TRAFFIC leading to Stadium Merdeka where Canadian pop princess Avril Lavigne performed her The Black Star Tour Live in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday, was a snarl.
With more than 10,000 people flocking to the concert venue and a large number of Lavigne’s fans queuing at the entrance since afternoon, it was easy to feel the excitement.
The show started at 8.30pm, with Avril making an appearance in black skinny tights and a sleeveless top to thunderous applause. She kicked off the show with Black Star, a song from her latest album, Goodbye Lullaby.
It was, quite simply, a cool show. The simple stage was swathed in dazzling lights that suited the mood of the evening. With two giant screens on the sides, fans did not feel like they were missing anything.
She was accompanied by her band who had been working with her since 2007. They are Al Berry (on bass), Rodney Howard (drums and percussion), Steve Ferlazzo (electronic keyboard), Jim McGorman (rhythm guitar) and Steve Fekete (lead guitar).
Avril maintained a frenetic pace from the beginning of the show with a selection of fast numbers, many of which were huge hits and naturally struck a chord with the audience. These included WTH and Sk8er Boi, her hit single from her debut album Let Go, which had the fans dancing and singing along to the infectious beat. (“He was a skater boy/She said see ya later boy/He wasn’t good enough for her/Now he’s a superstar/Slammin on his guitar/Does your pretty face see what he’s worth?”)
Things eased up for the next performance, with the stage bathed in soft pink lighting for the radio hit bubblegum pop tune, Girlfriend. The catchy song is about a girl who likes a boy and hopes to be a replacement for his girlfriend.
Naturally, the crowd jumped for joy to the familiar sing-along tune: “Hey, hey, you, you, I don’t like your girlfriend/No way, no way, I think you need a new one/Hey, hey, you, you, I could be your girlfriend!”
When Avril performed slow numbers such as When You’re Gone and I’m With You, she tugged at the heartstrings with her earnestness. She’s experienced a broken heart, so she sang from a dark place deep inside her. It was easy for her fans to feel her pain and anguish.
Things got sappy or saccharinely sweet (depending on how you want to look at it) as couples held hands and heart-shaped balloons floated in the air... you get the drift.
Later Avril wished her fans good night and thanked them for coming, only to return with encore performances after the usual “We want more!” chant. True to (dramatic) fashion, she came back on with her popular songs I Love You and Complicated.
Avril sang a total of 17 songs including I Always Get What I Want, Alice, Unwanted, Don’t Tell Me and Smile from her studio album Let Go, Under My Skin, The Best Damn Thing and Goodbye Lullaby.
Although it was a fine concert with great atmosphere, it said nothing extra about Avril other than reaffirmed her place as a recording artiste. Those expecting to see an entertainer were disappointed as she only sang and occasionally played the guitar.
Malaysia was the last stop for the tour after the Philippines and China. The concert was held in conjunction with the release of Goodbye Lullaby last March. With songs written by Avril, the album went on to debut in the top five positions in over 15 countries such as the United States and Canada, topping charts in Japan, Australia, Germany, Greece, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Czech Republic.
Avril broke into the music scene at 17 with her album Let Go. The album made Avril the youngest female soloist to reach No. 1 in the United Kingdom, and the album was certified four-time platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The Black Star Tour was presented by Tune Talk and organised by JS Concert Productions.
Read more: SHOWBIZ: Avril in fine form - Holiday - New Straits Times SHOWBIZ: Avril in fine form - Holiday - New Straits Times
