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Rating: AVRIL SWEET SLEEP.
"I want to be myself and with this conviction of mine make my way, write about what I feel and not worry about the judgment of others..." A. Lavigne.
With my time machine (see review of Prodigy), I suddenly fling myself to 1992, in Canada.
Now I find myself outside the elementary school in Napanee, a town with a few thousand inhabitants in the province of Ontario that has given birth to the Pippi Longstocking of rock. At the driiing, a sea of kids rushes down the stairs making a hellish racket. Only one girl comes out spitting in the face of the teachers and breaking the secretary's glass windows with her backpack, and I bet you've already guessed who it is.
Well, it seems that the girl in 8 years (around 17 years old, if I'm not mistaken) will be able to release her first album "Let Go," and after a couple of years, this "Under my skin": a real point of "no return" on how this fucking rock'n'roll has forged, besides a few authentic masterpieces, entire generations of monstrous, idiot, defiant, and rebel-without-a-cause teenagers who pour onto "fame and success" problems of another nature mostly related to that fucking transitional age called adolescence.
"Many disasters in the history of mankind could have been avoided with a few more sessions with a psychologist," says a colleague of mine, a certain Francesco, and you can't argue with that.
I do a prolonged PSSH, but not too much to avoid arousing suspicion among the crowd of moms, janitors, and pedophiles bustling at the entrance.
"u ar iu?" says the hamster looking at me sideways and chewing gum.
"Cam uit mi che mo' te spiegh ai," I reply in an Abatantuono-Vanzina-like dialect.
"Ai don laic tis facking car," says this mini-shutter looking at my more filthy than battered Rav4, but she doesn't have time to finish the sentence before, with a kick from me, I fling her straight into the trunk, causing her to lose consciousness.
Fuck you, little shit, now I'll show you, I'll... "Miss Aidonlaic" of this tuft of hair!
I'm in the backroom of this hourly garage in a godforsaken dump.
The little brat is well-tied to a chair in the center of the large room and struggles like a tarantula in the sun. Around, the smell of gasoline mixed with piss and dead rat carcasses. A single window high above illuminates the scene with a spotlight effect on the chick.
Stuff that not even Storaro could achieve such an effective light.
She wakes up and fires off a series of Fuckins here, fuckins there, interspersed with incomprehensible words like scit, mader, ass, spat between multicolored toxins and salivary gastric juices.
In response, I give her a backhand slap, and her head spins 180 degrees Fahrenheit (which seems odd at the moment, but I assure you, it is quite a spin!).
I always walk barefoot when I work because increased pressure and nervousness create circulation problems in my legs. I hand her the CD of her work (which she obviously doesn't know), and she asks who the fuck is that bitch on the cover pretending to be her.
I explain the whole time travel story to her, but she doesn't believe a word and keeps threatening me right and left, talks of polìs, aikilliu, with sprays of fuck worse than champagne on New Year's Eve.
I serenely continue my work of redemption by putting one of my used wool socks, well rolled up, in her mouth: I can't stand her incessant prattling with that shrill voice of an incorrigible brat who still doesn't know a damn thing about life. She drives me crazy, and my circulation stops again.
I put on her record and let her listen to it.
"Is this rock'n'roll for you? Is it genuine music? Well-made music?"
"Is this serious and honest proto-punk? Do you want to explain to me why you always use those three chords? Why does the guitar always sound the same? Why does it all sound so fake-rebellious?"
No comprende.
"But do you know the Clash, Led Zeppelin, the Who... do they say anything to you... have you ever heard of Jimi Hendrix?"
She looks at me with bloodshot eyes, and from her gaze, I understand that I'm speaking Arabic to her. It's as if I were listing one by one, first and last names of... I don't know... Garibaldi's thousand: dead calm!
Damn, I feel desolated, sad, distraught.
I sit on the floor and gaze at that asshole of a window high above shooting its fascist beam of light into my eyes. In 20 years, no one will remember a damn thing about anything here.
In three generations, hardly anyone will know anything about the Queen, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, let alone Stone Temple Pilots, Joy Division, Sonic Youth... in short, the "lesser ones." By the fourth generation, let's say in 40 years, there will be other names, other groups, everything new...another round of the merry-go-round, and from the past, only a faint memory from some old fart like me will remain.
Like with the Holocaust: there's already someone suggesting it never existed. By the time the last witnesses die, watch if a new historical revisionism doesn't appear. In 70 years, it will all be erased or reduced to 20 lines in history books.
This is the same: she doesn't know what she's doing, she doesn't realize she's repeating the same things (much worse) that others have done, with the only difference being that she IS YOUNG and still ALIVE, and above all, she PLAYS at being the rebel.
