Before I start this article, I’d like to say that I have always hated Avril Lavigne. I have plenty of nicknames for her that would probably get me banned form Popdirt, and the whole “punk” image (tie and all) that she tries to play out is tired, but I have to applaud her for ‘Don’t Tell Me’. ‘Punk’ image aside, the song has a very uplifting message for girls. In this sex obsessed culture, girls all too quickly give away their bodies. Here are a few lyrics that I think show the meaning of the song best.
“Don’t think that your charm and the fact that your arm is now around my neck
Will get you in my pants I’ll have to kick your ass and make you never forget
I’m gonna ask you to stop, thought I liked you a lot, but I’m really upset
Get out of my head get off of my bed yeah thats what I said”
Plenty of girls have been in that exact situation, and it’s good to know that Avril has the courage to write about it and let girls in on the “secret” that they don’t need to have sex with the guy, just because he’s nice to her. I won’t name names, but plenty of pop stars today devote their albums EXCLUSIVELY to sex. I think I speak for a lot of people here when I say that “pop” music needs to rise above this concentration. Look into the past, and you’ll see bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, who created quality music that was popular, and much of it was unconnected with sex.
Back to the topic at hand, though….
Of course, “Don’t Tell Me” is getting much less airplay then that corny “punk” song, “Complicated.” That’s the way it goes, though. Release ANYTHING of substance nowadays on the radio, and it’s thrown out like yesterday’s news. However, I applaud Ms. Lavigne for making a statement.