Under My Skin (Avril Lavigne album)
Under My Skin is the second studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne. It was released firstly in Europe on May 21, 2004 then it followed the release in the rest of the world on May 25, 2004 by Arista Records and RCA Records. Lavigne wrote most of the album with singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk, who invited her to a Malibu in-house recording studio shared by Kreviazuk and her husband Raine Maida, where Lavigne recorded many of the songs. The album was produced by Maida, Don Gilmore, and Butch Walker. It is Lavigne's second and final studio album to be released on Arista, following Let Go (2002). It was also her first album for RCA.
Under My Skin
May 25, 2004
October 2003 – January 2004
- NRG Recording Services (North Hollywood, CA)
- Ocean Way Studios (Hollywood, CA)
- Ruby Red Productions (Atlanta, GA)
- Satellite Park (Malibu, CA)
- Skyline Studios (New York, NY)
- The Boat (Los Angeles, CA)
- Whitecoat Sound (Malibu, CA)
- Ocean Studios (Burbank, CA)
40:58
- Don Gilmore
- Raine Maida
- Butch Walker
Under My Skin debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart and on the US Billboard 200. It sold three million copies in the United States, ranking the album number 149 on the Billboard 200 decade-end chart.[1] Because of the album's darker, heavier, more aggressive vibe reminiscent of post-grunge and more melodic rock songs, it received generally positive reception from critics at the point of considering it as one of the classic albums that defined pop-punk music in the early 00s (despite it not being usually classified as such),[2] and also one of the works that anticipated the emotional intensity and theatrical aesthetics of emo pop music in the mainstream.[3][4] On March 18, 2013, Under My Skin was re-released as a double-disc set paired with her debut studio album, Let Go, which was released under Arista Records. To promote the album, Lavigne went on a promotional tour for malls in the United States and Canada. Furthermore, Lavigne embarked on a concert tour, entitled the Bonez Tour, starting on September 26, 2004, and ending one year later on September 26, 2005. The concert at the Budokan arena in Japan was filmed and released on a DVD only available in Japan, entitled Bonez Tour 2005: Live at Budokan. Under My Skin has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and is the fifth best selling album of the 21st century by a Canadian artist.[5]
Critics described Under My Skin as post-grunge,[6][7][8][9][10] alternative rock,[11] and nu metal[12][13][14][15][16][17][18] containing some gothic rock,[19] grunge,[20] folk rock,[21] and hard rock[21] influences.
Background[edit]
Having no plans of working with producers or professional writers,[22] Lavigne wrote much of the album with Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk, with whom she had developed a friendship in the summer of 2003. Kreviazuk, whose husband Raine Maida's band Our Lady Peace opened for Lavigne's concert in Europe, introduced herself at an after-party for the SARS benefit concerts held in Toronto in June 2003. The following day, Lavigne and Kreviazuk ate lunch together,[23] during which Lavigne shared how she wanted the development of the album to be. They wrote songs for almost three weeks at Maida's warehouse in Toronto. Kreviazuk invited Lavigne to continue working in a Malibu, California house she shared with Maida, which contained a recording studio.[24] Many of the tracks on the album were recorded in Malibu.
Kreviazuk suggested Maida produce songs for the album, an ability Lavigne did not possess. Maida produced five songs, including "Fall to Pieces", which he co-wrote with Lavigne.[24] Lavigne also invited two other producers: Don Gilmore, who produced three songs, two of which were written by Lavigne and Kreviazuk,[24] and Butch Walker who also produced three songs in three days.[25] Lavigne also co-wrote one track, "Nobody's Home", with Ben Moody, formerly of Evanescence, and the rest with her guitarist Evan Taubenfeld.[26][23]
On her website, Lavigne states that she had learned a lot since her first record, Let Go: "I was involved in every aspect of making this record. I'm very hands-on. I knew how I wanted the drums, the guitar tones, and the structures to be. I understand the whole process so much better this time because I've been through it. I'm really picky with my sound."[27][23] Regarding the album's theme, Lavigne stated, "I've gone through so much, so that's what I talk about....Like boys, like dating or relationships".[28]
Commercial performance[edit]
Under My Skin debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 381,000 copies in its first week. This feat marked Lavigne's highest first-week sales of her career and also her first number-one album, It also topped the US Billboard Internet Albums chart, it spent 66 weeks on the US Billboard 200 chart.[48][49] The album was certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in November 2004; by January 2006 it was certified triple Platinum.[50] The album was ranked at number 22 in the year-end chart of the Billboard 200 in 2004 and at number 68 in 2005. As of September 2015, Under My Skin has sold 3.2 million copies in the US.[51]
In Canada, Under My Skin debuted at number one on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart with sales of 63,000 copies, it spent 22 weeks on the chart.[52] It was certified 5× Platinum in Canada with 500,000 copies sold,[53]In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number one on the UK Albums (OCC) with sales of 87,500 copies, it spent 37 weeks on the chart.[54] It was certified 2× Platinum in the UK with sales of 600,000 copies sold.[55] In Japan the album debuted at number one on the Japanese Albums (Oricon) chart with sales of 286,894 copies,[56] and was certified Million in Japan with sales of 1 million copies sold making it the best selling album in the country by a female Canadian singer, and also number one in Australia, Spain, Mexico, Taiwan and Germany. In New Zealand the album debuted at number seven on the New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) and spent five months on the chart and was certified Gold in the country. On April 15, 2007, the album re-entered the UK Albums Chart at number 60. Worldwide, Under My Skin had sold 10 million copies.[57]