Avril Lavigne photographed on Aug. 13, 2018 in Los Angeles.
David NeedlemanThe 20th anniversary of Avril Lavigne‘s breakthrough 2002 single “Sk8er Boi” is just around the corner, and it’s got the singer feeling nostalgic for those simpler days. So nostalgic, in fact, that the 37-year-old singer is planning a big screen celebration of the second single from her debut album, Let Go.
“Recently with it being almost the 20th anniversary, a lot of people have been asking me to play this song on some TV shows, so it keeps getting brought back up and people will always reference it to me,” Lavigne told the “She is the Voice” iHeartRadio podcast over the weekend about the song that she revealed is still one of her favorites to play live. “And so, I’m actually going to turn this song into a film… and take it to the next level.”
And while no details or casting were announced for the project to date — and a spokesperson for the singer had not returned Billboard‘s request for additional information at press time — Lavigne pulled back the curtain on what inspired the track, which was co-written and produced by The Matrix trio of Scott Spock, Lauren Christy and Graham Edwards.
“You know what it was like in high school, you have all the different groups and cliques, and there’s like skaters, preps, jocks,” Lavigne told the podcast about what prompted the then-17-year-old to pay homage to the wrong-side-of-the-tracks romance between a ballet dancer and a skate rat-turned-MTV star. “It’s kind of like a missed opportunity at love. The skater boy is in love with the preppy girl but like she’s too cool for him but then five years from now she’s feeding the baby and she’s all alone and she wishes she would have followed her heart and not tried to live up to society’s expectations.”
It was not clear at press time if a studio is attached to the project. Watch the original “Sk8er Boi” video and listen to the podcast below (“Sk8er Boi talk begins at 13:07 mark).
Maroon 5 officially launched the second weekend of American Express presents BST Hyde Park with a headline performance on London's Great Oak Stage on Friday, 3 July 2026. Taking a short break from their ongoing global Love Is Like tour, the multi-platinum American pop rock band delivered an energetic sold out concert for thousands of fans. The milestone performance reflected just how far the group has come since making its London debut at the intimate Barfly venue in 2005.
Frontman Adam Levine guided the six member band through an uninterrupted set packed with worldwide hits, kicking things off with "Harder To Breathe" after an opening audio tribute to The Beach Boys. The energy stayed high as the group launched into fan favorites including "Animals" and "One More Night," with Levine making his way along the runway to connect with fans gathered at the front of the stage. As the evening sky over London began to glow, "Sunday Morning" provided one of the night's standout moments, featuring an extended guitar showcase from lead guitarist James Valentine. The audience then joined together for huge singalongs to "She Will Be Loved" and the Cardi B collaboration "Girls Like You." The main performance wrapped up with the instantly recognizable whistle melody of "Moves Like Jagger," before an encore featuring "Payphone" and "Sugar" brought the night to an unforgettable finish.
The main stage also welcomed a crowd pleasing set from pop rock band OneRepublic during the late afternoon. Frontman Ryan Tedder performed a string of beloved hits spanning nearly twenty years, including "Stop and Stare," "Apologize," and the hugely successful European streaming favorite "Counting Stars." He also treated fans to a solo medley highlighting songs he has written for artists including Beyoncé and Adele.
Earlier in the day, Jess Glynne attracted a huge audience with spirited performances of chart hits "I’ll Be There" and "Hold My Hand," while R&B singer Ella Eyre impressed with powerful renditions of "Space" and a soulful take on "Crazy." The day's varied lineup also featured opening rock performances from Reading quartet Only The Poets, along with dynamic alternative sets by Bradley Simpson, Pedro Santos, and electronic pop duo VOILÀ across the festival site.
Photo credit: Sienna Lorraine Gray
