Snap judgment: Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend”
Posted on March 2, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Do me a big favor: pop over to YouTube and watch the video for “Girlfriend,” Avril Lavigne’s latest single. Yeah, I know that’s asking a lot, but stick with me here. I need a second opinion.
You’re back? Good. Now, tell me this: is “Girlfriend” a fun (if mindless) single that’s one part Gwen, one part Fergie, and three parts Toni Basil? Or is it the worst song ever? I honestly can’t decide. It’s like I hear it and think, “This isn’t any worse than most crap on the radio these days. At least it’s catchy.” Then, I hear it again an hour later and literally want to swerve my car off the road into a concrete embankment (usually right around the part in the second verse where Avril says, “Hell yeah, I’m the motherf–king princess!”). I don’t think the song counts as a guilty pleasure since I haven’t decided whether or not it’s even a pleasure in the first place. I’m perplexed.
Either way, I think we can safely assume this is the final nail in the coffin of Avril’s “punk” “credibility.” Does that mean it’s time to retire this ad banner once and for all?
Nah…I think I’ll keep it.
Posted by Jess | Filed Under Pop Culture |
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Really, isn’t “one part Gwen, one part Fergie, and three parts Toni Basil” a recipe for the worst song ever?
Personally, I kind of want to smack you for making me listen to it.
Oh, I do dig the banner, though.
This is not the greatest song, sure. But its also lacking in some creativity. Listen to the song again with your “I Love Lucy” t-shirt on. No, not that one, the other shirt. I know you have two. Anyway, listen to the clappy drum part and see if you can’t say, “Hey, Ricky!” a few times. Its poppy, but it lacks the one thing that will make it stick in my head: style. Its rather generic.
I definitely like Avril with blonde (or mostly) blonde hair.
Keep the banner, but you need to make a new one with the bald heads of various celebrity women in it
HATE. IT.
and i will occasionally admit to liking something i really, as an “educated musician,” shouldn’t. there’s just… *shudder* nothing to like here. but… uh… that’s just me.
I hate to say it, but on first listen I really like it. It’s fun.
anything that makes “hey mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine, you blow my mind. hey mickey!” start scrolling through my head can in no way be a good song.
keep the banner though. it works regardless of what dribble the girl puts out.
Worst song ever? I’ll say … si!
I think she might have been shooting for ironic.
Not a good song. Kind of grating. But Fergalicious is still my vote for worst song ever. Although anything by James Blunt is up there too.
I’ve become a music nerd…or maybe everyone’s mother?! I have no idea who this is, or if I should know. Just wanted to say that I really like your blog header…very cool.
Oh, I almost forgot. Jess, One of your posts has been nominated for the funniest blog post for February!
It’s a dark day in radio when I hear that and say “wow, that’s not nearly as bad as most of the stuff”. I love a lot of the old stuff, this is just manufactured.
this makes me sad for american music.
I took it… London Bridge is still worse.
Take your hand and place it behind your head, now slap yourself. I’d rather listen to Barney.
As for the rest of your blog, i like it.
that song is going to get really popular with middle school-aged kids.
Its perfect for a younger group of people who haven’t expereinced “real” music yet. haha
I’m not a big fan of it to be honest…. been busy making music of my own. If you’d like to hear then pop by http://www.myspace.com/manxkickinwing. Happy Sunday
Roo (Clara) xx
Jess, can you please put together an awesome playlist for my (sometimes dismal, sometimes the other MTA riders are entertaining its the best part of my day) “A Good Commute” playlist?
The video makes this song worthwhile. Otherwise, I’d rather listen to the hip-hop covers of “She’s Like the Wind” (which are MY guilty pleasure). Thanks to the beauty of Limewire, there are two.
My browser keeps crashing every time I open the link.
How bad does a song have to be before my computer refuses to play it?
I’m not ashamed to say that I actually kind of like it.
I can’t believe you made me listen to that crap, Jess. I’m not sure I can forgive you. Incidentally, if you’re listening to a radio station that plays crap like that, you need a new radio station or else *YOU* have lost your “cred”.
Aw, who am I kidding. I can’t stay mad at you.
