TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on May 1, 2024 18:46:37 GMT
I hadn't expected new merch to drop. Honestly, I almost kinda forgot she has a merch store, lol.
The new pieces are pretty cool. I don't feel the need to buy any of them now, but teen me would have loved to own almost all of these items. I think it's really cool that they offer these "Sk8er Boi" and GF looks (and quite clever marketing, too ).
I actually just browsed the entire merch section, and I'm surprised by how many items there are. There are even some from HAW era, some with Abbey Dawn logos, and some I'd never seen before! The site seems to be pretty slow, though, and the neon colours, while kind of cool-looking, are a sensory nightmare. It's also a shame that all this merch is so damn expensive, and that's without shipping. But that seems to be the case with merch overall, unfortunately.
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on May 1, 2024 18:07:30 GMT
I only listened to the remastered version of LG once or twice, but most of the remasters I didn't like. There were only two or three songs that I actually thought sounded better compared to the 2002 version (though this might also be because I'm so used to the original version). I still wouldn't mind a remastered version of UMS, just out of curiosity. But bonus tracks / previously unreleased songs would be better, of course. Btw, isn't the LG remaster more like a remix? AFAIK, mastering includes only smallest details, like removing some audible breathing. But for the LG anniversary edition, they did much more than that. Tey actually placed a lot of the instruments somewhere else in the mix, e.g. putting some of the percussion in "Mobile" much more in the foreground, making them a lot more audible. Isn't that what mixing is all about? So, isn't the LG anniversary edition a remix?
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Apr 25, 2024 17:56:07 GMT
What I would LOVE to see from Avril is more behind the scenes clips of the actual songwriting and recording process, like she did for "I'm A Mess". I love learning how a song actually comes to life, how it starts out sounding like x and ends up sounding like y, learning about the thought processes of the songwriters, hearing vocals and other instruments being recorded, maybe even noticing things you don't really hear in the end product 'cause it's so low in the mix (like harmonies, backing vocals, a hidden guitar riff).
Green Day have been posting such Making Of videos, too, since their newest album released in January. They've been posting one or two such videos each month. It's a great way to keep fans engaged and interested. I mean, their album "Saviors" has been out for three months now, but every time one of those Making Of videos is released, it gets me excited to go back to the album (or at least that one song).
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Apr 23, 2024 1:41:02 GMT
Yeah, I still feel jaded by years of "s**n" myself. That definitely plays a big part in my expectations always being so low now. The eras of "s**n" were just really hard, especially since I was such a hardcore fan back then and she was the only artist I really loved and actively followed.
I guess that's also why I haven't truly longed for new music in a while tbh. Even prior to LS, I was kind of like "yeah, I'll take new music if I get it, but if I have to wait longer that's also fine." I'm in this state right now, too. Of course it would be nice to get new music, and the timing would be perfect now, or within the next four weeks. But I've been let down far too often in the past, so I don't actually expect anything.
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Apr 23, 2024 1:04:02 GMT
I wouldn't really count "Bite Me" as a surprise-drop. Like I said, MCR released a song without any hints whatsoever prior to its release. No teasing, no nothing. The song was just suddenly there. I'd love to see Avril do that, too, some day. And now would be the perfect opportunity imo.
I also wasn't talking about Taylor at all? There are tons of other artists besides her, that don't do so much that people start feeling burned out, but they still do a lot more than Avril. And I'm not just talking about releasing music. I'm also talking about touring, communication, songwriting... There are a lot of things Avril and her team could improve upon. And I think releasing a new song prior to the start of the tour would be a really good start. I honestly feel that it's what every other artist would do.
However, I didn't actually mean for this conversation to go in the "Avril tends to do the bare minimum" kind of way (though, feel free to discuss, of course!). My intention was actually do maybe bring a bit more life back into this thread, and to maybe talk about potential new music.
