Complicated (Avril Lavigne song)

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"Complicated"
International CD cover
Single by Avril Lavigne
from the album Let Go
B-side "I Don't Give"
"Why"[1]:{{{3}}}[2]:{{{3}}}
Released 14 May 2002 (2002-05-14)
(see release history)
Format CD single, digital download
Recorded 2002
Genre Pop rock[3]:{{{3}}}, Soft Rock
Length 4:04
Label Arista
Writer(s) Avril Lavigne, Lauren Christy, Scott Spock, Graham Edwards
Producer(s) The Matrix
Certification 2× Multi-Platinum[4]:{{{3}}} (ARIA Charts)
Platinum[5]:{{{3}}}(ABPD – Brazil)
Avril Lavigne singles chronology
"Complicated"
(2002)		 "Sk8er Boi"
(2002)
Alternative cover
European EP single
European EP single
Music video
"Complicated" on YouTube

"Complicated" is the debut single by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne, released in 2002 from her debut album, Let Go.[6]:{{{3}}} It was written by Lavigne and The Matrix (Scott Spock, Lauren Christy, and Graham Edwards), and produced by The Matrix. The single reached number one in Australia (for six weeks), New Zealand and Mexico (for nine weeks), number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three in the United Kingdom. Based on its chart performance, the song is Lavigne's second most successful single (only behind her 2007 single "Girlfriend") and was one of the most successful releases of 2002. Lavigne broke a record set by Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" when "Complicated" held the number one spot on the Adult Top 40 chart for 16 weeks in a row.[7]:{{{3}}} "Complicated" was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Background and release

After being signed to Arista Records in November 2000 upon the authorization of the label's CEO, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Lavigne moved to New York with the assistance of Reid. There, she began working on her debut album, Let Go, collaborating with a host of prime songwriters and producers.[8] For six months, the label set up Lavigne with two co-writers, who worked with her upon Arista's instructions. Reid expected Lavigne to record folk songs because she auditioned to them in a "balladic, 'new country'" type. However, the collective failed to click "with a girl who'd just discovered guitar-based rock".[9] For a year, nothing was working for Lavigne and was on the verge of getting dropped off Arista.[10] The management pitched her songs written by other songwriters, but she declined, insisting she wanted to write songs herself.[11] Lavigne relocated to Los Angeles, where she collaborated with songwriter-producer Clif Magness, who gave her ample creative control in the writing process. Lavigne and Magness wrote "Losing Grip" and "Unwanted", songs that she deemed reflective of her vision for the entire album.[12] However, Arista was not thrilled with the heavy-guitar laden songs that Lavigne was writing, prompting the label to look for other producers to match their demands.[13]

Two years since she signed the deal, Lavigne came to the attention of the three-piece production team The Matrix. Arista could not find the right direction for Lavigne, so the team's manager, Sandy Roberton, suggested that they work together.[14] According to member Lauren Christy, they had been listening to Lavigne's early songs and felt they contained "a Faith Hill kind of vibe". As soon as they saw Lavigne coming into their studio, The Matrix felt that her musical direction was incongruous to her image and attitude.[14]:{{{3}}} After talking to Lavigne for an hour, the singer said she wanted songs with punk rock inclinations.[9]:{{{3}}} They told her to come back the following day, and in the afternoon during that day, they wrote a song that evolved into "Complicated" and another song called "Falling Down". They played it to Lavigne when she came back the following day, inspiring her what path she should take.[14]:{{{3}}}

When Josh Sarubin, the A&R executive who signed Lavigne to the imprint, heard the song, he knew it was right for her. Lavigne presented the song to Reid, who agreed the musical direction Lavigne and The Matrix were taking, and set "Complicated" as the album's lead single.[14]:{{{3}}}

Composition and lyrics

"Complicated" is a song about how people can feign or pretend in front of others. Lavigne said about the song: "People sometimes bother me how they're not real and how they're just, like, putting on a face and being two-faced". Lavigne stated that she experienced this with both boyfriends and female friends.[15]:{{{3}}}

Music video

The video, directed by The Malloys, starts with Lavigne asking her bandmates if they want to "crash" the mall. They respond with enthusiasm, and skateboard there. The video features Lavigne and the band harassing shoppers and employees, generally causing havoc around the mall; for example, Lavigne watches her band try on humorous clothing which is fittingly shown as Lavigne sings the line "You come over unannounced, dressed up like you're something else".

This is intercut with footage of Lavigne performing the song at a skatepark while playing the guitar, with her band performing with her. People can be seen skateboarding around Lavigne as she and her band perform the song. As the line "You fall and you crawl..." is sung, a skateboarder can be seen falling over.

