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Avril Lavigne

by Lily Schaub from Poughkeepsie

Avril Lavigne  (www.avrillavigne.com)
Avril Lavigne (www.avrillavigne.com)

When she was 10 years old she new what she wanted, she wanted to be a famous singer and would do whatever it took to make that one dream come true. Avril Lavigne was that little girl in the small town of Napanee, Ontario, Canada with that huge dream. In such a small town with a population of 5,000 people everyone knew her as the kid who loved to sing and perform. At such a small age in such a small town Avril was so determined to do whatever it took to make that one dream come true and with the support of her family by her side hope was shinning through the clouds.

Born September 27, 1984 to John and Judy Lavigne, Avril was welcomed into the family of already three, containing her parents and her older brother Matthew and soon her younger sister Michelle. The Lavigne household was very religious as well as busy. They went to church every Sunday and Avril was in the children’s church choir. For the Christmas service she was picked to sing “Near to the Heart of God” as a solo when she was 10 years old. For growing up in such a small town with her great voice many people requested her to sing in school musicals, country fairs, and local talent shows. When she was 12 years old she was cast as Sally in a production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and 2 years later she played a rebellious teenager in the musical Godspell.

Growing up Avril was a true tomboy. She would play every sport her brother played, dirt-biked, and go on camping and canoeing trips with her family. One of her friends growing up even said that Avril was, “always funny and always doing crazy stuff.” When Avril was 14 she set a triple jump record at the 1998 Christian Schools and Homeschoolers annual track and field competition. But growing up wasn’t always that fun for her. When she was in 4th grade she had to transfer from Westdale Public School to Cornerstone Christian Academy because some of her classmates bullied her. She made quick friends like Chelsea Doreen who said the quote above. Everything was fine until she went to high school. Everyone was separated into cliques. Skaters, Goths, Preps, etc. Avril of course was with the skaters but she admits to Exclusive Magazine that, “I got treated differently by different people. I was a skater and there were preps who looked down on you because you wore baggy clothes. But it was OK.” Even though she had a lot of homework and hanged out with the skaters she would still make room for her passion of music.

Even though when she was little she wanted to be a famous singer, it wasn’t always like that. Not long after her role in Godspell she felt bored with singing the same country and gospel songs and didn’t wanted to perform in front of small crowds anymore. She felt that she was ready for much more. She soon lost her passion for music and stopped performing. She even stopped taking piano and guitar lessons. But when Avril performed at the1998 Quinte Sprite Festival one of her dad’s friends named Stephen Medd, the founder of Quinte Sprite Festival heard Avril singing and asked her to record a country-gospel song called “Touch the Sky” with him on a CD he was recording to raise money for a songwriting contest, she felt some of her passion coming back. In 1999 when Shania Twain came to Ottawa she agreed to participate in a radio contest that the grand prize winner would come up and sing a duet with her on stage during a concert taking place there. With a small chance of winning thousands entered and hoped they will win and one of those chance takers was Avril. With a lot of luck Avril won the contest and was soon to experience her first big break. In front of a sold out 20,000 fan concert Avril sang her heart out with Shania to the song “What Made You Say That?” When they were finished the crowd cheered as loud as they could. Avril later said “As soon as I walked out in front of 20,000 people, I’d never smiled so hard in my life- it was like perma-smile. And I thought, ‘This is what I’m doing with my life, walk out on stage, have my own band, and my own songs.’ I’m serious- this was meant to happen to me,” to Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly. Once Avril got back she stared taking piano and guitar lessons again. She got her ambition back. That Christmas Avril attended a party held by Stephen Medd at a nearby bookstore. At the party Avril and Medd sang songs promoting his CD that she appeared in. Cliff Fabri was in the audience videotaping her singing. Soon he will help her start her musical career.

Avril Lavigne in her music viedo
Avril Lavigne in her music viedo

Avril would change her old country gospel self into a punk-rock princess. In 2000 she signed a $1.25million recording contract with Arista Records for a 2 albums deal. Because she was now going to be very busy she had to drop out of high school to purse her dream. Even though her parents tried to talk her out of it they knew they couldn’t stop her from doing this. When Avril was 17 she released her debut album called Let Go. It featured “Complicated,” “Sk8er Boi” and “I’m With You,” Let Go soon became 6x platinum. For that one CD Avril was nominated for five Grammy awards, for best new artist, song of the year and best female pop performance for “Complicated,” best vocal album for Let Go, and best female rock vocal performance for her second single “Sk8er Boi.” Though she did not win any Grammys.

In 2004 Avril’s second CD called Under My Skin was released. It featured “My Happy Ending,” and “Nobody’s Home,” Under My Skin soon became 3x platinum. Her third album The Best Damn Thing was released in 2007 and also turned platinum. It included two of her hit singles “Girlfriend,” and “When Your Gone.” Avril’s newest album Goodbye Lullaby was just released March 4, 2011 and includes her newest hit single “What the Hell.” Avril also has her own clothing line called Abbey Dawn and two fragrances called Black Star and Forbidden Rose. Avril even starred in Over the Hedge and Fast Food Nation. Avril also founded The Avril Lavigne Foundation in early 2010, which works in partnership with leading charitable organizations to design and deliver programs, raise awareness, and mobilize support for children and youth living with serious illnesses and disabilities.

Avril Lavigne is my hero because her music inspires me and what she does for children with serious illnesses and disabilities is amazing because to be giving someone things that the need is very kind and giving. Avril’s songs like “Complicated,” “Nobody’s Home,” and “Wish You Were Here,” have meaning behind them. In “Nobody’s Home,” it talks about how a girl can’t go to anyone because her family life is a mess and when she’s there she can’t stand it. She hides her feelings and her dreams are falling apart. The only way she can be happy is if she leaves. To me this can relate to many people's lives and this song really makes me feel like I can see how frustrating it might be that you wish you can just run away from it all. In “Wish You Were Here,” it talks about someone missing someone that they would do anything to have that person back, even for a minute.

Avril Lavigne had such a big dream that she was determined to overcome and embrace, no matter what it took and that determination gave all these opportunities to make her gift known. Avril’s gift helped many children with serious illnesses and disabilities and even people like me with inspiration about having fun, family problems, missing someone, and love. Avril Lavigne will always inspire me to live my live to the fullest by giving to others and having fun.

Page created on 4/28/2011 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 4/28/2011 12:00:00 AM

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