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Apr 22, 2024 23:41:00 GMT
Hi everyone! I haven't been online in a bit, but I'm not surprised to see no news. Still, with the beginning of the tour only one month away, I'm starting to wonder (again) if it's possible we might get new music before then? Personally, since it's Avril, I honestly have quite low expectations. I hate to say it, but over all these years, I've learned to expect nothing but the bare minimum from her. Not that she doesn't ever give us more than that, but tbh, most of the time, it feels like the bare minimum is indeed what we get. Anyway, despite my hopes being extremely low, I still think it would be such a missed opportunity! Imo she really ought to do something like what MCR did before they started their reunion tour back in 2022. They released a new song just a few days prior to the start of the tour. It was a complete surprise; afaik, nobody had any clue whatsoever they'd release a song. It was just there all of a sudden. They then proceeded to open every single show of the entire tour with that new song. If Avril could do the same thing - just surprise-drop a new song shortly before the start of the tour and then have that song be part of the setlist for every single show - I feel like that would make perfect sense. It would create a lot more hype around the tour, we fans would obviously be very happy, and it could also serve as a perfect transition to the next "proper" era / AL8 era. Since she's going to perform at a lot of festivals, it would make people aware of the fact that she's not just here as a nostalgia artist, but that she still releases new music, which could then lead to increased streaming numbers on Spotify, Apple Music etc. And, on a personal note, it would make a nice late birthday present (my birthday is in early May). Btw, maybe I'm misremembering, but has Avril never actually surprise-dropped a song? I feel like within the last 10-ish years, almost every popular/well-known artist has done this at least once, except for Avril.
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Mar 24, 2024 0:55:34 GMT
OMG! I did have the Sims Superstar and yes there was Avri! I remember you could interact with her finding her "around" in town or pubs. I'm pretty sure she was very much like the Sk8r Boi video, with a green tshirt but I might be wrong
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Mar 24, 2024 0:53:28 GMT
I totally get both the game dev's point of view as well as Avril's team's. And yeah, it should have been a win/win for both Avril and the Sims, but as that dev on Twitter wrote, apparently those (imo understandable) extra demands created quite some extra work when it came to coding.
I wonder what Avril herself thought about that whole thing?
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Mar 23, 2024 22:02:23 GMT
So, I just learned that Avril officially exists as an NPC in "The Sims: Superstar"!? And it was kind of a fiasco...? sims.fandom.com/wiki/Avril_LavigneI used to love playing the Sims back then, but I never knew this "Superstar" pack existed, nor that Avril was part of it.
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Mar 16, 2024 2:01:01 GMT
Of course you can create music without knowledge about other musical artists. And you can definitely write pop-rock music without knowing or being inspired by Avril or Paramore or any other pop-rock artist. But once you're in the industry, once you're seen as a professional, or trying to be seen as a professional, I think it's just part of that industry to know certain names, regardless of whether they actually inspired you or not. Like I said previously, aren't you bound to come across certain names at some point, even if you're just mildly interested in a topic?
For example, I have zero interest in fashion. But even I've heard of brands like Gucci and Chanel; I know who Karl Lagerfeld is. I know Naomi Campbell. If an aspiring model or designer told me they've never heard of any of these names, I'd be baffled tbh. How come they've never heard of these brands and people? There might be perfectly good reasons; for example, in different parts of the world, different brands, designers, and models are much more popular/known than where I live, so of course they might not know these people and brands that I mentioned, but instead they know others that I've never heard of. But that wasn't the case with Avril when she didn't seem to know who David Bowie was.
Still, I do get the other side of the argument, too. And I do think it really sucks when someone's work is discredited just because they don't know a certain name; or when someone's work is expected to be inspired by whoever came before them, just because there are similarities.
