After a five year hiatus, the Canadian pop-punk queen Avril Lavigne is back with her most inspirational music yet in her sixth studio album “Head Above Water,” which released Feb. 15. It is her first album to be released since her self-titled fifth studio album in 2013, marking the longest gap between two of her albums.
It’s important to understand the context behind this album’s more mellow tone in comparison to Lavigne’s previous pop-rock work. In April 2015, Lavigne was diagnosed with Lyme disease, putting a halt to her music career. With that, the album’s lead single “Head Above Water” is not only enriched with powerful lyrics that take listeners on Lavigne’s emotional battle against the disease, but it also commands attention to the elegant mix of piano, strings and drums. Of the motivation for the song, Lavigne stated that she had accepted death and felt like she was drowning, praying to God to keep her head above water. The song peaked at number 64 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and made it on the charts in 24 other countries.
The second single released, “Tell Me It’s Over,” takes time to reflect on Lavigne’s vulnerabilities in past relationships in a unique R&B style, demonstrating that Lavigne is no stranger to dabbling in various genres. Despite the sorrowful content, the song establishes a new sound for the remainder of the album that promises more than just melancholy messages.
To further highlight Lavigne’s talent at crafting an intricate range of music, there is even a song for fans who miss Lavigne’s catchy pop-punk style from the early 2000s. The third single that was released, “Dumb Blonde” featuring rap artist Nicki Minaj, brings an explosive sassiness that is reminiscent of Lavigne’s “Best Damn Thing” days with its fun and empowering beat. Easily the most feel-good song on the album with an infectious chorus bursting with energy, “Dumb Blonde” stands out as not only a pop hit, but also as a fiery message that pushes back against the dumb blonde stereotype.
Slower songs such as “Birdie,” “Goddess” and “Warrior” are also saturated with raw passion layered within Lavigne’s soothing vocals, creating a fresh yet serene mood throughout the album—something that listeners will appreciate as they are exposed to a more unguarded side of Lavigne.
Lavigne’s newest music is nothing short of emotional, authentic and beautifully imbued with a serious intimacy unparalleled by her previous work. Her raw storytelling explores themes centered around maturity, strength and resilience—topics that are not unfamiliar to Lavigne, but have never truly been discovered the way that they have in this album. For the girl who never wanted to grow up, both long-standing fans who have awaited Lavigne’s return as well as new listeners will not be disappointed with her triumphant growth in “Head Above Water.”
