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Author Topic:   Avril Lavigne vs Vanessa Carlton
georgejr
Senior Member

Posts: 112
Registered: Mar 2001

posted July 08, 2002 05:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for georgejr   Click Here to Email georgejr     Edit/Delete Message
I just heard the two singles by these girls back to back on the radio a few minutes ago. Since I know everyone is dying to know what I think I will tell you I am not a fan of prefabricated pop music. I do like electronic music and all that stuff but not commercial packages put together by labels to sell CDs (ie Britney, Backstreet Boys, etc.) Having said that, I prefer Vanessa Carlton of the two. First of all, her song is simply better in my opinion. Secondly, she has a lot more talent judging by her piano playing and singing. I saw the videos for both songs a week ago and I can pretty much come to the same conclusion...Avril Lavigne's video was her and her teen bandmates running around the mall wreaking havoc and being 'cool' while singing the song. Not to mention she looks so much like Sarah Michelle Gellar it's crazy. Vanessa Carlton's video was pretty much her at a piano on the back of a truck or platform, very understated. So based on all this I can only feel like Avril Lavigne is yet another studio creation to sell albums to young girls. She may be able to sing and play guitar (I think) but I still don't think she is better than Vanessa Carlton. Maybe it's just 5:30 am and I want to go home, listen to Achtung Baby and go to bed

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duncanbox
Senior Member

Posts: 132
Registered: May 2001

posted July 08, 2002 11:11 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for duncanbox   Click Here to Email duncanbox     Edit/Delete Message
Gerry Leonard and Jeff Allen are actually on Avril Lavigne's record. I'm not huge fans of either- but that's a plus for Lavigne.
Sybil

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BryterLayter77
Senior Member

Posts: 609
Registered: Oct 2001

posted July 16, 2002 12:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BryterLayter77   Click Here to Email BryterLayter77     Edit/Delete Message
My sister has Avril Lavigne and Vanessa Carlton's CDs, and she blasts them regularly on her stereo system. So, I've had the opportunity to listen to both CDs, although I didn't listen to them by choice.

To be honest, I can't place either Avril Lavigne or Vanessa Carlton in the same category as Britney Spears or the Backstreet Boys. The most important distinction, to me, is the fact that Lavigne and Carlton write and perform their own material, or should I say more musically self sufficient. In short, Lavigne and Carlton don't need to rely on a Max Martin type for their hits, since they can write hits for themselves. Furthermore, record labels are trying to get Lavigne and Carlton to appeal to that group of girls who are either too old or too cool for Britney Spears.

With that being said, Lavigne and Carlton's music borders on the formulaic. Lavigne's lyrics, simply put, are weak and trite more times than not. For Carlton, she can be too over the top for her own good, while she also has a tendency to incorporate too many musical ideas for one song. Yet, to listen to their material, I can also hear flashes of promise from both of them. Its not as if they are completely terrible and need to be discarded immediately. Lavigne does offer strong melodies at times, while also providing some decent acoustic numbers. For Carlton, she has guts, providing a decent cover version of the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black." That's a move that could give any artist a lot of grief if its not done correctly.

Overall, I will say that both artists have strengths and weaknesses, but considering the fact that Lavigne is 16 and Carlton is 22, they'll probably get better over time. How much they'll improve, that's a different story all together. Right now, I would give the early advantage to Vanessa Carlton, whose music right now is much more sophisticated than Avril Lavigne's.

Richard

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ericka
Senior Member

Posts: 539
Registered: Apr 2001

posted July 17, 2002 07:17 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for ericka   Click Here to Email ericka     Edit/Delete Message
vanessa carlton does tend to overdo it a bit, but her music by far has more depth and maturity than avril lavigne's.

