Going under Avril skin

The interview by phone was initially set at 7:30 yesterday morning and then reset to 10:30. But at 7 o’clock while a downpour was drenching Metro Manila, punctuated by ear-splitting lightning and thunder, the phone rang and the caller, the one supervising the interview, said that the schedule had to be moved back 30 minutes ahead of the original time. Well and good.

In a jiffy, Avril Lavigne was on the phone for an interview that was originally set for seven minutes and then trimmed down to five but lasted only barely three minutes, during which I managed, to paraphrase the title of Lavigne’s second album, to go under Lavigne’s skin.

I forgot to ask where she was calling from. I presumed Lavigne and her entourage were in L.A.

Petite at 5’3”, Lavigne was born in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, on Sept. 27, 1984. At 16, she moved to New York and began work on her debut album, Let Go, which would become a six-time platinum. She clinched a record deal and, quitting school after the 11th grade when she clinched a record deal. Let Go won four trophies at the 2003 Juno Awards: Single of the Year (for Complicated), Album of the Year, New Artist of the Year and Pop Album of the Year. Her second album — Under My Skin (2004), that is — was a two-time platinum. Her third was called The Best Damn Thing (2007).

She has also done films, playing herself in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (2002), Going the Distance (2004) and Madtv (2004); and Fast Food Nation (2006), Over the Hedge (2006) and The Flock (2007). A yet untitled one is coming up next year.

According to the info sheet furnished Funfare by Viva Concerts & Events, Inc., which is producing Lavigne’s concert on Sept. 3 at the Araneta Coliseum, among Lavigne’s “trademarks” are “heavy black eyeliner and eyeshadow” and “bitter lyrics.”

So I asked Lavigne, “Why are the lyrics of your songs full of bitterness?”

She protested, “Bitterness? Oh no, my songs are not bitter. They are very upbeat, they talk about being strong...and moving on.”

Now, does her experience in life influence the kind of songs that she writes?

“Absolutely!” I write from my personal experience.”

I reminded Lavigne that a certain pizza was named after her and that her favorite pizza topping is olives. True or not?

“Yes, it’s true. I love pizza. There’s a pizza joint in Napanee, Ontario, where I would go during lunch break from school, and I would eat as much pizza as I wanted. They named a pizza after me.”

I sounded a bit sympathetic when I mentioned Slipped Away, the song on her second album about the death of her grandfather, a tragedy which hit her very badly. Yes, Lavigne said, she’s a grandpa’s girl.

But when asked what fond memories she had about her grandfather, she begged off.

“I don’t really want to talk about it. That’s too personal.”

Lavigne taught herself how to sing and how to play the guitar. She hasn’t taken up formal lessons in music.

“I taught myself music for about a year.”

A vegetarian, Lavigne said that being one doesn’t have anything to do with preserving her voice.

“It’s a lifestyle.”

The info sheet noted that Lavigne owns more than 100 pairs of Converse sneakers.

“I also have pairs of Adidas in my collection.”

As her fans know by now, Lavigne draws inspiration from life, her own and those of people she loves.

“Experience is the best teacher,” she confirmed. “I draw material for my songs from things I go through and those of other people.”

My three minutes were up. Last question, please!

What is Avril Lavigne like behind the image?

“I’m very fun. I like to hang out with my friends. I am athletic. I like skate-boarding. I like to act. And I love to write songs.”

At this point, the “other voice” (the one supervising the phone interview), bluntly said, “Last question,” and even when Lavigne was in the middle of a sentence, “the other voice” cut her short.

And that was how Funfare got under Avril Lavigne’s skin while lightning and thunder was sending shocks waves around Metro Manila.

(Note: For more of Avril Lavigne, watch her on the 2008 The Best Damn Tour Concert at the Araneta Coliseum on Sept. 3, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at P6,750 for Patron A and B, P5,250 for Lower Box, P2,850 for Upper Box A, P1,400 for Upper Box B and P600 for General Admission. Call Ticketnet at 911-5555 or the Viva Concerts & Events, Inc. at 687-6181 local 620 or 745. The Philippine STAR is among the sponsors.)

Briefly noted

 Last Monday, Aug. 18, in simple ceremonies at the Couples for Christ headquarters in Ortigas, Julius Babao formally turned over a check for P2.5 million to Tony Meloto, Gawad Kalinga founder, which will benefit 30 families of Gawad Kalinga in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. Julius raised the amount during the Art 40 exhibit and auction last July 20, his birthday, at the Pinto Gallery in Antipolo City. Last Aug. 17, Julius received the Most Outstanding Male News Presenter of the Year Award during the third Annual Conference of Journalism and Mass Communication Students of the Philippines organized by Comguild Center for Journalism.

 Travis Kraft has been known for many things, such as athlete, actor and model. However, for years Travis has had a hidden talent that not many people were aware of. That secret has been out of the bag for months now though. In November last year, Travis did a cooking video teaching how to make adobo while giving instructions in Tagalog. Once it got out on the Net, people started discovering it and e-mailing it to their friends making it a viral video. The video is popular because of its humor, Travis’ personality and his adorable pronunciation of Filipino words. It was recently aired on TFC’s Adobo Nation when he was invited to guest on the show.

Now Travis is back with a DVD of his recipes for Filipino food called Salo-Salo. Travis combines his favorite things, action, food, comedy and Filipino culture.

You can see the adobo video as well as the trailer for Salo-Salo on Travis’ YouTube page at www.youtube.com/poolboyinla and be sure to check out more of Travis on his official site www.traviskraft.com

• The University of the East Alumni Association, Inc. (UEAAI), in cooperation with the UE Management Information System Department, recently began managing its own website in preparation for the UEAAI’s 60th foundation anniversary and grand reunion this year. The reunion is set at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City on Dec. 16 (a Tuesday), 5 p.m., with the theme “UE Alumni: Going Full Circle, Touching Lives.” UE alumni can now visit the site for on-line registration and updating membership; log on to www.uealumni.net for further details. Or call Aileen at 735-8577 or 735-5471 to 82 local 310.

• Corrections: Petula Clark, who’s coming for concerts next month, received her Golden Globe nomination for Finian’s Rainbow and not Goodbye, Mr. Chips... From reader Gerry Winston Salem of Bermuda: I am a baseball fan. I believe that Rich Harden, mentioned in your recent Body Talk with Gaby dela Merced, is a baseball player and not a racer. He’s quite a star, traded recently to the Cubbies.

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