Anything but ordinary. That's putting it mildly when describing Avril Lavigne. A skater-punk, a dynamic spirit, a true wild child. One of those rare creatures who started wowing people with her voice and character at around age 2. A small-town kid who couldn't sit still in class but had the confidence and determination to take off, virtually on her own, to hone her songwriting skills in New York City and Los Angeles. A startlingly up-front and outrageous 17-year-old with everything it takes to reach stardom-completely on her own terms. "I'm just coming out and I'm going to clearly be myself-I write what I feel, I never worry what others think, " Avril avows. "I'm gonna dress what's me, I'm gonna act what's me and I'm gonna sing what's me."
Avril does exactly that on her debut CD, Let Go, flaunting sassy vocals, a crystal clear voice with real-girl lyrical style. "Anything But Ordinary" is a rockin' ode to individuality, while guitar-driven first single, "Complicated," is a simple song that kicks pretenders to the curb. The string-inflected "I'm With You" reaches out for connection to reflect Avril's more mellower side, but tracks like "Losing Grip" and "Unwanted" courageously confront rejection and betrayal with all the heaviness such subjects demand. Then there's "My World" and the metaphoric "Mobile," which perfectly articulate the Avril experience. "I have this awesome opportunity to fulfill my dream. I am all over the place, flying here and there, going through different stuff every day," she explains. "This is my lifestyle, but I wouldn't want a normal life or I'd get bored."
Apparently, Avril was born for such insanity. A middle child who "always wanted to be the center of attention," she was bound to bust out of Napanee, Ontario, population 5,000. "I always knew this was what I had to do," she says. "I remember when I was really young, standing on my bed like it was a stage, singing at the top of my lungs and visualizing thousands of people surrounding me." She segued from her bedroom to singing, well, whenever and wherever she could-starting in church singing gospel music, and on to festivals, then singing country music at fairs and talent contests-until she was discovered by Arista Records.
On a writing trip to NYC, Avril caught the attention of Antonio "LA" Reid, who snapped her up and signed her to Arista. At 16, she moved to Manhattan and began work on her debut CD. Avril plunged into the creative process. "I love writing," she explains. "When I get upset and really need to get it out of me I go to my guitar. Sometimes I feel like my guitar is my therapist."
Although Avril virtually lived in the studio during that New York stint, her efforts didn't pay off at first. "I started working with these really talented people, but I just wasn't feeling it; the songs weren't representative of me," she admits. "Then they started talking about having people write for me, but I had to write myself. I had to do my music. It was a really stressful time, but I never considered giving up." Instead, she flipped coasts. Los Angeles gave Avril the fresh start she needed.
It was there that she hooked up with producer/songwriter Clif Magness, and "I was like, 'Yeah! I've found my guy!'" she enthuses. "We totally clicked, because he just let me guide; he really understood me and let me do my thing." The songs for Let Go began pouring out, with Magness at the helm as well as up-and-coming production team the Matrix. Soon after Avril hooked up with Nettwerk Management who've steered the careers of Sarah McLachlan, Dido, Coldplay, Barenaked Ladies and Sum 41.
Avril couldn't be happier with the way the album turned out. "In this past year I've really grown as a writer. 'Complicated' wasn't written about anyone in particular. It is basically about life, people being fake and relationships." As to one of her favorite tracks, "Losing Grip," she says, "That is definitely one of my ex-boys-he didn't give me what I needed emotionally." Avril laughs, "It doesn't matter now, and plus I got a good song out of it."
Now that her album is done, Avril can't wait to get out and play. She jokes, pointing out that touring with her own sk8er punk band of rocker boys probably won't be all that different from her childhood, "I was always a tomboy and I guess I still am. I played hockey during the fall / winter and baseball in the summer. I loved playing with the boys.
But Avril's music is capable of reaching the girls and the guys, and more than a few adventurous adults too-and she's chomping at the bit to bring it to 'em.
Avril is a rocking girl who loves to have fun and is living out her dream. Yup, this 19 year-old punk-rocker is everything you can think of, that's everything but ordinary of course.
Avril does exactly that on her debut CD, Let Go, flaunting sassy vocals, a crystal clear voice with real-girl lyrical style. "Anything But Ordinary" is a rockin' ode to individuality, while guitar-driven first single, "Complicated," is a simple song that kicks pretenders to the curb. The string-inflected "I'm With You" reaches out for connection to reflect Avril's more mellower side, but tracks like "Losing Grip" and "Unwanted" courageously confront rejection and betrayal with all the heaviness such subjects demand. Then there's "My World" and the metaphoric "Mobile," which perfectly articulate the Avril experience. "I have this awesome opportunity to fulfill my dream. I am all over the place, flying here and there, going through different stuff every day," she explains. "This is my lifestyle, but I wouldn't want a normal life or I'd get bored."
