The Best Damn Thing is the third studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne, released on April 17, 2007, through RCA Records, as her first album on the label. The album represents a musical departure from her previous studio album Under My Skin (2004), which incorporated more elements of post-grunge. The Best Damn Thing is seen by critics as Lavigne's most commercial effort. The album was noted as her first effort to feature a wide range of producers, including Matt Beckley, Rob Cavallo, Dr. Luke and Lavigne herself, who was credited as the executive producer.
Upon its release, The Best Damn Thing received mixed reviews from music critics; some considered the album very radio-friendly, while others praised Lavigne's transition from grungey alternative rock music to more pop-punk and bubblegum pop[2][3][4][5][6][7] music. However, the main criticism of the album was the lyrical content, which some found too rough or brutal. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 289,000 copies. The album also debuted atop the charts in Austria, Canada, the United Kingdom and many other countries. Alternative Press listed it as one of the albums that best represented the pop-punk scene in 2007.[8]
The Best Damn Thing had sold over 6 million copies worldwide and it is Lavigne's third best-selling album.[9] Four singles were released from the album. Its lead single "Girlfriend" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it Lavigne's most successful chart single to date. The single also reached number one in twelve other countries across the world including Australia, Canada and Japan, making it one of the best-selling singles of 2007 worldwide. The second single of the album, "When You're Gone", also received commercial success, peaking within top ten in many single charts worldwide, including Canada, Australia, Scotland, Sweden, Italy and the United Kingdom, while peaking at number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The third and fifth singles from the album, "Hot" and "The Best Damn Thing", received limited success on singles charts. To promote the album, Lavigne performed at many TV shows and award ceremonies, including the 2007 Teen Choice Awards and the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards, as well as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Furthermore, Lavigne embarked on a concert tour, entitled The Best Damn Tour, starting on March 8, 2008, and ending on October 6, 2008. Footage from the concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto were recorded and released on a DVD titled The Best Damn Tour: Live in Toronto.
