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Skater Punk
Background:
"I like being a minor because you can't get into trouble.
Now I just have to try and behave myself." Avril Lavigne
Skater-punk, dynamic spirit, and a true wild child, Avril Lavigne
(nickname from her official site) was tossed toward stardom with her
6 times platinum and Grammy nominated debut album, "Let Go"
(2002). The album spawned the big hit singles, "Complicated,"
"Sk8er Boi," as well as the Grammy nominated "I'm With
You" and "Losing Grip." Teen punk-rock sensation
Avril later gained more recognition with her second album, the double
platinum "Under My Skin" (2004), which launched the hit
songs, My Happy Ending, Nobody's Home, and Don't Tell Me.
5 feet, 1 inches tall Lavigne, whose trademarks are her loose ties
and bitter lyrics, was listed as one of Teen People's Hottest Stars
Under 25 in 2004. On her personal life, Lavigne, best friend of Pink
and Vanessa Carlton, has dated then band member Jessie Colburn. More
recent, she was reported to be involved with Sum 41 lead vocalist,
Deryck Whibley (born on March 21, 1980) and it is speculated the
couple may be engaged.
Wild Avie
Childhood and Family:
The middle child of French-Canadian parents John and Judy Lavigne,
Avril Ramona Lavigne was born on September 27, 1984, in Napanee,
Ontario, Canada. Avril has two siblings, younger sister Michelle and
older brother Matthew. At merely 2 years old, Avril started to
perform on several local music stages and in churches. She also
taught herself to play the guitar and spent her time writing songs in
her early adolescence.
"I taught myself on my dad's guitar. I started writing lines
here and there and they grew into songs. I did it on my own, but my
parents supported me." Avril Lavigne
When she attended the Napanee District High School, Avril Lavigne,
nicknamed Avie, was known as a wild girl who was always involved in
fights.
"I got into lots of fights. My teachers hated me because I
never did my work and never paid attention in class. I was
rebellious towards my parents, but we're cool now. I was always in
trouble. I was never allowed to do anything after school so I'd go
to my room and write." Avril Lavigne
After signing a contract with a recording company, 16-year-old
Avril dropped out of high school in the 11th grade and flew to
Manhattan to record her debut album.
Complicated
Career:
"When I was 2, my mom said she knew I was going to be a
singer. I've been performing ever since I was a young kid. So I've
known I wanted to do this for a while. I always knew in my heart
that I'd be singing." Avril Lavigne
Spending her childhood singing in local church choirs and
festivals, Avril Lavigne, who originally trekked a country and folk
music career, won a radio station singing contest and was sent to
Ottawa to sing a duet with Ontario fellow native, country music icon
Shania Twain. Subsequently, Avril started to send her stage
performance videotapes to label and management companies. After a
lot of rejections, she landed with Nettwerk Management, which has
promoted such Canadian musicians as Sarah McLachlan, Sum 41 and
Barenaked Ladies.
Nettwerk Management scheduled her to fly to New York to meet
Arista CEO, Antonio "L.A." Reid. Though she had not shown
her demo tapes, 16-year-old Avril was surprisingly handed a deal by
the recording company. Accompanied by brother Matthew, Avril left
school and shuttled to New York to start working on her debut album.
"My lyrics are honest and I write about whatever happens to
me. My song "Losing Grip" means a lot to me, it's about my
ex-boyfriend. We weren't meeting on a emotional level and he wasn't
giving me what I needed. I can still play the same songs and get mad
and get my anger out. It's therapeutic and I hope I can help others
in a similar situation." Avril Lavigne
With the help of producer/songwriter Cliff Magness (also bolstered
Celine Dion, Wilson Phillips and Sheena Easton) and songwriting team
The Matrix (previously worked for Sheena Easton and Christina
Aguilera), Avril co-wrote her debut album "Let Go," which
was launched on June 4, 2002. It topped at No. 1 in the United
Kingdom, Australia and Canada as well as No. 2 in the US. The album
handed her Best New Artist at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards and
three 2003 Juno Awards. The album eventually nabbed 6 times platinum
certification.
In the early spring of 2002, the first single "Complicated"
was released. It was an instant hit, topped at No. 1 on the US and
Australia adult charts and poled in at No. 2 on Billboards Top 100.
It handed Avril 5 Grammy nominations, MTV music awards, and MTV
European music awards. The second single "Sk8er Boi" went
to the top 10 in the US and Australia, and peaked at No. 1 in Canada.
The following song, "I'm With You", pointed at No. 1 on
the US and world adult charts (US, UK, Canada, Germany, France and
Australia) and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, the single
"Losing Grip" went to No. 1 in Canada and was listed in the
top 50 on European charts.
The sophomore album, "Under My Skin," arrived on May 25,
2004. With assistance from Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal
Kreviazuk and produced by Butch Walker of the Marvelous 3, Our Lady
Peace leader Raine Maida and Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Good
Charlotte), the album topped at No. 1 worldwide. The album netted
her three Juno Awards (2005) and an Annual Kid's Choice award, as
well as landing double platinum certification.
"Under My Skin" first single, "Don't Tell Me,"
was released in June 2004, reached the top in Argentina and reached
No. 5 in the UK and Canada, as well as went to the top 10 in
Australia, Brazil and Europe. The second single, "My Happy
Ending," arrived at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. The
following track, "Nobody's Home," was co-written by Avril
with former Evanescence member, Ben Moody. It received average
success by only reaching No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile,
the fourth track, "He Wasn't," is presently climbing
charts.
In August 2005, Avril is scheduled to perform on television on The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno (August 12) and Good Morning America
(August 26). She will also soon start her 2005 summer tour.
"I'd like to be a little more hard-rocking on my next album.
But I hate the whole label thing." Avril Lavigne
Awards:
Juno Awards (Canada): Fan Choice Award, Artist of the Year
and Pop
Album of the Year, Under My Skin, 2005
Annual Kid's Choice: Favorite Female Singer, 2005
ASCAP Film and Television Music: Most Performed Song from a
Motion
Picture, Bruce Almighty, single I'm With You, 2004
Common Sense Media: Excellence in Family Entertainment, 2004
MTV Asia: Favorite Female Artist, Favorite Breakthrough
Artist and The
Style Award, 2003
Juno Awards: Best Single, Best Album and Best New Artist,
2003
Video Music: New Artist in a Video, Complicated, 2002
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