That's all this advantage.
The difference is right here.
So I begin, like a new Don Quixote, like in the movie A Clockwork Orange, a slow education in music by having her listen to some of the cornerstones (or at least some good records) from the past on headphones, hoping at least she learns the lesson and gets to work on doing something different when her time comes. By the third day, the little girl has eyes popping out of her head, and it's clear she can't take it anymore.
Don't worry, little one, I still have about thirty CDs for you to listen to, and then you'll at least have a basic knowledge.
She seems not to understand; she is still very angry with me. And to think that one day she will thank me for all this chunk of culture I'm giving her.
I turn on the radio, and the news is spreading from mouth to mouth. They are looking for her everywhere, and soon they'll come here too.
I finish with the Radiohead album and leave her unconscious, tied to the chair amid piles and piles of scattered LPs and CDs around. It's better to cut and run now.
I've done what I could; if she understands, good, if not: shecanfuckoff.
I've returned to March 2006, lounging on the terrace of my house with StronKo, my pitbull who annoys me incessantly to go out and paw at all costs. I toss him directly down from the second floor so he won't bother me (don't worry: he's tied to the balcony grille with a rope of at least 300 meters!).
While I throw him the head of the old Barbie he uses as a ball, my eye falls on the cover of Rumore this month: HORROR!!. What do I see on the cover?! Avril Lavigne, pale as ever in a long white shirt, dueting with Enya and Vollemweider on harp.
Minibell NOOO!!
From bad to worse! And I had done everything to steer her away from that sugary and bland rock of that "Under my skin," and look at what I've managed to do!? A rejection crisis and the little girl has switched completely to the other side. Now she does new-age-zen themed spiritism and has just released the single "Sweet Sleep," translated to us as Dolce Dormire.
Damn, I've always said it. It's useless to change the past.
It's better to keep what's there, otherwise, it always ends up from bad to worse!
Nothing is created; everything is destroyed.
Even StronKo knows this, who all delightedly brought back the Barbie head in such a state that if Dario Argento sees it, he'll use it directly as a poster for his next film!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Take Me Away (02:59)
I cannot find a way to describe it
It's there inside, all I do is hide
I wish that it would just go away
What would you do, you do, if you knew
What would you do
All the pain I thought I knew
All the thoughts lead back to you
Back to what was never said
Back and forth inside my head
I can't handle this confusion
I'm unable, come and take me away
I feel like I am all alone
All by myself I need to get around this
My words are cold, I don't want them to hurt you
If I show you, I don't think you'd understand
Cause no one understands
All the pain I thought I knew
All my thoughts lead back to you
Back to what was never said
Back and forth inside my head
I can't handle this confusion
I'm unable, come and take me away
I'm going no where [on and on and]
I'm getting no where [on and on and on]
Take me away
I'm going no where [on and on and on and on]
[and off and on and off and on]
All the pain I thought I knew
All my thoughts lead back to you
Back to what was never said
Back and forth inside my head
I can't handle this confusion
I'm unable, come and take me away
Take me away
Break me away
Take me away
Take me away
02 Together (03:16)
Something just isn't right
I can feel it inside
The truth isn't far behind me
You can't deny
When I turn the lights out
When I close my eyes
Reality overcomes me
I'm living a lie
When I'm alone
I feel so much better
And when I'm around you
I don't feel together
It doesn't feel right at all
Together
Together we've built a wall
Together
Holding hands we'll fall
Hands we'll fall
This has gone on so long
I realize that I need
Something good to rely on
Something for me
When I'm alone
I feel so much better
And when I'm around you
I don't feel together
It doesn't feel right at all
Together
Together we've built a wall
Together
Holding hands we'll fall
Hands we'll fall
My heart is broken
I'm lying here
My thoughts are choking
On you, my dear
On you, my dear
On you, my dear
When I'm alone
I feel so much better
And when I'm around you
I don't feel together
It doesn't feel right at all
Together
Together we've built a wall
Together
Holding hands we'll fall
Hands we'll fall
Together
It doesn't feel right at all
Together
Together we've built a wall
Together
Holding hands we'll fall
Hands we'll fall
When I'm around you
When I'm around you
I don't feel together, no
I don't feel together, no
When I'm around you
When I'm around you
I don't feel together, no
I don't feel together, no
03 Don't Tell Me (03:24)
You held my hand and walked me home, I know
Why you gave me that kiss,
It was something like this, and made me go oh oh.
You wiped my tears, got rid of all my fears,
Why did you have to go?
Guess it wasn't enough, to take up some of my love.
Guys are so hard to trust.
