Avril loves live shows

李奧

Singer Avril Lavigne may have turned fashion designer and actress but she still likes performing live.

FOLLOWING the success of her third studio album, The Best Damn Thing, and her North American tour, RCA artist Avril Lavigne has released The Best Damn Tour Live DVD this month. Recorded at her sold-out April 7 concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, and directed by Wayne Isham, the DVD features hits such as Girlfriend, When You’re Gone, Complicated and Sk8er Boi. The Best Damn Thing, released in April 2007, is already certified platinum in the United States and has sold over five million copies worldwide. Produced by Butch Walker (who did Lavigne’s second album Under My Skin), Dr. Luke (Pink, Lady Sovereign), Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) and her husband Deryck Whibley of Sum 41, The Best Damn Thing was made with fun in mind. This is evident from the first single, Girlfriend, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200 and was named the No. 1 digital download of 2007 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, with over 7.3 million copies sold in eight languages. Now fans can feel and see the high-spirited energy on the DVD. Having sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, Avril Lavigne is quickly paving her own path to rock ‘n’ roll royalty. She burst onto the music scene in 2002 with the critically acclaimed Let Go, which featured the smash singles Sk8r Boi and Complicated. It earned Lavigne eight Grammy nominations and has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide. Her 2004 sophomore effort, Under My Skin, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, as did her much anticipated third album, The Best Damn Thing. Lavigne is also making a name for herself in the acting world, with a recent role in the Richard Linklater-directed Fast Food Nation and voice work in the animated Over the Hedge. She recently launched her clothing line, Abbey Dawn, which is available exclusively at Kohl’s stores nationwide and will be launching her fragrance with Procter and Gamble next year.

Here’s a question-and-answer with Lavigne.
Question: So you’ve got a live DVD out?
Answer: Yeah, I have! It’s one show, filmed in Toronto, and I’m really proud of it.

Q: Were you nervous because it was in front of a home crowd?
A: I wasn’t extra nervous to be honest, though a lot of work went into the production of this tour.

Q: How much say do you have on the production?
A: Well, I plan the show and the set list, and I have a set director who helps me out with a few things.

Q: And do you personally hand-pick the dancers?
A: Yeah! Well, most of my dancers are women! I always end up being friends with the dancers because they’re with you for so long on the road, and often and there’s no one else around, so you get close.

Q: And now you’re married, do you feel you have to act with a little more decorum on stage?
A: No, not really — it doesn’t really change who I am. I’m just a happy person!

Q: When you’re being filmed on stage, are you constantly thinking of how you look from different camera angles?
A: No, not at all. Every show is pretty much filmed anyway for the big side screens so I’m used to being on camera.

Q: Touring must be tough on your voice — do you have a special routine to look after it?
A: Well I don’t smoke, because that would ruin my voice. I make sure I drink fluids a lot because if it (throat) gets dry it sucks. I lost my voice once and had to cancel a load of US dates. I was so bummed out, but it happens to every singer at some point in their career. I don’t think most people understand, but I sing every night and sometimes we do five shows in a row, which is really bad for your voice. Now I’m working with a coach and my voice is back in shape. When you’re on the road you get sick a lot and it’s important to eat healthy.

Q: So how do the crowds differ across the world?
A: Well, internationally, crowds tend to be way more insane. I don’t know what it is but in Europe everyone is so up for it. I always have such a great time because the crowds are just there to enjoy it. In Canada I feel like the crowds are amazing and I feel that extra love from the Canadian crowds. When you know you have for sure an amazing crowd, it’s just brilliant. When you have a tough crowd you just have to work that little bit harder.

Q: What do you wear on stage — do you have all the fancy costume changes and a celebrity stylist?
A: No, I just have my own look. I have my own style that happens to be different from everyone else in Hollywood! (laughs) I have a clothing line that’s just launched in America. My inspiration is me! It’s everything I love and all my favourite pieces. I love hoodies and, you know, skulls and bright colours. It’s really out-there stuff and really fun.

Q: So you’re a fashion designer, an actress and a singer — what do you enjoy most?
A: Playing live shows by far. I have a smile on my face the whole time. I write my songs just for me and what pleases me, and what I’m feeling and playing the songs live, it’s awesome. Now I’ve had three albums, I’ve got so many hits that when I do a show it just seems more fun and exciting. — Courtesy of Sony/BMG Music

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