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April 30, 2011

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Pop fans await Avril's return

PREPARE to be rocked again as Canadian "pop-punk princess" Avril Lavigne returns to Shanghai for her third concert in the city.

Her appearance at Shanghai Grand Stage next Monday night marks the beginning of "The Black Star Tour," named after the opening song from her latest album "Goodbye Lullaby." Before the tour kicks off, she will be a guest performer today and tomorrow at the China Music Valley International Music Festival in Beijing.

Apart from her most popular works such as "Complicated," "I'm With You" and "My Happy Ending," Shanghai audience can expect to hear quite a few songs from the new album.

"The tour is largely based on the works from my new album," Lavigne, born in 1984, tells Shanghai Daily through e-mail interview. "They will account for about half of the two-hour show. But we will also perform some of the most popular songs from previous albums, since I believe that most fans won't be satisfied with only the new works at my concert."

"Rebellious, energetic and punk" have been among the most popular words used to describe Lavigne since she entered the pop music industry in 2002, aged only 17.

Her distinct image has won Lavigne international popularity. By 2009, she had sold 16 million records worldwide, and "Goodbye Lullaby" has become her fourth "Top 10 Album" on the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart and her third No. 1 album in both Japan and Australia.

But the rebellious young woman decided to grow up for this album. Unlike previous albums, "Goodbye Lullaby" produced by Lavigne and her ex-husband Deryck Whibley has a greater focus on the lyrical elements.

"I present myself outright, without any fear of showing my weaknesses," says Lavigne.

Instead of the radical girl, the album presents Lavigne as a sexy young woman in both music and image.

The singer says that she wants to explore a variety of styles rather than always clinging to the rock image.

"As I grow up, there are always changes in the way I see the world," says Lavigne. "I cannot always stay in the same radical style. I cannot tell what my next image and style will be until my next work is ready."

She is looking forward to Monday's concert in Shanghai, based on her previous two visits here.

"I was impressed by the fans in Shanghai who sang together with me in almost every song," she says. "I hope that I can light their passion again, this time in a shorter time."

Considering the tight schedule on her previous visits to Shanghai, Lavigne hopes that she will get the chance to see more of the city this time.

"The only impressions of Shanghai I have got previously were merely based on observations through car or hotel room windows," says Lavigne. "It seemed quite like Las Vegas to me. I hope that I can get a real picture this time."


Date: May 2, 7:30pm

Address: 1111 Caoxi Rd N.

Tickets: 180-1,280 yuan

Tel: 962-388




 

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