Trint
Oh dear, I have a recurring problem with Avril… I know I should hate it - and most of my body does - but there’s this tiny glimmer of something that still wants to ‘rock out’ as it were. Everything here is so wrong, SO wrong, but I can still see myself listening to this song a few more times before common sense overpowers me. I feel the same way about Fergilicious. This kind of thing is why I NEVER listen to the radio.
You deleted my comment? I’m so disappointed
Highly over-rated. Both the singer and the song.
Er, I was under the impression that Lavigne drove the final nail into her punk credibility coffin by producing an album — not that I have anything much against her per se. A couple of the tunes work. This one could have done a much better job, perhaps in the hands of someone with a more of a comic sensibility, as done by ske band Reel Big Fish with their song “I Want Your Girlfriend.”
That should be “ska”, not “ske”, whoops.
I love this song and I hope that you will sell millions of copies of this song!
i love it it is probly the best song i hav heard well that is my opinion.
fuck uz all its the best song ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!
avril lavigne is so so cool i have a cd of hers it is so awesome i wish i knew avril lavigne would be so cool she would be my best friend ever my favorite song is girlfriend it is so sweet.aaaahhhh
The best song EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
screw everyone who doesn’t like avril and the song “girl friend” She is the best person and that song rocks!I love the song sk8er boi to!
the best song in the whole world!
who agrees with me on those comments?
hi it’s j dog again avril i am so sorry about poeple that don’t like you. you are the best ever. everybody can kiss my ass for all i care butthats only if you don’t like avril lavigne but i do
nooooooooo! please dont retire!pleaeaeaease dont retire your the best!
are you really retirering avril??????If you are please dont!
I agree with you Sally!
Yes, the only crebility is really has is that it is catchy. It’s unoriginal, and the lyrics are horribly immature (hell ya, i’m the motherf*cking princess? honestly) but it is a just a little better than a lot of trash on the radio nowadays. It’s not something I would download on my iPod though.
“The best song ever?” lol
Have you ever listened to decent music?
avril i love this song it is my fav song ever so i have to tell you it rocks if you dont think so you are crazy.And you now are my fav singer ever so i did a progecte on you and the song girlfriend it ruck now you how i fell about hte song how do you fell.
your the best yourfriend kristen
yes the peaple are crazy they macke me sick they dont now music.Yes i am talking aubot the peaple how thout this song was the wurst they are the worst ever my friend said that it stincks but i think it is the best in the world i herd that you solde over 8 million aulboms of under my skin well see you latre.
ps you rock.
your frend/fane
kristen.
i love the girlfriend it is the bomb
the song is the best in the whole world
u are so cool i love ur song like girlfrieng, its so cool.i so want the CD but i dont have that sort of money.im ur #1 fane i now that like 1000000000000000000 peopel have said that but o well.cya
I like the song Girl friend
I like the song GirlFriend
Avril lavin is the best
avril is cool as
you sing verry good
ay licke sou songs
i think that avril lavin is just the best best best ever if any body knows a relly stupid song i would say thats why im hot hot i wish a dream would come ture and i ment AVRIL LAVIN but that wont happen so by for now PS AVRIL LAVIN i am your 1# fan write me back soon from taylor PS YOUR THE BEST AVRIL LAVIN
omfg! u rock so hard i liked u better when u were punk rock but u still rock!!
u rock
call me please!
omfg!avril all i can say is im yo number on fan!!!!
u rock so #### hard!
i love you
bueno avril lavigne eres lo mejor te felisito!!!…
hola sabi que me caes bien ijij chauu soy tu fans
I think Avril Lavigne is soooooo awesome.I am her #1 fan.
I love you Avril!
Hannah
Well i know this is a bit late but you know. I love Avril and this is not her this is just the whole album is just the same tanlentless sex crap that everyone else does she was really different and interessting now all you have to do is look at her floresnt yellow and pink (not blond and pink) hair and you can see that there is nothing underneath because being famous young went to her head. Ifound this artical and all I could think was Hypocrite. You have to scroll down a bit but here is the site with the artical.
http://xrrf.blogspot.com/2008_02_10_archive.html
Avril remains true to her word. Again.
As far as we can tell, it is the same Avril Lavigne in this month’s Maxim as the Avril Lavigne who pledged “I won’t wear skanky clothes that show my booty, my belly or my boobs.” Perhaps she just meant all at once.