Apparently, Avril was born for such insanity. A middle child who "always wanted to be the center of attention," she was bound to bust out of Napanee, Ontario, population 5,000. "I always knew this was what I had to do," she says. "I remember when I was really young, standing on my bed like it was a stage, singing at the top of my lungs and visualizing thousands of people surrounding me." She segued from her bedroom to singing, well, whenever and wherever she could-starting in church singing gospel music, and on to festivals, then singing country music at fairs and talent contests-until she was discovered by Arista Records.
On a writing trip to NYC, Avril caught the attention of Antonio "LA" Reid, who snapped her up and signed her to Arista. At 16, she moved to Manhattan and began work on her debut CD. Avril plunged into the creative process. "I love writing," she explains. "When I get upset and really need to get it out of me I go to my guitar. Sometimes I feel like my guitar is my therapist."
Although Avril virtually lived in the studio during that New York stint, her efforts didn't pay off at first. "I started working with these really talented people, but I just wasn't feeling it; the songs weren't representative of me," she admits. "Then they started talking about having people write for me, but I had to write myself. I had to do my music. It was a really stressful time, but I never considered giving up." Instead, she flipped coasts. Los Angeles gave Avril the fresh start she needed.
It was there that she hooked up with producer/songwriter Clif Magness, and "I was like, 'Yeah! I've found my guy!'" she enthuses. "We totally clicked, because he just let me guide; he really understood me and let me do my thing." The songs for Let Go began pouring out, with Magness at the helm as well as up-and-coming production team the Matrix. Soon after Avril hooked up with Nettwerk Management who've steered the careers of Sarah McLachlan, Dido, Coldplay, Barenaked Ladies and Sum 41.
Avril couldn't be happier with the way the album turned out. "In this past year I've really grown as a writer. 'Complicated' wasn't written about anyone in particular. It is basically about life, people being fake and relationships." As to one of her favorite tracks, "Losing Grip," she says, "That is definitely one of my ex-boys-he didn't give me what I needed emotionally." Avril laughs, "It doesn't matter now, and plus I got a good song out of it."
Now that her album is done, Avril can't wait to get out and play. She jokes, pointing out that touring with her own sk8er punk band of rocker boys probably won't be all that different from her childhood, "I was always a tomboy and I guess I still am. I played hockey during the fall / winter and baseball in the summer. I loved playing with the boys.
But Avril's music is capable of reaching the girls and the guys, and more than a few adventurous adults too-and she's chomping at the bit to bring it to 'em.
Avril is a rocking girl who loves to have fun and is living out her dream. Yup, this 19 year-old punk-rocker is everything you can think of, that's everything but ordinary of course.
Avril wrote the Spongebob Squarepants theme song, as well as Kelly Clarkson's song, Breakaway.
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In July 2007, it emerged that Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer from 'The Rubinoos' were suing Avril over allegations she copied one of their songs. The pair claim Avril's single Girlfriend is a copy of their song I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend. The case will be heard in a Californian court on August 28, 2007.
(edit)
Avril appeared topless on the front cover of the Blender magazine’s June 2007 edition, but she was not happy with it because she wanted it darker.
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Avril travelled to Australia and performed Girlfriend at the 2007 Logie Awards.
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Avril released her song Girlfriend with choruses in different languages, including Italian, Spanish, French, and Japanese.
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Avril sings the theme for the soundtrack of the movie Eragon, titled "Keep Holding On".
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Avril appeared in Butch Walker's video for Bethamphetamine (Pretty Pretty), and Treble Charger's video, Hundred Million.
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Avril and Deryck Whibley (of Sum 41) started dating in March 2004. The couple tied the knot on July 17, 2006 in Montecito, California. Avril's wedding dress was designed by Vera Wang.
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Avril has been immortalized with her very own computer virus -- the so-called Avril e-mail virus, which tries to lure users into opening its infected attachment by promising pictures of the popstar, went into circulation shortly after the Grammy nominations were announced. (January 14, 2003)
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Avril mispronounced David Bowie's name when helping announce the Grammy nominees for best male rock vocal performance at Madison Square Garden. She pronounced Bowie's name like Howie, while it's supposed to be like "doughy." (January 8, 2003)
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Avril began skateboarding when she was 14 years old.
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Paramount Pictures has optioned the song Sk8er Boi, and hired ER writer/producer David Zabel to adapt its words into a feature film to be produced by studio-based MTV Films and Alphaville.
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Avril once admitted to never having heard of The Sex Pistols.
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Avril has a star tattooed on the inside of her left wrist, applied at the same time as friend and musical associate Ben Moody's identical tattoo. In late 2004, she had a small pink heart-shaped tattoo featuring the letter 'D' applied to her right wrist - thought to be a reference to then-boyfriend Deryck Whibley.
