Avril Lavigne got an early start on her promotional duties for new album, Goodbye Lullaby (March 8th, RCA Records) this past New Years Eve, performing new single “What The Hell” live on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest. While the performance was lackluster at best, Lavigne treated fans to a free download of the single on her official Facebook page starting on New Years Day. I’m definitely diggin’ the free download trend that artists like Avril and Ke$ha have started. Definitely a smart promotional tool if you ask me.
Now – what do I think of the Avril single? I totally agree with Prophet when he says that “On it’s own, “What the Hell” is a total winner and sounds like a surefire Billboard smash.” The problem I have is also the same problem Proph is having. Lavigne has gone on record repeatedly, saying that this single is nothing like the rest of the album, and that her upcoming fourth studio album is more mature and acoustic. If this is the case, ‘What The Hell‘ is the point of having only one surefire radio hit on the record? I understand, it’s album number four, it’s Avril’s chance to push her boundaries and do something different to prove that she’s a grown up little pop star but on that same token – it’s been 4 years since you’ve had a hit, girl. You might want to keep the momentum going (assuming “What The Hell” does well). Granted, Avril’s had chart success with ballads and mid-tempo songs before (most notably break out single “Complicated,” not to mention “I’m With You,” “My Happy Ending” and “Keep Holding On“) but still – launching your first album in four years with an up-tempo, poppy song and then not having anything similar to follow it up with is kinda misleading. It’s really nothing more than a big tease.
We will have to see how well “What The Hell” does but it has all the makings of a chart hit – namely hitmaker extraordinaire Max Martin (Britney Spears, P!nk) on production duties. Here’s hoping that the rest of the album is able to sustain itself beyond the first single. “Like” Avril Lavigne on Facebook now and download her single, “What The Hell” for free HERE.