The video was shot at Eagle Rock Plaza, Los Angeles, in 2 days. During the shooting, the mall remained open.[16]:{{{3}}}

Reception

The song received generally positive reviews from critics. In 2009, Rolling Stone Magazine readers voted "Complicated" as the eighth Top single of the decade.[17]:{{{3}}} "Complicated" also ranked at #197 in Blender magazine's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".[18]:{{{3}}} Billboard ranked it at No. 83 of the 'Top 100 Singles of the Decade'.[19]:{{{3}}} In an AOL Radio listener's poll, "Complicated" was voted Lavigne's sixth best song.[20]:{{{3}}}

David Browne of Entertainment Weekly gave the song a B- and said "Avril Lavigne's not kidding about that title, she's the epitome of the blossoming anti-Britney movement".[21]:{{{3}}} Christina Saraceno of Allmusic described 'Complicated' as "a gem of a pop/rock tune with a killer chorus" and noted similarities between it and the Pink song "Don't Let Me Get Me".[3]:{{{3}}} Saraceno highlighted the song as a "track pick" in a review of the album, Let Go.[3]:{{{3}}}

On a more negative note, Sal Cinquemani of Slant magazine described 'Complicated' as "infectious" and "more poser than punk".[22]:{{{3}}} In a review of Lavigne's second album, Under My Skin, David Browne of Entertainment Weekly noted that "Complicated felt like strung-together bits of Morissette songs".[23]:{{{3}}}

Commercial performance

As of September 2015 "Complicated" has sold 1.1 million digital copies in the US.[24]

The Canadian single of "Complicated" has shipped over 100,000 copies in Canada, where the song has been awarded the gold and platinum single certifications by the CRIA for, respectively, shipments of at least 50,000 and 100,000 singles shipped.The single was certified 2× Platinum in Australia.[4]:{{{3}}}

Credits and Personnel

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Awards and nominations

Lavigne won Best New Artist in a Video at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards for "Complicated".[25]:{{{3}}} "Complicated" won in the Single of the Year category at the 2003 Juno Awards. In the United States, the song was nominated at the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Song of the Year;[26]:{{{3}}} it lost both awards to Norah Jones's "Don't Know Why". In Brazil it was nominated in the category of best international video at the 2003 MTV Video Music Brazil.[27]:{{{3}}}

Year Awards ceremony Award Results
2002 MTV Video Music Awards Best New Artist in a Video Won
2003 Grammy Awards[20]:{{{3}}} Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
Juno Awards Single of the Year Won
MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best New Artist Video Won
Video of the Year Won
Best Female Video Won
BMI Awards Best Pop Song Won
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards Best Pop Song Won
Radio Music Awards Song of the Year (Modern Adult Contemporary Radio) Won
Ivor Novello Awards International Hit of the Year Won
Canadian Radio Music Awards Best New "CHR" Solo Won
Best New Solo "Mainstream AC / Hot AC" Won
Socan Awards Pop Music Award Won
MTV Video Music Brasil Best International Video Won
2011 EVMA 2011 Video of the Decade Won

Track listing

Australia CD single
No. Title Length
1. "Complicated"   4:03
2. "I Don't Give"   3:39
3. "Why"   4:00
Canada, Mexico and United Kingdom CD single
No. Title Length
1. "Complicated"   4:03
2. "I Don't Give"   3:39
3. "Why"   4:00
4. "Complicated" (music video) 4:14
Japan, France, Italy and Netherlands CD single
No. Title Length
1. "Complicated" (the Matrix remix) 4:08
2. "I Don't Give"   3:39
United States CD single
No. Title Length
1. "Complicated" (Tom Lord-Alge remix) 4:08
2. "Complicated" (the Matrix remix) 4:03

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[42] 2× Platinum 140,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[43] Gold 15,000
Belgium (BEA)[44] Gold 25,000
Brazil (ABPD)[45] Platinum 100,000
Japan (RIAJ)[46]:{{{3}}} Gold 100,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[47] Platinum 15,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[48] Platinum 10,000
Sweden (GLF)[49] Gold 15,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[50] Gold 20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA) 1,100,000[24]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Label Format
United States 14 May 2002 (2002-05-14) Arista Records CD, digital download
Europe 8 July 2002 (2002-07-08) Sony BMG
United Kingdom 23 September 2002 (2002-09-23) Arista Records

See also

References

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External links

Preceded by Australia ARIA Singles Chart number-one single
18 August 2002 – 22 September 2002		 Succeeded by
"The Logical Song" by Scoooter
Preceded by New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart number-one single
18 August 2002 – 13 October 2002		 Succeeded by
"The Tide Is High (Get the Feeling)" by Atomic Kitten
Preceded by Juno Award for Single of the Year
2003		 Succeeded by
"Powerless (Say What You Want)" by Nelly Furtado
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  6. ↑ itunes.apple.com, "Let Go". Retrieved 6 September 2006.
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  32. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 2010-12-08.
  33. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20021006/41
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