For those who don’t know me personally, AVRIL LAVIGNE was a key role model for me growing up. She was one of the first people I saw in mainstream media who said it was OK to be yourself and don’t worry about what others think. She was also the first person I saw live in concert, if you want to thank anyone for my love for live shows, it’s her. It came to my attention that her debut Let Go turned twenty years old recently, so it seemed fitting for me to write this post.
Let Go was released 4th June 2002 via Arista Records and hit the shelves globally 22nd July 2002. Arista and Lavigne had conflicts around musical direction due to the songs she had recorded for them not getting the label’s approval. She was later paired with production team The Matrix who understood her vision for the album.
One of the things that drew me to this album was the song writing. Lavigne was one of the first artists I had come across who wrote their own music and songs, I came across this album a couple of years after its release date, and I remember this fact being a breath of fresh air. It felt more authentic and honest. You have the singles such as Complicated, Sk8er Boi, I’m With You, Mobile and Losing Grip; it also contains two of my favourite songs, one of these I consider myself.
Anything But Ordinary is the anthem for those who do as they please whilst not caring what everything else things. The line “I’d rather be anything but ordinary” is one I live by to this day. My World is a wonderful song about Lavigne’s story growing up in her hometown and one I remember fondly.
In time for this anniversary, a twentieth anniversary edition of the album has been released. It contains B-Side tracks that didn’t make the original release. One of those was a new recording of Breakaway that Lavigne originally wrote in 2001 which was passed it on to Kelly Clarkson.
Listening to the sounds bring back that nostalgic smile and remind me of how far I have personally come.
Words: Lotty Whittingham
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