Did I not tell you that I'm not like that
Girl the one who, who gives it all away.
Did you think that I was gonna give it up to you? (This time)
Did you think that it was something i was gonna do? (And cry)
Don't try to tell me what to do
Don't try to tell me what to say
You're better off that way
Don't think that your charm
And the fact that your arm is now around my neck
Will get you in my pants,
I'll have to kick your ass
To make you never forget.
I'm gonna ask to you stop,
I thought I liked you alot,
But I'm really upset (really upset)
So get outta my head,
Get off of my bed,
Yeah, that's what I said!
Did I not tell you that I'm not like that?
Girl the one who, who throws it all away.
Did you think that I was gonna give it up to you? (This time)
Did you think that it was something i was gonna do? (And cry)
Don't try to tell me what to do
Don't try to tell me what to say
You're better off that way
This guilt trip that you put me on
Won't mess me up, I've done no wrong
Any thoughts of you and me have gone away
Did you think that I was gonna give it up to you? (This time)
Did you think that it was something i was gonna do? (And cry)
Don't try to tell me what to do
Don't try to tell me what to say
You're better off that way
I'm better off alone, anyway..
05 How Does It Feel (03:47)
I'm not afraid of anything
I just need to know that I can breathe
I don't need much of anything
But suddenly, suddenly
I am small and the world is big
All around me is fast moving
Surrounded by so many things
Suddenly, suddenly
Chorus:
How does it feel
To be different from me?
Are we the same?
How does it feel
To be different from me?
Are we the same?
How does it feel?
I am young and I am free
But I get tired and I get weak
I get lost and I can't sleep
But suddenly, suddenly
Chorus
Would you comfort me?
Would you cry with me?
I am small and the world is big
But I am not afraid of anything
Chorus
How does it feel, how does it feel
You're different from me, different 4x
06 My Happy Ending (04:04)
So much for my happy ending
oh oh, oh oh, oh oh...
Let's talk this over
It's not like we're dead
Was it something I did?
Was it something you said?
Don't leave me hangin'
In a city so dead
Held up so high
On such a breakable thread
You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be
CHORUS
You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
And all of our memories, so close to me, just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending
So much for my happy ending
You've got your dumb friends
I know what they say
They tell you I'm difficult
But so are they
But they don't know me
Do they even know you?
All the things you hide from me
All the shit that you do
You were all the things I thought I knew
And I thought we could be
CHORUS
It's nice to know that you were there
Thanks for acting like you cared
And making me feel like I was the only one
It's nice to know we had it all
Thanks for watching as I fall
And letting me know we were done
CHORUS X 2
So much for my happy ending
So much for my happy ending
07 Nobody's Home (03:34)
I couldn't tell you
Why she felt that way
She felt it every day
I couldn't help her
I just watched her make
The same mistakes again
What's wrong, what's wrong now
Too many, too many problems
Don't know where she belongs
Where she belongs
She wants to go home but nobody's home
That's where she lies
Broken inside.
With no place to go, no place to go
To dry her eyes,
Broken inside.
Open your eyes (open your eyes)
And look outside
Find the reason why (why)
You've been rejected (you've been rejected)
And now you can't find
What you left behind
Be strong, be strong now
Too many too many problems
Don't know where she belongs, where she belongs
She wants to go home but nobody's home
That's where she lies
Broken inside.
With no place to go, no place to go
To dry her eyes,
Broken inside.
Her feeling she hides
Her dreams she can't find
She's losing her mind
She's fallen behind
She can't find her place
She's losing her faith
She's fallen from grace
She's all over the place (yeah!)
She wants to go home but nobody's home
That's where she lies
Broken inside.
With no place to go, no place to go
To dry her eyes,
Broken inside.
She's lost inside, lost inside
She's lost inside, lost inside
08 Forgotten (03:19)
Oh, oh 4x
I'm giving up
On everything because you mess me up
Don't know how much you screwed it up
You never listen, that's just too bad
Because I'm moving on
I won't forget you were the one that was wrong
I know I need to step up and be strong
Don't patronize me, yeah
Chorus:
Have you forgotten
Everything that I wanted?
Do you forget it's now
You never got it?
Do you get it now, yeah, yeah, yeah?
Oh, oh 2x
Gotta get away
There's no point in thinking about yesterday
It's too late now
It will never be the same
We're so different now, yeah
Chorus
I know I wanna run away, I know I wanna run away
Run away
If only I could run away, if only I could run away
Run away
I told you what I wanted; I told you what I wanted
What I wanted
I was forgotten, I won't be forgotten never again
Chorus
09 Who Knows (03:31)
Yeah (6X)
Why do you look so familiar?
