Complicated (Avril Lavigne song)

Template:Short description Template:Use Canadian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox song "Complicated" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne from her debut album, Let Go (2002). It was released on 11 March 2002 by Arista Records. Lavigne and production team the Matrix (Lauren Christy, Scott Spock, and Graham Edwards) are credited as writers. Production on the song was helmed by the Matrix. According to Lavigne, the song is about being honest with oneself rather than "putting on a face".

"Complicated" received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song as infectious pop rock. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately selling 1.1 million copies in the US. The song also spent sixteen consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart, breaking a record previously held by Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn". Internationally, the song topped the charts in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway, with the song peaking in the top five in over twenty countries. It 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, Lavigne moved to New York and began working on her debut album, Let Go, collaborating with a host of prime songwriters and producers. For a year, nothing was working for Lavigne and was on the verge of getting dropped off Arista.<ref name="thematrix">Template:Cite news</ref> The management pitched her songs written by other songwriters, but she declined, insisting she wanted to write songs herself.<ref name="KaufmanComp">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="EliscuSmells">Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref name="JacksonVocals">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="BuskinMatrix">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.Template:R After talking to Lavigne for an hour, the singer said she wanted songs with punk rock inclinations. 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, inspiring her musical path.Template:R

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.Template:R

Composition

Composed in the key of F major, "Complicated" is a pop punk<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and pop rockTemplate:R<ref name="BillboardMVan">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.Template:R

Critical reception

The song was met with generally positive reviews.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2009, Rolling Stone readers voted "Complicated" as the eighth top single of the decade.Template:R "Complicated" also ranked at number 197 in Blender magazine's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born".Template:R In an AOL Radio listener's poll, "Complicated" was voted Lavigne's sixth best song.Template:R

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".Template:R Christina Saraceno of AllMusic described "Complicated" as "a gem of a pop/rock tune with a killer chorus" and noted similarities between it and Pink's song "Don't Let Me Get Me".Template:R Saraceno highlighted the song as a "track pick" in a review of the album, Let Go.Template:R

On a more negative note, Sal Cinquemani of Slant magazine described 'Complicated' as "infectious" and "more poser than punk".Template:R 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".Template:R

Glenn Rowley of Grammy.com said the song's "runaway success also helped launch pop-punk's explosion into the mainstream, and the proliferation of artists and female-fronted bands that followed — from Paramore, Ashlee Simpson and Kelly Clarkson to Gen Z hitmakers like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish and Meet Me @ The Altar — are indebted to Lavigne's trailblazing success with the song".<ref name=":0" />

Commercial performance

"Complicated" peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and stayed for 31 weeks on the chart. It was Lavigne's longest charting song on the chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> "Complicated" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 Airplay and Mainstream Top 40 Airplay charts, number 13 on the US Adult Contemporary chart, and number 30 on the US Rhythmic chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The single was certified 3× platinum in the United States with 3 million copies sold, making it the best selling debut single by a female Canadian singer.<ref name="US Sales">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Billboard ranked it at number 83 of the 'Top 100 Singles of the Decade'.Template:R

In the United Kingdom, "Complicated" peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and was certified 2× platinum with more than 1,200,000 copies sold and streamed.<ref name="bpi"/> In Canada, the single peaked at number 21 on the Canadian Singles Chart and was the fourth-most-played song on Canadian radio in 2002, as well as the most-played song of the year by a native artist.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In New Zealand, the single peaked at number one for 9 consecutive weeks on the RIANZ Singles Chart and was certified platinum with 10,000 copies sold.<ref name="charts.nz">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Complicated" also peaked and debuted at number one in Australia, Ireland, and Norway;<ref name="charts.nz"/> number two in Austria, Denmark, Europe, Hungary, Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland; and number three in Belgium, Germany, and Poland.<ref name="charts.nz"/> It was certified 2× platinum in Australia with 140,000 copies sold,<ref name=ARIA/> and gold in Denmark with 45,000 copies sold.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Complicated" was certified gold in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland, and platinum in Brazil and Norway.

Music video

File:Complicated video.jpg

Lavigne in the video – wearing tie, Chuck Taylor All-Stars and skater clothes. According to Butch Walker, the outfit originates from an alternate cover for his album Left of Self-Centred.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

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 bandmates try on humorous clothing, 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 for "Complicated" was shot 4–5 March 2002 at Westfield Eagle Rock Plaza, Los Angeles, as well as a local skatepark.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> During the shooting, the mall remained open.Template:R The music video was released in April 2002.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

As of April 2025, the video has over 700 million views on YouTube.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

The music video was ranked at number 41 on BillboardTemplate:'s 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Accolades

Lavigne won Best New Artist in a Video at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards for "Complicated".Template:R "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;Template:R 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.Template:R In April 2020, Billboard ranked the track at number two on their list of "The 50 Greatest Minivan Rock Songs".<ref name=BillboardMVan/>

Key

Template:Dagger

Indicates non-competitive categories

Accolades for "Complicated"

