Have your say and vote for your favorite in our global Facebook poll.
Avril Lavigne in Shanghai
The North American punk-pop princess takes to the Shanghai Grand Stage in May
After doing the unthinkable and getting a visa during the Beijing Olympics year (2008) Avril Lavigne returns to Shanghai.Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne just couldn’t stay away, returning to Shanghai in May 2011 as part of her “Black Star Tour,” three years after her music debut in the Middle Kingdom.
Although the Ministry of Culture has yet to release which songs Lavigne is permitted to sing, we’re guessing that they’ll have fewer problems approving "Complicated," "Sk8er Boi" and "Goodbye Lullaby" than many of rock legend Bob Dylan’s hits.
With few songs to ruffle any feathers, this concert looks like it’ll go off without a hitch, with the biggest question of the night being will Lavigne sing “Girlfriend” in Mandarin?
More on CNNGo: Bob Dylan China concerts avoid controversy
Avril Lavigne’s 2011 Shanghai concert is a part of a recent flood of international artists finally getting approval after years of a musical drought brought on by the Chinese government after Bjork shouted "Tibet! Tibet!" at the end of her song: "Declare Independence."
Other international acts that have come through Shanghai in 2011 include Usher, Bob Dylan and the Eagles. In additional to one-off international shows, spring has become festival season in China with MIDI Shanghai actually officially happening, the Strawberry Festival in Suzhou being announced and the Zebra Festival returning to Chengdu.
Is music -- Chinese and International -- finally making headway in China?
Avril Lavigne Shanghai concert 2011, May 2, 8 p.m., Shanghai Grand Stage, 1111 Caoxi Bei Lu, near Zhongshan Lu and Tianyaoqiao Lu 上海大舞台, 漕溪北路1111号 RMB 180-1,280, en.piao.com.cn
