Pop-punk star Avril Lavigne celebrated the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut album, “Let Go,” in a lengthy Instagram post that was all about expressing gratitude for her fans and collaborators. When “Let Go” was released in 2002, it earned a Grammy nomination, went seven-times platinum, and kicked open the door of what had essentially become a boys-only club for modern female punk artists. Lavigne’s songs – including “Sk8er Boi” and “Complicated” – remain popular today, which is something the singer admitted she never could have imagined when her album was first released.
“Today marks 20 years since I released my album ‘Let Go.’ I will never be able to fully explain not only how much this album meant to me, but the monumental impact it has had on my life,” her caption begins. “It’s hard to try and comprehend how, 20 years later, the songs I wrote as a 17 year old would still resonate with people today. It’s pretty crazy.”
But resonate they do. Lavigne’s recent rerelease of “Let Go,” featuring six bonus tracks, has been met with excitement from her many fans. Add in the part where she’s currently touring to promote her most recent album, “Love Sux,” and it becomes clear that she’s still just as much of a star in 2022 as she was in 2002.
As far as Lavigne is concerned, none of her future successes would have been possible had her first album not become some cultural touchstone of the early aughts. “It put me on a path and took me places I never in my wildest dreams could have ever expected and I am thankful for it every single day,” she wrote.
The “Complicated” singer went on to thank her many collaborators, including British songwriter Lauren Christy who she shared two throwback photos of, before sharing just how grateful she is for her fans. “Last but certainly not least, thank YOU, to every single one of you who made a connection with this album and stayed with me since,” Lavigne wrote. “I say every night on stage how lucky I feel to be making music, touring and having as much fun as I do. I share this moment with all of you, because without you guys, these songs wouldn’t have reached the heights that they did.”
It seems that even 20 years later, “Let Go” remains a landmark album, and it’s one that changed Lavigne’s life forever. “A genuine, heartfelt thank you to anyone that ever listened to my music and stuck around,” she added. “Happy 20th Anniversary ‘Let Go’ and here’s to another 20 years.”