Have you ever felt that you didn’t belong? Have you ever felt like you are holding on by a thread and you needed something to keep you afloat? That is the feeling that I got from Avril Lavigne’s new album, “Head Above Water.” The title song, “Head Above Water” is very heartfelt. In this song, she expresses that she feels like she is drowning and is praying to God to help her. This makes her feelings project through her words. This album is quite different from a lot of her past albums, which I have listened to on a regular basis, ever since I first found out about her music.

Her album is actually a bit depressing, now that I think over most of the songs in it. Her song “Birdie” talks about how she feels caged and can’t escape. Trying to find a way to get away and being able to be free. “Like a bird locked up in a cage called love” shows a different view of love than she normally portrays in her previous albums and songs. “I ain’t your prisoner/You can’t lock me up no more/I’ll show you what I’m worth/Take back what I deserve,” this is really heartfelt and meaningful, and shows how bad some relationships are, especially if one is calling it ‘love’. She makes you feel as though she went through so many bad things and this is the result. Some of her other songs that portray this are “I Fell In Love With The Devil,” “Tell Me It’s Over” and “Dumb Blonde” which is a collaboration with Nicki Minaj. The only one which is somewhat upbeat is this one. The lyrics “I ain’t no dumb blonde/I ain’t no stupid Barbie doll,” this shows her hurt from being called that so many times, and how with each album she gets better, more confidence, accepting the fact that there will be people who will hate her and people who will love her, but no matter what she will prove everyone wrong. 

In her song “Love Me Insane,” she tells how good love can be, especially if you have had your heart broken previously, no matter what, you can always find someone who makes you feel great, you just get the feeling that this person will be the one who helps you. “You pick up all of the pieces and put ’em back again/You stitch and sew my heart up all by hand, yeah/I know a good thing when I see one, yeah/And you know I didn’t see this coming.” This seems to signify how she’s been looking for someone to meet her and fall in love, and she knows that he is the one who can help her the most. This is such a beautiful thing.

I would completely recommend this album to anyone who is having a hard time. If they have recently had their heart broken, or have been rejected or left behind, this album is perfect. I will be telling all of my friends to listen to this, because it really speaks to me and things in my life, so I can definitely relate. Thank you, Avril Lavigne, for such an inspiring album.