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Avril wrote a song for her grandpa who passed away. The song, called Slipped Away, is on her second album Under My Skin.
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The position Avril plays in hockey is right wing and center. She has said in the past that she played hockey better than some guys when she was back in high school.
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Avril started playing guitar when she was about 10 years old.
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Avril Lavigne broke a record set by Madonna. Her song Complicated held the number one spot on the Contemporary Hit Radio chart (which tracks air play on the radio) for 11 weeks in a row. Madonna previously held the record with her song Music, which held onto number one for 10 weeks.
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During a interview, Avril spotted a picture of herself and ripped it up, allegedly saying "I hate that f***ing photo!" All this happened while on air. According to Avril, she had permission to take the picture down-station personnel encouraged her to take it down.
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Following Ashlee Simpson's disastrous lip-synching appearance on Saturday Night Live, Avril remarked it was pathetic that some young artists don't sing on their own record or on stage.
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In 2004, Avril was at the center of a row with bosses at MTV after she stuck her middle finger up live on air on Total Request Live.
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The origins of Avril's name are French: Avril means April; La means The; Vigne means Vine.
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Avril has one dog, a miniature schnauzer named Sam.
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Some of Avril's favorites:
Actor: Tobey Maguire
Actress: Sandra Bullock
Movies: Miss Congeniality and 8 Mile
Song: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls
Musicians: Sum 41, Beach Boys, Alanis Morissette, Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox 20, System of a Down
Food: pizza with a lot of olives
Bands: Pennywise, Green Day, The Distillers and Linkin Park
Candy: Pixe Stix
Places to tour: New Zealand, Sardinia and Amsterdam
Colors: black and red
Hobbies: writing songs, skateboarding, and singing (edit) Avril lived with Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida for 7 months, while working on her new album, Under My Skin. Chantal also co-wrote 7 of the new songs. (edit) One of her songs, Sk8er Boi is about her and an ex-boyfriend. It's about how her boyfriend didn't wanna admit his feelings because of her style, and he now can't have her,and she's a well-known artist, and it's supposed to be his lost. (edit) Avril went to Cornerstone Christian Academy when she was in Napanee, Ontario and she excelled in track and field. (edit) Avril's younger sister appeared in her Sk8er Boi video, and her brother appeared in her Girlfriend video. (edit) Avril has won the following awards
VMA
2002 - 'New Artist in a Video' for Complicated
MTV Asia
2003 - Favorite Female Artist
2003 - Favorite Breakthrough Artist
2003 - The Style Award
Juno Awards
2003 - 'Best Single'
2003 - 'Best Album'
2003 - 'Best New Artist'
ASCAP Film and Television Music
2004 - 'Most Performed Song from a Motion Picture', Bruce Almighty, single I'm With You
Teen Choice Awards
2007 - 'Choice Music Single' - Girlfriend
Kids Choice Awards
2005 - 'Favorite Female Singer' (edit) Avril's eye color is blue. She is 5'4" tall. (edit) Avril has appeared on the following lists
Maxim
2005 - #36 on 'Hot 100 list'
2006 - #35 on 'Hot 100 list'
2007 - #15 on 'Hot 100 list'
FHM
2003 - '100 Sexiest Women in the World'
2004 - '100 Sexiest Women in the World'
2005 - '100 Sexiest Women in the World'
Music Choice
2007 - 'Artist of the Month' (edit) The first magazine to have Avril Lavigne on it is What Magazine. (edit) Avril dropped out of school at grade 11. (edit) Avril's first music video, Complicated, cost over a million dollars. (edit)
Actor: Tobey Maguire
Actress: Sandra Bullock
Movies: Miss Congeniality and 8 Mile
Song: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls
Musicians: Sum 41, Beach Boys, Alanis Morissette, Goo Goo Dolls, Matchbox 20, System of a Down
Food: pizza with a lot of olives
Bands: Pennywise, Green Day, The Distillers and Linkin Park
Candy: Pixe Stix
Places to tour: New Zealand, Sardinia and Amsterdam
Colors: black and red
Hobbies: writing songs, skateboarding, and singing (edit) Avril lived with Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida for 7 months, while working on her new album, Under My Skin. Chantal also co-wrote 7 of the new songs. (edit) One of her songs, Sk8er Boi is about her and an ex-boyfriend. It's about how her boyfriend didn't wanna admit his feelings because of her style, and he now can't have her,and she's a well-known artist, and it's supposed to be his lost. (edit) Avril went to Cornerstone Christian Academy when she was in Napanee, Ontario and she excelled in track and field. (edit) Avril's younger sister appeared in her Sk8er Boi video, and her brother appeared in her Girlfriend video. (edit) Avril has won the following awards
VMA
2002 - 'New Artist in a Video' for Complicated
MTV Asia
2003 - Favorite Female Artist
2003 - Favorite Breakthrough Artist
2003 - The Style Award
Juno Awards
2003 - 'Best Single'
2003 - 'Best Album'
2003 - 'Best New Artist'
ASCAP Film and Television Music
2004 - 'Most Performed Song from a Motion Picture', Bruce Almighty, single I'm With You
Teen Choice Awards
2007 - 'Choice Music Single' - Girlfriend
Kids Choice Awards
2005 - 'Favorite Female Singer' (edit) Avril's eye color is blue. She is 5'4" tall. (edit) Avril has appeared on the following lists
Maxim
2005 - #36 on 'Hot 100 list'
2006 - #35 on 'Hot 100 list'
2007 - #15 on 'Hot 100 list'
FHM
2003 - '100 Sexiest Women in the World'
2004 - '100 Sexiest Women in the World'
2005 - '100 Sexiest Women in the World'
Music Choice
2007 - 'Artist of the Month' (edit) The first magazine to have Avril Lavigne on it is What Magazine. (edit) Avril dropped out of school at grade 11. (edit) Avril's first music video, Complicated, cost over a million dollars. (edit)
Avril: People love me and people hate me, but… if you do hate me, you're the loser, not me.