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Mar 16, 2024 0:48:11 GMT
I get where both sides are coming from, but overall, I agree with Bogo. As a musician, not knowing who came before you, who shaped the industry that you're a part of, just seems kind of unprofessional. It's like an aspiring poet not knowing who Oscar Wilde is, a cook not knowing Gordon Ramsay, a chemist not knowing Marie Curie, a painter not knowing Frida Kahlo, a fantasy author not knowing Tolkien. If you're intersted in a certain topic, you're bound to come across certain names at some point. If you don't, that just seems like maybe you're not that interested in it after all. Like I said, it just seems a bit unprofessional. Sure, it's not the end of the world, especially if you're really young and new to the industry, like Avril was. But she definitely should have gotten some sort of crash course about the history of rock and pop music imo, so she could at least have heard the name David Bowie before.
Also, how many of us would be annoyed if Olivia, Willow, or any other Gen Z pop-rock artist had said "uh, yeah, I think I mispronounced someone's name, was it Avril... Lavigne?", making it clear they don't only not know how to pronounce her name, but also don't even know the person that played a huge part in paving the way for them and other female pop-rock artists?
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Feb 21, 2024 21:39:18 GMT
Lyrically, I find both snippets to be quite meh, juvenile, just the same thing I've heard a million times from her.
Melodically, rhythmically etc., I really don't like "Boy At The Rock Show", but "Rapstar" actually sounds quite nice imo. I'd actually like for AL8 to have a similar sound to this - mid-tempo, kind of mellow, calm vibes.
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Feb 20, 2024 19:40:53 GMT
I agree about everybody hurts, it's not the best written song ever... but I just remember going through an extremely dark and hopeless time in my life, crying alone in my dorm room to avril telling me "everybody feels this way, and it's okay. La da da da da, it's okay." It felt like she was the only one there for me, like she was personally comforting me. Honestly it felt like that more than a handful of times. Hence why I'm still here even after everything. oh yes, I had the same experience. Avril's songs and voice carried me through difficult times when no one was there. I have a special feeling for Avril, as if she is my old good pen pal. Yup, same here. "Everybody Hurts", "Darlin", "Nobody's Fool" - those are some of her songs that helped me the most during difficult times. Also, "Slipped Away". I used to be kind of annoyed by the weak lyrics, but listening to this song while grieving opened my eyes to how powerful even such simple lyrics can be.
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Feb 16, 2024 23:49:39 GMT
I might be wrong because I live in a bubble, but I feel like country music never got really popular here in Germany. Like, people know John Denver, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton, but I feel like that's about it. I doubt the average German knows of Miranda Lambert or even Shania Twain. Even those country pop artists that seem to be super popular everywhere else these days, I can't find any of them on German charts. But again, maybe it's just me and I'm living under a rock? Country music also isn't really my cup of a tea. There are some exceptions, but I think those all lean more towards folk music (e.g. "Mother Nature's Son" by the Beatles, "Prisoners" by John Denver, stuff like that). So, if Avril were to make country music, I'd definitely prefer for her to go more in a folk direction. Stuff like TINS, "Why" (the newer version), "Goddess", "Falling Fast", "Darlin", those are great songs imo (yes, I'm probably the only person that actually, unironically loves "Goddess" ). And since country rock is an option in the poll ... please, no. I love rock music, it's my absolute favourite genre. But I don't think country and rock mix well. It always just ends up sounding like cringey dad rock to me tbh.
|
|
TamyXD
Member
Think happy thoughts
Join Date: Apr 15, 2015 21:15:32 GMT
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 5,254
Location: Germany
Last Online: May 1, 2024 21:43:31 GMT
|
Post by TamyXD on Feb 5, 2024 19:21:46 GMT
It's kind of ridiculous to compare someone like Olivia's streams to those of Avril, anyway. Avril was in her prime before streaming even existed. Of course she doesn't have as many streams. Also, "irrelevant" doesn't equal "bad". There are so many absolutely amazing artists out there that never got the recognition they deserve, or that used to get the recognition but don't anymore for reasons other than "their music got bad" or "they turned into a joke".
I know it's easier said than done, but don't listen to people who bash your favourite artist like that. It's indeed immature. What's important is that whatever you like makes you feel good and happy. Fuck what other people say.
|
|