I could swear that I have seen your face before
I think I like that you seem sincere
I think I'd like to get to know you a little bit more
I think there's something more
Life's worth living for
Chorus:
Who knows what could happen
Do what you do
Just keep on laughing
One thing's true
There's always a brand new day
I'm gonna live today like it's my last day
Yeah (6X)
How do you always have an opinion
And how do you always find
The best way to compromise
We don't need to have a reason
We don't need anything
We're just wasting time
I think there's something more
Life's worth living for
[Chorus]
Who knows what could happen
Do what you do
Just keep on laughing
One thing's true
There's always a brand new day
I'm gonna live today like it's my last day
Find yourself
Cause I can't find you
Be yourself
Who are you?
Find yourself
Cause I can't find you
Be yourself
Who are you?
Who knows what could happen
Do what you do
Just keep on laughing
One thing's true
There's always a brand new day
So you go and make it happen
Do your best
Just keep on laughing
I'm telling you, there's always a brand new day
Who knows what could happen
Do what you do
Just keep on laughing
One thing's true
There's always a brand new day
I'm gonna live today like it's my last day
10 Fall to Pieces (03:30)
I looked away
Then I looked back at you
You try to say
The things that you can't undo
If I had my way
I'd never get over you
Today is the day
I pray that we make it through
Make it through the fall
Make it through it all
And I don't want to fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
And I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
'Cause I'm in love with you
You're the only one
I'd be with 'til the end
When I come undone
You bring me back again
Back under the stars
Back into your arms
And I don't want to fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
And I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
'Cause I'm in love with you
Wanna know who you are
Wanna know where to start
I wanna know what this means
Wanna know how you feel
Wanna know what is real
I wanna know everything
Everything
I don't want to fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
And I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
I don't want to talk about it
And I don't want to fall to pieces
I just want to sit and stare at you
I don't want to talk about it
And I don't want a conversation
I just want to cry in front of you
And I don't want to talk about it
'Cause I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you
'Cause I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you
I'm in love with you
11 Freak Out (03:15)
Try to tell me what I shouldn't do
You should know by now,I wont listen to you
Walk around with my hands up in the air
Cause I don't care
Cause I'm alright I'm fine
Just freak out let it go
I'm gonna live my life
I cant ever run and hide I wont compromise cause I'll never know
I'm gonna close my eyes
I cant watch the time go by
I wont keep it inside
Freak out let it go
Just freak out let it go
You dont always have to do everything right
Stand up for yourself
and put up a fight
walk around with your hands up in the air like you don't care
Cause I'm alright I'm fine
Just freak out let it go
I'm gonna live my life
I cant ever run and hide I wont compromise cause I'll never know
I'm gonna close my eyes
I cant watch the time go by
I wont keep it inside
Freak out let it go
On my own
let it go
yeah yeah yeah
Just let me live my life
I cant ever run and hide I wont compromise cause I'll never know
I'm gonna close my eyes
I cant watch the time go by
I wont keep it inside
Freak out let it go
Gonna freak out let it go
Gonna freak out let it go
13 I Always Get What I Want (02:32)
Every now and then we all want something
Even if there's no way of gettin' it
If i stomach that thats the way it must be
Be the way around it, could I get myself around it
Get me what I want
Everything that I got
Get me what I want
Cause Im a big shot
Dont wanna always have to be so nice
Dont wanna hear you say well thats just life
I dry out when I open my mouth
I make my way around it, make my way around it
Get me what I want
Everything that I got
Get me what I want
Cause Im a big shot
So give me what I want
I always get what I want
Dont want to see me red
If I dont get what I want
Thats not what you want
I'm not about to take no for an answer
no
If I tell you I cant I'm still gonna go
I did it all by myself
I found my way around it
Get me what I want
Everything that I got
Get me what I want
Cause Im a big shot
So give me what I want
I always get what I want
Dont want to see me red
If I dont get what I want
Thats not what you want
It's not to lovely
It could start to get ugly
It really bugs me
Get me what I want
Everything that I got
Get me what I want
Cause Im a big shot
So give me what I want
I always get what I want
Dont want to see me red
If I dont get what I want
Thats not what you want
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Other reviews
By francis
Under My Skin is a much more 'adult' and convincing album than Let Go.
If her inner unrest fully emerges in future albums, Avril could become a great rock singer-songwriter.
By aka THE TRUE ghetto
Simply fantastic... The queen of Canadian rock-pop and I would say also worldwide is a beautiful and charismatic girl.
She kept rocking our speakers and screens until we fell in love with skating, rock, and the streets she tells about profoundly in her songs.
