19 K-Pop Stars Who Love Avril Lavigne

Just after POW hit their first anniversary, the rock-inspired K-pop boy band released a new EP, Friend, whose seminal title track paid tribute to one of the scene's favorite artists — pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne.

For “Boyfriend,” the quintet reinterpreted Avril's 2007 single “Girlfriend,” the Canadian superstar's first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and one of the biggest tracks of the year. POW kept the original production and undeniably catchy chorus intact for the hybrid track with a new mix of Korean and English lyrics.

POW members Jungbin, Yorch, Hyunbin, Dongyeon and Hong say Bulletin board that the superstar played an important role in their musical background and made a song like 'Boyfriend'.

“We loved the bands sounds and Avril Lavigne songs were always on our playlist,” says the group. “We think she was the first to show how punk can be so appealing in pop music. We are grateful that he made it possible for us and so we have been working hard to release 'Boyfriend'.''

“For this remake, I listened to all of Lavigne's albums,” adds the older POW member Yorch. “I was drawn to her timeless drum sounds and couldn't get over the rawness and cool rhythm of the drums. I recently picked up an electric guitar and it opened my eyes to acoustic real sound. And, it's something that K-pop should also watch out for.”

In honoring both the sound and aesthetic from Avril's 2002 debut, the A&R for POW, GRID Entertainment, felt that their work helped more closely connect K-pop to music culture today.

“We believe that youth culture is the essence of mainstream K-pop,” says a representative of GRID's A&R. “Rebellious, grunge-like and youthful innocence defines K-pop, and POW's music is based on true rock and band sounds. It still feels like the 2000s, a time when analog and digital collide. This is why we find Avril Lavigne's music relevant, powerful and resonates with people in their teens, 20s and 30s. It's her greatest strength and the reason her music inspires us to perform.”

From bands like POW, SEVENTEEN, and Stray Kids to solo superstars like BoA and former LOONA members Yves and Heejin, here's a collection of K-pop stars who have expressed their admiration for Avril Lavigne.

POW

Image Credit: Courtesy of Grid Entertainment

With “Boyfriend,” the up-and-coming rock-pop group to watch has paid the K-pop scene's most important tribute to Avril Lavigne with this reprise of her No. 1 Hot 100 hit, “Girlfriend.” Watch the new music video above.
Felix of Stray Kids

Image credit: Ssam Kim

Stray Kids have shown Avril love in the past, like when they included “Complicated” in the playlist for their Apple Music show All about Stray Kids Radio.

But Felix's feelings for Lavigne run a little deeper: The first album he bought was one of Avril's unplugged releases, which he said NME bought when he was only five years old.
SEVENTEEN's Joshua

Image credit: PLEDIS Entertainment

For a special digital-only track from SEVENTEEN's 2021 album Attackmembers Joshua and Vernon said their personal tastes and love of pop-punk led them to create the duo track “2 minus 1.”

“I heard pop-punk. I remember listening to a lot of Avril Lavigne, so I was like, “Yeah, this is definitely a way to express the feelings and the messages we want to send.” shared Joshua that year. “Pop-punk was the perfect style for it.”
MAMAMOO's Solar

The singer and leader of MAMAMOO delivered a perfect pitch “Sk8er Boi” cover on her personal YouTube channel in 2023.
Boa

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Image credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Looking like groomsmen posing on the red carpet, international stars descended on the 59th Cannes International Film festival for the premiere of Over the Hedgethe 2006 animated film where Avril voiced the character of Heather in the original and BoA handled her in the Korean dub. The duo mingled with other celebrities such as Bruce Willis and Japanese actor Koji Yakuso.
NMIXX's Lily

Image source: David Cabrera

As part of NMIXX's Re-MIXX digital series, the Aussie native delivered a picture-perfect take on Avril's debut single “Complicated.” Watch above.
Dreamcatcher's Yoohyeon

In a perfect musical matchup, Yoohyeon of K-pop/rock outfit Dreamcatcher sang “Complicated” by Avril during a live stream for fans and other pop songs from Taylor Swift and Little Mix around 2019.
Heejin of ARTMS

Image credit: Lauren Nakao Winn

The former LOONA member showed love to Avril during the first ARTMS World tour in the US with a cover the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Girlfriend”, where she accompanied herself on guitar.
Yves

More love from LOONA for Ms. Lavigne: As one of her first moves to reconnect with fans after leaving the girl group, Yves dropped this great cover performance of “Complicated,” among other tracks.
Susie

Image credit: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

For the Seoul, South Korea date of Avril Lavigne's 2014 tour, local news made headlines after reports that Suzy, then a member of Miss A, would attend the show and meet the punk rocker backstage at the Olympic Park Olympic Hall. We are still waiting for photos from the meeting.
ToMORROW X TOGETHER's HueningKai

Image credit: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

While this list proves the many K-pop stars who have a lot of love for Avril Lavigne, only a few have forced the pop-punk princess to actually acknowledge them. In 2002, Avril shared Hueningkai's take on “Sk8er Boi” on Twitter, writing that the TXT member released an “amazing cover!”

The ever humble TOMORROW X TOGETHER star later reflected on NME saying, “I was really blown away by her positive feedback — I'm still honored.” See it above.
Seori

The singer-songwriter has shared “Don't Tell Me,” the lead single from Under my skinAvril's first No. 1 record on the Billboard 200, it's a song that “always gave me stability.” In the curated playlistsaid Seori, “This music gives me peace and brings back good memories.”
P1Harmony

Image credit: Nina Westervelt

While P1Harmony has collaborated with a number of artists including Pink Sweat$, New Hope Club and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, the K-pop group said Bulletin board that their dream collaboration is none other than the “princess mother” herself. Watch above.
VICTON's Do Han Se

THE member of the band boy named Avril credits hits like “Complicated” and 2004's Top 10 smash “My Happy Ending” as “refreshing” songs that represent autumn for him.
Haneul of KISS OF LIFE

Image Credit: Courtesy of S2 Entertainment

In a personalized playlist shared early in KISS OF LIFE's career, youngest member Haneul chose “Keep Holding On,” recorded for the 2006 soundtrack. Eragon film adaptation, as well as Avril's debut single “Complicated” to let fans get to know her better.
Gabi from BLACKSWAN

A true Avril stan, the Brazilian K-pop star names singles from different eras of Avril as some of her favorite songsincluding the 2011 single “What the Hell” off Goodbye Lullaby“When You're Gone” from 2007 The Best Damn Thingas well as her 2002 anthem “Sk8er Boi” off Let fall.
Girls generation

Image Credit: Courtesy of SM Entertainment

We have to take it back to 2011 to the day Girls' Generation and Avril Lavigne both appeared on a Japanese show, Music Station. The superstars mingled on camera and GG expressed their hopes for Avril to possibly write a song for the group one day.

Furthermore, showing their admiration, leader Taeyeon shared that she has been a fan of Avril since childhood and paid tribute in the singer's style and music on Korean television. Member Sunny has also covered Avril's “Sk8er Boi” and called “Girlfriend” one of her favorite tracks.
U-Chae

While U-Chae recorded it when fans knew her as Dajeong in girl group PIXY, Avril's admiration is undeniably solid, as evidenced by this. double cover of “Complicated” and “Sk8er Boi.”
PURPLE KISS' Ireh