Avril Lavigne Helps Clarkson Become A Pop 'Princess'

Avril Lavigne has had harsh words for pop singers in the past, but her words for Kelly Clarkson could not have been better suited.

Along with producer Matthew Gerrard, Lavigne wrote Clarkson's new single, "Breakaway," which "fits my life perfectly," the original "American Idol" told New York's Z100 (KKRZ-FM) over the weekend. The song is so autobiographical that for the video Kelly decided to act out most of the lyrics, with the help of an actress portraying a younger version of herself.

Directed by Dave Meyers (Missy Elliott, Britney Spears), the video begins with the 8-year-old version of Clarkson singing from the back seat of a car as she watches a Texas thunderstorm out the window. "Grew up in a small town/ And when the rain would fall down/ I just stared out my window," Clarkson sings.

The video then flashes to present-day Kelly arriving on the red carpet for the premiere of "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," the movie that features the song. "Since it's a move tie-in, the idea stems from trying to figure out a new way of addressing the film-footage requirement they put on you, so we came up with the idea of her attending the premiere, which is very much something she will do in real life," Meyers said. "And 'Princess Diaries' sort of parallels the humble kid who stumbles across the riches."

Clarkson's the star of the premiere, but with the flash of a camera bulb, the video switches back again, showing the little girl praying by her bedside as she sing the chorus: "I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly/ I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky/ ... I'll take a risk/ Take a chance/ Make a change/ And break away."

"We tied [the premiere] in with how she grew up as a kid, her first flight where she's afraid of turbulence, just some of the human qualities behind a pop star," Meyers explained. "It's so rare you get to see who these people are. In Kelly's case, I felt the song was so telling and emotional that it would be a good opportunity."

As the clip continues, we see Clarkson on a private jet and then in the movie theater, where it flashes back to her working at a movie theater ? a job the singer really did have growing up. "I did some research," Meyers said. "The first treatment had like six jobs of her, but when reality set in and we realized how much time we had, we decided to just do the theater."

During the final verse, the video juxtaposes the younger Kelly singing on her rooftop as she watches the sun set with the present-day Clarkson performing at the premiere's afterparty. "She was very good; she came across so honest," Meyers said. "I was a little worried, her coming off 'American Idol,' it inherently feels manufactured and I didn't know how much of it was true artistry. But when I met her, she really does have a good, solid vibe. It was an honor to bring some of that out of her."

Kelly told Z100 she recorded "Breakaway" to tide fans over until September, when the first single from her second record will be released. The album will follow in October. "It's very rock, very soul, a poppier Janis Joplin, but not as hard," Clarkson said. "I've written most of [the songs] so far, but there's some people who have some stuff for me. I'm not one of those people who thinks you have to write everything. [I'll sing it] as long as I can relate to it."

Clarkson also told Z100 that her friends tease her about how often "From Justin To Kelly" airs on cable and that it's been months since she last talked to co-star Justin Guarini. "He's totally working with different people," she said. "I don't even have his number."

"The Princess Diaries 2" soundtrack, which also features Avril and Lindsay Lohan, is due August 3. The movie, starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews, hits theaters August 11.

Thanks to MTV.com.

Comments

[amunspawn]

1st

[amunspawn]

shite article tho

[blink182frk]

3rd

[Blackbullet]

ROFL

[Skidrowpunk]

Why do they bother writing this sort of articles?

Why do I bother reading it? :s

[60shout]

6th

[life_247]

What?

[sm_reborn]

duuuuuuuuuuuuuuude..... wasted a couple of minutes when i could be saving lives or something lol..

[RatiugLink]

Okay, what the ***. You know what? I think not enough people are attacking UG for this. WHO IS THE DUMBASS WHO DECIDES WHAT ARTICLES ARE ON THE WEBSITE?? Eat shit and die, you moron. Nobody gives a shit about Avril Lavigne. Nobody gives a shit about Kelly Clarkson. And above all, nobody gives a shit about girly Disney movies or their girly soundtracks full of non-talented bullshit.

[BadgerCubed]

I really, truly believe that these types of articles are posted only to annoy people.

Mission accomplished, eh?

[Cameo]

God this is funny. I hope no one comes along and defends this chick like someone usually does for bloody avril.

[Don]

geez what's going on with these articles and why they hell did i still click them!

[Skidrowpunk]

In my case I'm clicking these to see how people express their feelings.

[dangerlives]

I heard Kelly Clarkson and Ozzy are doing a duet in ALl Dogs Go to Heaven 3.

