i loved this. i HATED avril at the time and was very bought into "she's fake punk" discourse (because i, a dweeby 12 year old in the suburbs, was the true arbiter of counterculture) but in retrospect it's just because i myself was terrified of being called a poser lmao. one of my most obnoxious eras!!! but now as an adult i also find her endearing and can respect what she brought to the table (ties over tank tops)
you're so valid for this. she was kinda annoying! and she was everywhere! but also yeah what did she really do other than give us some catchy songs and fun music videos to enjoy!
I (embarrassingly) had a crush on Avril because I did think she was hot (those canines!!!!), but I found her personality SO off-putting! Queer young me was confused!
haha EXTREMELY relatable! but also -- men have been getting to be dirtbags with inexplicably hot features and off-putting personalities for YEARS so this feels like progress!
This song is perfect! I keep meaning to comment on this to ask if you've seen Bottoms yet? Complicated is featured in the most wonderful way! It gets the on screen respect it deserves!
Loving the nostalgia but OMG the pure schoolmarmish indignation this video gives me now. Especially on behalf of the poor kid in the hot dog suit (REAL punks would stand in solidarity with low wage workers instead of making their jobs harder, AVRIL). I was a bit older when she was big (very much in my "not like other girls" era myself) and some of the guys I hung out with were extremely misogynistic about her! But if there's anything I don't miss about that time, it's the endless hairsplitting about who was or wasn't truly punk.
hahaha seriously they are downright CRUEL to the kid in the hot dog suit! all he's doing is his job! all he's doing is trying to give YOU free samples!!! "the endless hairsplitting about who was or wasn't truly punk" was so real back then and also so steeped in misogyny
I can always count on your newsletter for some truly excellent nostalgia. I'll definitely be searching out some Avril to listen to, and your pictures are great! She did have those four distinct poses! Thanks for sharing.
BTW, thanks for pointing me toward the "Semi-Charmed Life" episide of 60 Songs That Explain the 90s for more on Stephan Jenkins and his reputation. Eve 6 member Max Collins praises the song while pretty much dissing Jenkins' voice, and it's amazing.
I don't have any photographic evidence of this but I once showed up to casual clothes day at my all-girls Catholic high school wearing a button down shirt and black tie in tribute to Avril. I WORSHIPPED HER. No one else seemed impressed by my outfit but it absolutely was a huge part of my queer/nonbinary awakening!
Those pictures are amazing, bless you for sharing them! I love how Avril is Hot Topic-style punk: carefully curated corporate counterculture. And good for her, get that coin, etc. But there's not a ton of street cred when your song is played on the radio between "You're the Inspiration" and "A Thousand Miles." 😂
well now I'm watching the video my friends and I made with some serious Avril vibes and reminiscing about our mayhem-at-the-mall phase, which was absolutely peak... golly I was a menace 😅
omg, i so needed to read this today. remember when life was simple and the punk vs. poser vs. prep was the biggest argument to be had?? ah, the good ol' days.
avril was the reason i (foolishly!) grew out my bangs and wore too much eyeliner for far too many years.
and Alicia...these photos...they are incredible. A+ work, my friend. 😂
i loved this. i HATED avril at the time and was very bought into "she's fake punk" discourse (because i, a dweeby 12 year old in the suburbs, was the true arbiter of counterculture) but in retrospect it's just because i myself was terrified of being called a poser lmao. one of my most obnoxious eras!!! but now as an adult i also find her endearing and can respect what she brought to the table (ties over tank tops)
you're so valid for this. she was kinda annoying! and she was everywhere! but also yeah what did she really do other than give us some catchy songs and fun music videos to enjoy!
let she among us who has not done an impassioned sk8er boi at karaoke multiple times cast the first stone 🤘
*puts stone back in my pocket*
I (embarrassingly) had a crush on Avril because I did think she was hot (those canines!!!!), but I found her personality SO off-putting! Queer young me was confused!
haha EXTREMELY relatable! but also -- men have been getting to be dirtbags with inexplicably hot features and off-putting personalities for YEARS so this feels like progress!
This song is perfect! I keep meaning to comment on this to ask if you've seen Bottoms yet? Complicated is featured in the most wonderful way! It gets the on screen respect it deserves!
I have NOT seen Bottoms but I've heard nothing but good things! And now that I know it features Complicated I *really* have to see it!!
It made me tear up! From happiness!!!
Loving the nostalgia but OMG the pure schoolmarmish indignation this video gives me now. Especially on behalf of the poor kid in the hot dog suit (REAL punks would stand in solidarity with low wage workers instead of making their jobs harder, AVRIL). I was a bit older when she was big (very much in my "not like other girls" era myself) and some of the guys I hung out with were extremely misogynistic about her! But if there's anything I don't miss about that time, it's the endless hairsplitting about who was or wasn't truly punk.
hahaha seriously they are downright CRUEL to the kid in the hot dog suit! all he's doing is his job! all he's doing is trying to give YOU free samples!!! "the endless hairsplitting about who was or wasn't truly punk" was so real back then and also so steeped in misogyny
I can always count on your newsletter for some truly excellent nostalgia. I'll definitely be searching out some Avril to listen to, and your pictures are great! She did have those four distinct poses! Thanks for sharing.
BTW, thanks for pointing me toward the "Semi-Charmed Life" episide of 60 Songs That Explain the 90s for more on Stephan Jenkins and his reputation. Eve 6 member Max Collins praises the song while pretty much dissing Jenkins' voice, and it's amazing.
Max Collins' ability to apply sharp, measured praise that is also low-key shade is . . . impeccable. Glad you enjoy the nostalgia!
I don't have any photographic evidence of this but I once showed up to casual clothes day at my all-girls Catholic high school wearing a button down shirt and black tie in tribute to Avril. I WORSHIPPED HER. No one else seemed impressed by my outfit but it absolutely was a huge part of my queer/nonbinary awakening!
omg I bet you looked AMAZING. The ties were iconic for sure, and I bet part of quite a few people's queer/nonbinary awakenings!!!
I've honestly never looked cooler and I've been chasing that high ever since 😂
I say bring the outfit back!!
Love this! That Complicated video was truly everything.
It is such a joy!
Those pictures are amazing, bless you for sharing them! I love how Avril is Hot Topic-style punk: carefully curated corporate counterculture. And good for her, get that coin, etc. But there's not a ton of street cred when your song is played on the radio between "You're the Inspiration" and "A Thousand Miles." 😂
Hot Topic punk is exactly right! I just feel like -- I listened to the "real stuff" and I also listened to Avril. Get you a girl who can do both!
well now I'm watching the video my friends and I made with some serious Avril vibes and reminiscing about our mayhem-at-the-mall phase, which was absolutely peak... golly I was a menace 😅
A video of your mayhem-at-the-mall phase!!! Share with the class!
haha! Enjoy this 2003 chaos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuFZ39czdyw
oh man it's better than I could've dreamed and the fashion choices are everything
I still have the skirt and it hurts a whole lot that it's considered vintage now
omg, i so needed to read this today. remember when life was simple and the punk vs. poser vs. prep was the biggest argument to be had?? ah, the good ol' days.
avril was the reason i (foolishly!) grew out my bangs and wore too much eyeliner for far too many years.
and Alicia...these photos...they are incredible. A+ work, my friend. 😂