Avril Lavigne, Canadian alternative rock/pop punk/pop rock singer, songwriter and actress has released a debut single from her new upcoming album. 'Head Above Water' is the first song that fans have heard from Lavigne since her release of 'Fly' for the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles, California. 'Fly' was released following her recent reveal of her life-threatening battle with Lyme Disease, which had strongly prevented her from performing for years. Lavigne had spoken in many interviews, admitting that she had "accepted death" The 33 year old, last released an album in 2013 which was her fifth album; self titled 'Avril Lavigne'. 23 Singles, 8 EPs, 1 Live Album, 5 Studio Albums, and 3 struggling years later, we finally are hearing the struggles that Lavigne has faced within this new album; set to release in 2019.
Lavigne's music has never lacked the finesse of drama, however with this new debut song 'Head Above Water', it is far from a metaphorical battle to stay alive, it is something that she personally has experienced. This song addresses directly the struggles that she has faced with Lyme Disease, which has kept her out of the public eye for a few years. Following this, this song is "the first song" that Lavigne "wrote from...bed during one of the scariest moments" of the singers life. Just days before 'Head Above Water' was due to be released the Canadian singer had written a letter to fans announcing the single, and within the letter the singer admitted "I had accepted death and could feel my body shutting down. I felt like I was drowning. Like I was going under water and I just needed to come up for air...unable to breathe. Praying to God for Him to help me just keep my head above the water". The lyrics to this song, started off with simple feelings turning into lyrics, whilst lying in her mother's arms, and eventually brought them to the co-writers of the song Travis Clark and Steven Moccio.
'Head Above Water' still follows the style of other songs by Lavigne, but it is a softer material which fits the style of the song perfectly and expresses the emotions in a strong, emotional and raw way. This is a piano driven ballad song that is announcing Lavigne's comeback and a release of feelings that the 33 year old singer has kept personal for some time. It is a powerful ballad, that builds up as you reach the chorus with a mix of piano, strings, synths and a thunderous like set of drum beats. The lyrics give the audience an insight into the search for hope and faith Lavigne had faced countless, times while her body fights the life-threatening disease, and her voice injects the urgency of needing this faith and hope for God to help her through the toughest moments, that she has had to face since being diagnosed back in 2015. In a statement Lavigne spoke "Under my breath, I prayed 'God, please help to keep my head above water.' In that moment, the song writing of this album began. It was like I tapped into something. It was a very spiritual experience. Lyrics flooded through me from that point on".
Nevertheless, this debut single is a very emotional, raw and meaningful song. Within every lyric, and every composed chord you can truly feel the emotion that Lavigne is foreshadowing the entire song. "I can't see" how any of the fans could not find this song, a chilling, emotional song that is depicting all the emotions that Lavigne went through. The whirlwind of faith and hope within the song, from the very first lyric to the very last chord "I can't seem to keep it all together" because this song really tugs on the heart strings, especially if you're a long time ultimate fan of Lavigne; then this song is right down your alley. This composition, really depicts the amount of faith, hope and praying that Lavigne experienced through the last 3 years of her life. The struggles that she has faced and the challenges she has had to overcome. "God don't let me drown" is most likely the most powerful sentence within this song as it explains the entire song perfectly. Additionally it is the most moving and spiritual part of the chorus, as Lavigne needed to look to someone to help her keep her "head above water", she wanted someone to "come save me" and initially wrote this song so that she could express everything she has felt since her diagnosis. Also it is a way of explaining to her fans that "my life is what I'm fighting for". Not only is this song and album here to express Avril Lavinge's life the past 3 years, but it is also her way of spreading awareness of Lyme Disease. Lavigne also spreads awareness using her foundation, (The Avril Lavigne Foundation) which raises money for Lyme Disease research and for people who are battling with Lyme Disease.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.