Avril Lavigne Teams Up with Simple Plan for New Single "Young & Dumb"
In a move that is being hailed as a nostalgic celebration of the early 2000s music scene, Avril Lavigne has collaborated with Canadian rock band Simple Plan on a new single, "Young & Dumb". The anthemic song comes ahead of Lavigne’s 19-date extension of her Greatest Hits tour, which features Simple Plan opening the U.S. dates.
According to a statement released by Lavigne, the collaboration is "a tribute to the past, but also a celebration of the present". The singer, who first toured with Simple Plan in 2003 on her very first arena tour, says that the song is a nostalgic look back at a special time in their lives. "Not only did Simple Plan tour with me last year on the Greatest Hits Tour, but we also toured together in 2003 on my very first arena tour. We were so young — just a bunch of kids from small towns in Canada who had just released our debut albums. We connected instantly and became friends," Lavigne said, as reported by Rolling Stone.
The song, which was written in the studio when Lavigne and Simple Plan got together a few months ago, is a reflection of the band’s special bond. Simple Plan added, "We’re so excited to finally release a song with our good friend Avril. After years of touring and hanging out together, getting in the studio to work on this track was such a cool experience. She’s incredibly talented, and we’re truly grateful she invited us to be part of it and help bring the song to life." The lyrics of "Young & Dumb" speak to the special bond that Lavigne and Simple Plan have shared since they first toured together back in 2003.
As reported by Rolling Stone, the collaboration is a long-awaited one, with many fans having requested a joint effort from the two artists. Lavigne’s Greatest Hits tour kicks off on May 18 in Moncton, New Brunswick, and continues through June. The singer will also perform at several music festivals, including Warped Tour 2025, Bonnaroo Arts & Music Festival, All Your Friends Fest, and When We Were Young.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Lavigne expressed her excitement about performing at Warped Tour, saying, "This summer I’ll be on the second round of my Greatest Hits Tour, so it worked out perfectly to hit up the Warped Tour in Washington D.C. So many of the bands I grew up listening to got their start playing this legendary tour and many of my friends are nostalgic for those parking lot summers, so I’m excited to be a part of this new rendition."
The collaboration between Lavigne and Simple Plan is a significant one, marking a new chapter in the careers of two of the most iconic artists of the early 2000s music scene. With "Young & Dumb", the two artists have created a song that is both a nostalgic look back at the past and a celebration of the present. As Lavigne said, "This song is for our fans. It’s a tribute to the past, but also a celebration of the present. In our hearts, we’re still those same kids, and our love for music hasn’t changed. It’s about friendship, nostalgia, and the way music has kept us connected through the years."