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Avril: What's happened to Britney [Spears] comes down to who she is as a person. If you want a piece of this business, you have to learn how to deal with it. You can't complain about the pressures, the paparazzi or the madness, because that's the job.
(edit)
Avril: I want to do this and be like Madonna. She's lived her life.
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Avril: (revealing she isn't prepared to use her sexuality to sell records) Image is a personal choice. I'd rather be seen as me than for not wearing anything. When I first started out in music I was 17. I didn't want to wear the clothes that everyone wanted me to wear. I wore my tank top and Doc Martens boots and I'm glad I did because I was so different from everyone else.
(edit)
Avril: I've been known to run around naked when I'm drunk. One time I was drinking whiskey, and I was so loud, someone called the police ... I have a side to me that's a bit delinquent and I get myself in trouble.
(edit)
Avril: (on claims her skater-punk look is just a carefully planned image) Nobody tells me what to wear. Trust me. I'm a girl and I'm growing up. I wrote my first album when I was a 16-year-old skater who wore size 32 pants and hoodies. I was a tomboy. I had an older brother I looked up to, and I hung out with mostly guys. Now I'm into skirts. I'm growing up, I'm changing, I'm becoming a woman. That happens to girls - they become women.
(edit)
Avril: (asked when the last time she had to smack someone down was) In a bar a few months ago. Some chick came up to me and got in my face and said something, so I kicked her in the box and shoved her. I don't go looking for fights, but if someone comes up to me and pushes me, I'm not going to take it.
(edit)
Avril: My mom made me go to a Britney Spears concert when I was young, and I was like, ‘No, I don’t want to (go)!’ She was like, ‘You’re going to be a performer, you need to see other people!’
(edit)
Avril: (on her 2006 wedding to Deryck Whibley) I wanted to say, 'Let's totally have a rock 'n' roll, goth wedding.' But at the same time I thought, 'I've been dreaming about my wedding day since I was a little girl. I have to wear the white dress.' I wanted to be a princess. People thought that I would have some black wedding dress, and I would have. But at the same time, I was thinking about the wedding pictures, and I wanted to be in style. I didn't want to be thinking 20 years later, 'Oh, why did I wear my hair like that?'
(edit)
Avril: I think, you know, my parents really saw that I was really into music and that kinda caused I get a bunch of instruments. So growing up I had drums around, guitar and piano and I learnt how to play all those.
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Avril: Yeah, I like to do my own make up ‘cos I’m so don’t like people’s touching my face.
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Avril: There's no place like home.
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Avril: I never once said I was punk. I don't want to be punk. I'm just a really strong, opinionated person. Though I do like punk.
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Avril: I don't believe war is a way to solve problems. I think it's wrong. I don't have respect for the people that made the decisions to go on with war. I don't have that much respect for Bush. He's about war, I'm not about war - a lot of people aren't about war.
(edit)
Avril: The media have portrayed me as an angry girl who's pissed off all the time. They've labeled me tons of things, but none of them really sum up who I am or what I'm like. But I'm over it, and I honestly feel like that's gone away.
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Avril: Be strong, stand up and make a difference.
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Avril: (on her acting aspirations) I'd love to go further. I think it's important for me to do it the right way and be smart about it and wait for the right parts in the right movies. I wouldn't just want to throw myself into a big part.
(edit)
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Score: 9.2 Superb 191 votes
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