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Music
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Hey, Hey, You, You: How Avril Lavigne's 'Girlfriend' Became YouTube's First 100 Million View Video
In 2007, Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" made history as YouTube's first video to hit 100 million views. Amid controversy over view inflation and a race against "Evolution of Dance," the pop-punk anthem's success cemented the platform's power in the music industry and defined a new era of virality.
Cast your mind back to 2007. The iPhone had just been released, social media was still in its infancy, and a burgeoning video platform called YouTube was starting to change how we consume media forever. In this digital wild west, a new kind of fame was being forged, not in record studios, but in view counts. And in the summer of that year, a pop-punk princess would claim the platform's most coveted crown.
An Unforgettable Hook and a Dichotomous Video
Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" was the perfect storm for the YouTube era. Released as the lead single from her album "The Best Damn Thing," the track was an unapologetically bratty and incredibly catchy blast of pop-punk energy. Its cheerleader-chant chorus—"Hey, hey, you, you, I don't like your girlfriend!"—was impossible to get out of your head. But it was the music video, directed by The Malloys, that truly sealed its fate as a viral phenomenon. The video presented two versions of Avril: a nerdy, glasses-wearing brunette and her rebellious, red-streaked blonde alter ego, both vying for the same guy's affection. This simple, comedic conflict was visual catnip, perfectly tailored for repeated viewing on a computer screen.
The Race to 100 Million
Before "Girlfriend," the undisputed king of YouTube was Judson Laipply's "Evolution of Dance," a wholesome and hilarious six-minute journey through decades of dance moves. It was the platform's most-watched video, but as "Girlfriend" exploded in popularity, a digital race began. The goal? To be the first video in history to cross the 100 million view threshold. In an era before billion-view megahits were commonplace, this number felt astronomical. It was a testament not just to the song's popularity, but to the growing power of online platforms to shape global culture. On July 17, 2007, Lavigne's video crossed the finish line, making history.
Gaming the System?
The historic milestone was not without its controversy. As the view count skyrocketed, accusations emerged that the numbers were being artificially inflated. Skeptics pointed to dedicated fan sites, like 'avril-l.org', which had created a special link that, when clicked, would automatically reload the video every 15 seconds. This allowed dedicated fans—the "Avril Army"—to passively rack up views for their idol. Was this a genuine fan campaign or a coordinated effort by the record label? RCA Records firmly denied any involvement, with their UK representative stating:
"We are not aware of any such activity and do not condone it. The video's success is a testament to the global appeal of Avril and her music, and the power of her fans."
Regardless of the methods, the situation highlighted a new dynamic in the music industry: the rise of organized online fandom and the blurry line between organic popularity and manufactured virality in the early days of social media.
Paving the Way for VEVO and the Billion-View Club
Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" didn't just break a record; it fundamentally proved the viability of YouTube as a promotional tool for the music industry. It demonstrated that a single music video could generate a global cultural moment, reaching more people more quickly than MTV ever could. This success was a clear signal to record labels, paving the way for the creation of VEVO in 2009, a joint venture to centralize and monetize official music videos on the platform. The 100-million view milestone, once a monumental achievement, became the new benchmark for success. It was the first step on a ladder that would eventually lead to the "Billion View Club," a feat that "Girlfriend" itself would later achieve. The video's historic run was a snapshot of a turning point in internet history, a story of pop-punk, fan devotion, and the moment a video platform became an undeniable kingmaker.