[preist rule]

avril lavigne is jsut trying to look like a rebel so she syas all these mean thing cuz she thinks that she is "punk" when she is jsut as much popo as kelly is jsut kelly can admit

[Torico]

16th

[ShadowRelcuse]

I read half the article then all my brain cells died so I couldn't finish....

[hobo8917]

^ then how did you type that post?

anyways, avril helps a pop star write a song...yay


...and avril is so punk

[Chen928]

I think it's good to know what's going on in the world.. you might need this article sometime, I dunno.

[earlswoll]

what did this article have to do with guitar? this is ultimate-guitar.com isn't it? i basically just clicked it hopin that maybe by some miracle they'd have a picture of avril and kelly making out

[undead_bunny]

This is a guitar site! Not a friggin - no talent can't do anything but fuck site- jeez...

[no_quarter05]

i can't beleive i actually read that. i just wasted 3 minutes of my life.

[av_lp006]

clarkson sucks, avril is cool

[freddie04]

wow i cant wait to see that film

[Dashd]

*shakes head in desapointment* What the hell... I cannot belive this. Don't tell me they put this article here just because of Avril Lavigne's name... I'm picturing a hardcore rock guy reading about Kelly Clarkson... lol, funny picture...

[fingrpickngood]

thanks for wasting three minutes of my life. i was hoping avril would slag kelly or at least something entertaining, like good tongue kiss. imagine my disappointment...

[la bamba]

y do u ppl even bother with posting if u hate it so much......?

[Psykotik]

^^Everybody has his opinion, a positive or negative one.

[jamjarohrah]

MORE AVRIL!!!???

[FrostLithium]

u ppl really need to stop bitching... if u arent interested in the article.... DON T FUCKING READ IT!!!

[thegeeks_578]

pop princess shall die...all of them....im sorry but the whole 'avril helped clarkson become pop princess' just caught my eye and ahhh well at least lavinge is willing to admit now that she ISNT rock

[thegeeks_578]

pop princess shall die...all of them....im sorry but the whole 'avril helped clarkson become pop princess' just caught my eye and ahhh well at least lavinge is willing to admit now that she ISNT rock

[BrokenAngel138]

I think it's funny to see all of you people bitching.Oh and Avril sucks!!!Also she is soooo not punk.BTW--Punk is dead people!

[AndyVanHalen]

Avril is pop. The electric guitars are just in there to disguise it and sell it to "rebellious" teengae girls as xHaRdCorEx PuNk!!!eleven!!

[AndyVanHalen]

teenage**

[AcDcizzle]

WHO THE F U C K CARES!!!

[willfravel]

right, keep on complaining and talking about how much everyone sucks. When YOUR albums go platinum then talk al you want, until then learn to deal avril in a less pathetic way.

[ApexGT]

I can honestly say that that article was absolutely pointless. Even if you did care about Kelly Clarkson or Avril Lavigne, who wants to know about the script for Kelly's upcoming video? I know I don't.

Oh, and for all the people who said "Quit bitching. Don't post unless you like them": If we followed your advice there would be a total of five comments. The truth is, the majority of UGers hate them both. Get used to it.

[totenkopf]

I think it's funny to see all of you people bitching.Oh and Avril sucks!!!Also she is soooo not punk.BTW--Punk is dead people!
[POSTED: 02 August 2004 - 18:17]|

Hey bucko, punk is not dead!!! I know dozens of punkrockers and believe me it's alive and well.
BTW-this was a really stupid article. shit like this
must be cut off at the source

[harm0n20]

i'd like to see the 2 of em going at it in a porno flick. that'd be nice! but until then, please no more news about any of this shite. give us a break please.

[wickbone73]

if this article was never written i would have never remebered kelly clarkdon. cmon avril you can do better

[Liam Alan]

Wow, it is Satan helping Satan.

[rockout]

ok, first of all, get your facts strait! some of you think avril said she was punk, which she never said and doesnt like being called that at all. so stop complaining about that. and for anyone who says she doesnt have talent, well i guess either you dont listen to her albums or your just ignorant- if you dont like her style of music that is entirely your own opinion, that you should have and i would never trash talk abou tone of you r favorite bands or singers, i would say i dont like them and let that be the end of it or just not say anything at all. i really do like hearing about why ppl dont like avril cuz either i can defend her about stuff they got wrong or just understand where they're coming from. i would also like to say that for ppl who think avril is all pop- if you took the time to listen to her new album- she's more rock now, her singles are more pop because more ppl will like it that way on the radio but anyways, she has alot more harder stuff.

