and keep recycling what they hear others say about Avril, but in spite of it all Avril continues to be a huge force in the music world.

If you don't believe me, then check this link out and see for yourself just how successful Avril has been in the last 12 months: http://www.avrilbandaids.com/forums/...ml#post1693990

Nicely said. There's quite a few mistakes in the article, since when did Avril release a song called "boyfriend" Avril hasn't won a grammy, it also calls the beatles a guilty pleasure why? If only journalists were scrutiinized like Avril was.

[moreyag]

iu may be wrong here, but i believe Avril DID win a GRammy for best new artist a while back... someone confirm please?

[tinkril]

^hmmmmm don't know

welll ok about the article

[DALE]

Originally Posted by moreyag

iu may be wrong here, but i believe Avril DID win a GRammy for best new artist a while back... someone confirm please?

Unfortunately Avril hasn't won a grammy, Avril lost best new artist to norah jones in 2003.

[marilynmonrobot]

Avril sure is talented, but it bothers me a bit that she has changed.
She says she has grown up, but she doesn't seem to be the same girl anymore.
What's the deal with the last CD, the high heels and all the basically nude pictures?
I really admired her during the Let Go- and Under My Skin time, since she was so different.
Her songs mattered to me, but now... I don't know. Her new songs are just cocky and weird.
I want old Avril back! Throw away the mini skirts and tiaras!

[maryboer]

Originally Posted by marilynmonrobot

Avril sure is talented, but it bothers me a bit that she has changed.
She says she has grown up, but she doesn't seem to be the same girl anymore.
What's the deal with the last CD, the high heels and all the basically nude pictures?
I really admired her during the Let Go- and Under My Skin time, since she was so different.
Her songs mattered to me, but now... I don't know. Her new songs are just cocky and weird.
I want old Avril back! Throw away the mini skirts and tiaras!

I totaly agree whit you. i love the old Avril. i hope she comes back.

[cool kids]

Originally Posted by DALE

Unfortunately Avril hasn't won a grammy, Avril lost best new artist to norah jones in 2003.

yes that was a sad sad day. im still ticked about that.
and if you're are going to buy a green day album just cause avril likes them.. well umm i don't know what to say. it makes me die a little inside