When I’m driving to work and I hear Avril Lavigne’s new Single Hot come on the radio, I start to cringe. It is a noticeably bad song, best recognized if you’re not used to the piecemeal approach to songwriting. The problem is that it sounds like Avril wrote the verses to one song, and then decided to attach the chorus from another song on. Towards the end of the verse, it sounds as if there is a pivot chord in preparation for a modulation to the chorus, but then all of a sudden the chorus starts in a totally different key. If this is the way music is evolving I think I’m going to grow old.
Avril’s no stranger to crappy singles, this, her 3rd CD, Best Damn Thing ironically has some horrible singles. The first single, Keep Holding On, was plain and forgettable; I think fans were just happy that she had a new song. Girlfriend did have a catchy hook, but it’s incredibly shallow even when compared to Britney’s songs such as Toxic, or Everytime; both of which are from her 4rd CD, In The Zone. Although I would say Britney’s 3rd CD was also pretty forgettable, only notable for crowd favorite I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman and the video for I’m A Slave 4 U. In fact I would argue that her 2nd album is much better than Avril’s album as it has Lucky, and Stronger. And yes, I own both the 2nd and 4th albums thank you very much.
Avril’s third single from Best Damn Thing is probably my favorite so far. When You’re Gone had the potential to be a heartful ballad but it doesn’t work so well with her whiny voice, which makes it sound like it’s being sung by a high-maintenance gf with an over exaggerated need for companionship who wrote the song because her bf had to go win some bread during the day to support their hipster lifestyle. And then we get to the previously mentioned fourth single. Avril’s first CD, Let Go had some good singles on it, but I think it’s time to retire (or at least try acting again because she had such an Oscar-winning performance in Fast Food Nation).
Hi! and welcome to the eclectic personal blog of Kevin Quan. Come in, stay awhile, peek into the nooks & crannies, and learn a bit about me and my interests.