[FrostLithium]

^ hahaha what are u ***in married to her or what lol take it easy bro

[color me misery]

preist rule:
avril lavigne is jsut trying to look like a rebel so she syas all these mean thing cuz she thinks that she is "punk" when she is jsut as much popo as kelly is jsut kelly can admit

BTW, Like rockout said,

some of you think avril said she was punk, which she never said and doesnt like being called that at all.

Most people just hop on the "I hate Avril" bandwagon because there so punk and someone said that she said she was punk and the media and MTV distorted the truth about who she was. Not saying I support avril, but you people are idiots and hypocrites.

Hoping on the I hate Avril bandwagon isnt punk, nice way to conform hypocrite.

[Sexicutioner15]

for a second there, i thought rockout was a chick

[n9inchnails]

funny, i could have sworn that this was a guitar site...

[Skidrowpunk]

It is, but it's a guitar site that takes the news right off MTV.com. Gah.

[nirvanafan11111]

WHO CARES

[RockSweetie]

i agree with color me misery and rockout, you are the only ones who said she said that she is punk. i bet some of you actually liked Avril when she started but when the thing came up that she is not punk, you immediately rejected her. i think that would be more of a poseur thing than liking Avril with who she is now. Not all Avril fans are pretending to be punk. i'm not punk. i dont like punk music and i know that the music she is doing is not punk. so get over yourselves

[Skidrowpunk]

buttocks drenched in lime, this is.

[Skidrowpunk]

pie on a stick! bah!

[Offspringer2004]

Great...more pop princess for me to make big poop on! I hate avril...no...wait...I despise and all of her little canadian friend too...(leaving out David the sexy desrosiers.) Anyways...Wow...I smell poop...oh holy god....make it stop. Anyways...kill Avril...make a happy planet.

[dylan_f1989]

WHAT THE FUCK DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH A GUITAR SITE. SURE AVRIL LAVIGNE IN A BAND WHERE THEY USE GUITARS BUT IS HER BAND MENTIONED IN THIS. IS ANYTHING ABOUT GUITARS MENTIONED IN THIS. IVE READ ALL THESE COMMENTS AND IM SURE THAT THERE WAS ONLY 1 PERSON SUPPORTING THIS. WHY IS THIS SHIT ON THIS SITE? FUCKIN STOP IT

[Offspringer2004]

YEAH! GO DYLAN!

[color me misery]

She plays the accoustic, Nice way to look like a jackass both of you. Before you flame, do some research or at least try to make some sense when you talk.

[Skidrowpunk]

She also play an electric. Mofo. And the news itself didn't include anything with guitars.

[color me misery]

Then dont read it and shut up. If your going to use periods to try to look smart, dont have a sentance that consists of

Mofo.

That makes you look even dumber.

[punk_babe]

yo, colour me misery, im punk and i dont hate avril cuz im punk, i hate avril cuz shes a shit pop princess who tries to be rock and fails miserably.and from most peoples reactions to the article im guessin pretty much everyone here feels the same way.ok?

[color me misery]

How does she "Try to be rock" when she gets on the TV and says "I never said im punk" Congradulations, you are an idiot.

[r_lightning]

lol.. why do u guys care?

[punk_babe]

does anyone care or are we all just bored?

[punk_babe]

and if she doesn't think shes punk, she doesn't try to be rock and she definately won't admit shes pop what the hell does she think she is?

[xoixtoyx]

hahahaha back in the day when avril was a country star "eh!" she wrote not to bad of country lyrics god i wish she stuck with that instead of trying to be "punk" although shes pop. soft rock maybe but no i'm going with pop. ..then again did she actually write that song? or did she co-write it like all her other shit?

[eatmyfist]

I just have to defend Kelly Clarkson alittle bit....If u say that Kelly Clarkson suck...u ****in' mad. Have y'all heard her sing...she got a fantastic voice! If u don't like her songs, that's one thing, just a matter of opinion. But don't say Kelly suck, cuz she's talent itselt!.....Avril on the other hand...CAN'T sing, she's not punk, not rock, she's not even pop, she's just a *pfhhhh* in this world.

[BFSROKMASOKS]

a fought it woz an artikle about avril bitchin bout kally bu there woz nuffin bout avril or whot da bitch said 2 kelly it woz jus bout da dum video !!!!!

[kateken]

i love kelly clarkson. she's amazing live and writes awesome songs. So um why is Avril in this article? She's a poser and a rip-off.