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DUNCANStwirler7
Senior Member

Posts: 404
Registered: Jun 2001

posted July 19, 2002 07:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for DUNCANStwirler7   Click Here to Email DUNCANStwirler7     Edit/Delete Message
Ok ok ok, I must admit it, I do have the Avril cd...
Jen

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Andrew Poe
Member

Posts: 18
Registered: Feb 2002

posted July 19, 2002 07:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Andrew Poe   Click Here to Email Andrew Poe     Edit/Delete Message

Vanessa Carlton is 'eh' for me (really if she could make stuff like Carole King or Carly Simon or Joni Mitchell then I would be happy).

Avril sounds like a country singer to me (I swear "Complicated" would work as a country song just needs fiddles and steel guitars).

Andrew Poe

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BryterLayter77
Senior Member

Posts: 609
Registered: Oct 2001

posted July 20, 2002 03:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for BryterLayter77   Click Here to Email BryterLayter77     Edit/Delete Message
Truth be told Andrew, "Complicated" was recently a hit country song for Carolyn Dawn Johnson. Both songs, though, are totally unrelated, with different lyrics and music.

Richard

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Storybug18
Senior Member

Posts: 346
Registered: Apr 2001

posted July 20, 2002 04:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Storybug18   Click Here to Email Storybug18     Edit/Delete Message
I have Vanessa Carlton's CD, and I like it. It's nothing groundbreaking, but she is a good musician for her age. There's only one song I don't like on the CD, and that's only because the lyrics are too sweet and cheesy for my taste. The rest of the lyrics on the CD could get a little lofty, but I think she does okay with them. She plays the piano wonderfully. Check out her song "Wanted" to see what I mean. I can't say much about Avril Lavigne; I've only heard "Complicated." I've seen the video and wasn't really impressed with it. The music is okay, but it's like she's trying to be too bad-ass or something; I can't really put my finger on it. And, I have doubts about any musician who has a song titled "Sk8er Boi" (sic). But, who am I to judge? She is only seventeen after all. Maybe she'll grow out of her skater phase. But if it just came down to talent, I would have to say that Vanessa Carlton is the winner.

Cheers,
Sam

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Mr Writer
Senior Member

Posts: 38
Registered: Jul 2002

posted July 20, 2002 11:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mr Writer   Click Here to Email Mr Writer     Edit/Delete Message
I had no idea Avril existed... anyway, Vanessa has talent, she plays piano and I love piano. But her lyrics are awful, they are just too typical, she didn't think about them too much. The music is good in most songs, and a few are very very good. I think she can do something better than "Be not nobody" but only time will tell

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Rina316
Senior Member

Posts: 45
Registered: Mar 2001

posted July 23, 2002 01:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rina316     Edit/Delete Message
I don't like either one of those girls, they're music sounds like a fad

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Nneoma
Member

Posts: 21
Registered: Mar 2001

posted July 27, 2002 01:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nneoma   Click Here to Email Nneoma     Edit/Delete Message
I dont like either one of them , but somehow that '1000 miles' song is catchy and hard to get out of my head when I hear it at the grocery store

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serenasheik
Senior Member

Posts: 43
Registered: Apr 2001

posted August 07, 2002 08:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for serenasheik   Click Here to Email serenasheik     Edit/Delete Message
Admittedly i have both of those cds and also Michelle Branch's debut.
I actually really like Avril L. There are actually some well done songs (tired of complicated and Skater Boy) but track 1 and track 4 are very well done.
I would not put any of these women in the Brittany Spears category or teeny boopers. They all three have alot of talent. I like the fact they write their own material and perform it well LIVE with no help of mixed crap and lip synching.
I will even admit that i do like BBMAK. they write and play their own material and do not merely rely on a Swedish songwriter to write and produce their material.
I do like women singers like these who actually give a positive role model to kids and show them that they dont have to be all skinny etc to be self confident.
It is nice to see new artists emerging that have talent. It is unfortunate for Vanessa Carlton (and her great song Ordinary Day) and Avril, that they are kinda standing in the shadows of Michelle Branch. Hopefully they can make their own style and way.

Cheers
Shane

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