Award/Publisher	Year	Category	Result	Template:Abbr
ASCAP Pop Music Awards	2003	Most Performed Song Template:Dagger	Template:Won	<ref name='Billboard 2003-05-31'>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	2004		Template:Won	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Billboard Music Awards	2002	Top 40 Track of the Year	Template:Nominated	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
BMI Pop Music Awards	2003	Award-Winning Song Template:Dagger	Template:Won	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	2004		Template:Won	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Canadian Radio Music Awards	2003	Best New "Mainstream AC / Hot AC"	Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Best New CHR Solo	Template:Won
Channel V Thailand Music Video Awards	2003	Popular International Music Video By A New Artist	Template:Won	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Grammy Award	2003	Song of the Year	Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Best Female Pop Vocal Performance	Template:Nominated
Ivor Novello Awards	2003	International Hit of the Year	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Juno Award	2003	Single of the Year	Template:Won	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
MTV Video Music Awards	2002	Best New Artist in a Video	Template:Won	citation	CitationClass=web }} Note: look at the winners tab on the page and then click on "view all nominees"</ref>
MTV Video Music Awards Japan	2003	Video of the Year	Template:Nominated	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Best Female Video	Template:Nominated
		Best New Artist in a Video	Template:Won
MTV Video Music Brazil	2003	Best International Video	Template:Nominated	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Radio Disney Music Awards	2002	Best Song	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
		Best Homework Song	Template:Won
Radio Music Awards	2003	Song of the Year/Modern Adult Contemporary Radio	Template:Won	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rolling Stone	2009	Readers' Top Singles of the Decade	Template:Draw	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
SOCAN Awards	2003	International Achievement Template:Dagger	Template:Won	<ref name="Archived copy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Pop/Rock Music Award Template:Dagger	Template:Won
TMF Awards (Belgium)	2002	Best Clip: International	Template:Won	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
VH1 Big Awards	2002	Can't Get You Out of My Head	Template:Nominated	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listings and formats

• US CD single and 7-inch vinyl<ref name="USA">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Complicated" (Tom Lord-Alge mix) – 4:05
2. "Complicated" (the Matrix mix) – 4:02

• European CD single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Complicated" (Tom Lord-Alge mix) – 4:05
2. "I Don't Give"  – 3:39

• Italian and Japanese CD single<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Complicated" (The Matrix mix) – 4:03
2. "I Don't Give"  – 3:39

• UK cassette and European maxi-single 1<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref name="cd">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Complicated" (Tom Lord-Alge mix) – 4:05
2. "I Don't Give"  – 3:39
3. "Why"  – 3:59
4. "Complicated" (video)

• Australian maxi-single and European maxi-single 2<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

1. "Complicated" (The Matrix mix) – 4:03
2. "I Don't Give"  – 3:39
3. "Why"  – 3:59
4. "Complicated" (video)

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the "Complicated" CD single liner notes.<ref name="cd"/>

• Avril Lavigne – writer, lead vocals
• The Matrix – writer, producer, arrangement, recording, background vocals
• Tom Lord-Alge – mixing at South Beach Studios (Miami)
• Corky James – guitar
• Victor Indrizzo – drums

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart

Weekly chart performance for "Complicated"

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	21
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)<ref name="Lwin">Template:Cite book</ref>	1
Canada AC (Nielsen BDS)<ref name="Lwin"/>	5
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Nielsen BDS)<ref name="Lwin"/>	1
Chile (Notimex)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	5
Colombia (Notimex)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	1
Croatia (HRT)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
Czech Republic (IFPI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2
Greece (IFPI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} See Best column.</ref>	15
Mexico (Monitor Latino)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
Peru (Notimex)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	3
Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
Romania (Romanian Top 100)<ref name="romania">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	8

2022–2024 weekly chart performance for "Complicated"

Chart (2022–2024)	Peak position
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Complicated"

Chart (2002)	Position
Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	18
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	28
Brazil (Crowley)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	10
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	151
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
Europe (European Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	9
Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	21
Ireland (IRMA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	23
Italy (FIMI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	30
New Zealand (RIANZ)Template:R	1
Sweden (Hitlistan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	9
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	36
UK Airplay (Music Week)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	18
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	11
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)<ref name="usat40ye">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	5
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2
US Top 40 Tracks (Billboard)<ref name="usat40ye"/>	2
US CHR/Pop (Radio & Records)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	3
US Hot AC (Radio & Records)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	5

Chart (2003)	Position
Brazil (Crowley)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	95
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	45
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	34

Decade-end charts

Decade-end chart performance for "Complicated"

Chart (2000–2009)	Position
Australia (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA end of Decade">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	92
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	83

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Complicated"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Template:Abbr
United States	11 March 2002	Template:Hlist	Arista	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	7 May 2002	Contemporary hit radio		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Japan	10 July 2002	CD		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Australia	15 July 2002			<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>
New Zealand	5 August 2002			<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Germany	26 August 2002			<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
United Kingdom	23 September 2002	Template:Hlist		<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Australia	17 February 2003	CD		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Cover versions

Olivia O'Brien released a cover of "Complicated" in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She performed the song during the Olivia O'Brien Show tour in 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2023, it was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).<ref>Template:Cite certification</ref>

"Weird Al" Yankovic parodied the song as "A Complicated Song" on his 2003 album Poodle Hat.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the anime Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, the episode Scott 2 Pilgrim features Kieran Culkin (who voiced Wallace Wells) randomly and abruptly covering the song to a news reporter. Vulture called the moment "a perfect Canadian '00s pop-rock reference."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>