Best of Avril Lavigne

Music has had a very powerful affect on me for as long as I can remember. It offers a place for me to escape and relate my emotions to that I sometimes can't normally do. When I saw this call for content about music and one of your favorite artists I knew I had to answer it. Avril Lavigne has been one of my favorite artists since I first learned of her music. Not only does she have fun songs that you can just bop your head too; she also has some meaningful songs that move not only can move a person, but people can really relate to her songs if they take the time to sit and listen to the actual lyrics. I've found meaning in almost all Avril's songs and that is one of the main reasons why I adore her, not to mention her music is catchy. Avril's music is a bit of rock and a bit of pop; she is often called the "Punk Princess". For this article I will share my favorite top 10 songs of hers and what they mean to me.

10. "The Best Damn Thing" off The Best Damn Thing album. This song ended up my list because it's a super fun and catchy song that can boost confidence and make you feel in control and on the top of everything. It also pokes fun at things that guys do wrong such as not holding the door or paying for dinner.

9. "Runaway" from The Best Damn Thing album. This is a good song to listen on those days when you feel like everything is going wrong. This song reminds you that you may be in a hard situation, but that is what life is about and why it's important to get through it. Avril sings, "...I just want to fall and lose myself. Laughing so hard it hurts like hell. Forget about everything and runway..." the perfect pick me up song!

8. "Contagious" also from The Best Damn Thing album. This song is contagious! This song is about relationships and finding that person that you just can't get enough of. It's an upbeat song that you can use to express how you feel about that special person in your life. I picked it for those reason because I have a very special person in my life and I'm always searching for songs that can show him how much I care about him. Music is one of those little ways that helps me express even more how I care.

7. "Freak Out" from Avril's Under My Skin album. Ever felt like you just don't care anymore or have just had enough? I know I have! Avril portrays that attitude in this song and that's why it ended up on my list. "Freak Out" is a song that you blast and let your worries just slip away. "...Just freak out let it go..."

6. "Hot" again from The Best Damn Thing album. "Hot" is a fun and sexy song for that special somebody. I love playing this song for my husband because the lyrics are provocative and sexy and they can make him feel that way. It's definitely a fun song to play for anyone that you want to make feel special, sexy, wanted and appreciated. "...Kiss me gently always I know hold me love me don't ever go..."

5. "I'm With You" from Avril's debut album Let Go. Starting here with the top five songs get very serious. I feel the more serious and heart-warming songs should be saved for the best. I really can relate to these songs from different situations in my life so they were saved for these spots. "I'm With You" was for my husband, but at the time he was my boyfriend when I learned of this song. We were seniors in high school which was a particularly difficult time in my life when I struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide. This song portrays how a person can feel very alone and lost, but as long as they have one person they can feel close to then they can keep holding on. My boyfriend was that person for me and this song reminds me of how we bonded and how he was always there for me during this difficult time. "...It's a damn cold night trying to figure out this life won't you take me by the hand take me somewhere new..."

4. "Slipped Away" appearing on the Under My Skin album. If you have ever lost anyone in your life especially unexpected chances are that you can relate to this song. I've lost many family members one which was very sudden and unexpected. Every time I hear this song I think my uncle and how much I miss him. Avril sings about losing someone close to you and how you can't get them back in this song. It's a very sad song, but powerful as well. It can help you grieve and move you to tears. As sad as it is I can appreciate the powerful raw emotions to this song and that's why its number 4 on my list.

3. "Why" which appears on the Complicated imported single. I recently discovered this song and instantly fell in love with it. I wish it was included on one of her major albums since this song deserves to be acknowledged. Musically "Why" sounds very acoustic, but I love the lyrics to the song. This song is about being in a relationship that is going through hard times when you start questioning what you are still doing with each other...which most people in serious relations can relate to at some point in time. Avril expresses how much see needs that other person and is not going to let them go even through its hard right now. This song has a very soft sound to it with a very powerful message to it.

2. "Keep Holding On" materialized on The Best Damn Thing album. If you ever felt alone, lost, or like giving up then you can relate to this song. This song is all about the fight to keep going. I relate to this song when my husband has to go away for long business trips due to his career. It can be very hard and you want to give up but as the song says,"...So far away, I wish you were here before it's too late this could all disappear before the doors close and it comes to an end with you by my side I will fight and defend...Keep holding on..." It's can be an inspiration and provide that little pick me up to help you keep going.

1. "When You're Gone" debuting on The Best Damn Thing album. This song is a tear jerker and the music video only compounds it. This is my number one song because of how much a tear jerker it is and how much emotions it depicts. Every lyric to this song I can relate to in a very powerful way. As I mentioned above my husband goes away often for long periods of time and this is one of the songs we share while we apart. It expresses many of our feelings and listening to it can help us feel not so apart from each other. If you are in a long distance relationship or deal with distance in your relationship then this song will probably move you to tears as well. With such capability to relate and such meaningful, influential, and inspirational lyrics there was no doubt that this would be my number one song from Avril Lavigne's songs. I truly mean I can relate to each and every word of this song as I'm sure many others out there can as well.

That concludes my top 10 songs from Avril Lavigne. If you haven't listened to her music I highly recommend going out and buying her albums or finding somewhere why you can listen to her music. Her music is not only catchy, but significant.