Top 20 Best Avril Lavigne Songs
#20: “Freak Out” (2004)
“Under My Skin” (2004)
After releasing her debut album, “Let Go” to commercial and critical acclaim, Avril Lavigne set out to make a darker and more mature second record. Immersing herself in its production, Lavigne wrote a significant portion of the album and poured most of her personal experiences into the lyrics. While other songs addressed more serious topics, “Freak Out” just makes you want to let your hair down and forget about your worries. Produced by Butch Walker, the track features a badass guitar intro that opens up to lyrics about paying no mind to what others think about you. It’s a quintessential Avril Lavigne song that lets all social outcasts around the world know that it’s okay to stand out from the pack.
#19: “Hot” (2007)
“The Best Damn Thing” (2007)
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Moving away from the more personal musings on her second album, Lavigne’s third record, “The Best Damn Thing” featured songs that were fast, fun and tailor-made for radio dominance. The third single from the album, “Hot” swapped the grungy guitars from her previous albums for new wave verses, a sultry bridge and an explosive chorus. Although the song wasn’t quite hot enough for the U.S., barely charting on the Billboard Hot 100, it cracked the top 10 in Lavigne’s native Canada, and was a moderate success down under. Lavigne was praised by critics for revisiting “Let Go”-era sounds - taking an emotional ballad about her feelings for her boyfriend and turning it into a potential radio hit.
#18: “Unwanted” (2002)
“Let Go” (2002)
We all know how crushing it feels to be judged solely based on how we look, dress or talk, when we have a lot more to offer underneath the surface. On this track, a deep cut from Avril Lavigne’s outstanding debut album, the singer perfectly encapsulates that feeling of being unwanted by people whose validation you crave the most. According to Lavigne, the song was inspired by a boy she was dating, whose parents already had their mind made up about her and wouldn’t approve of their relationship. It speaks to the timeless quality of the “Let Go” album that a gem like “Unwanted” could be overshadowed by other remarkable songs on the record.
#17: “Innocence” (2007)
“The Best Damn Thing” (2007)
By the time Avril Lavigne’s third album, “The Best Damn Thing” was released in 2007, the pop-punk singer was just 22 and had spent her entire young adult life in the spotlight. For such a young person, that could have a huge emotional toll, as we’ve seen multiple famous youngsters lose their way as they grew older. In this song, Lavigne points out just how important it is to make time for oneself away from all the noise to enjoy the little things, and feel truly innocent and free. At a time when her fanbase was mostly teenagers and young adults, it was an important reminder from the rockstar to slow down and take things one step at a time.
#16: “He Wasn’t” (2005)
“Under My Skin” (2004)
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Although the alt-rock ballad “Fall to Pieces” was released in North America as the final single from Lavigne’s second album, this song served as its replacement in international markets. “He Wasn’t” stood out from most of the other tracks on the album, with its hard-hitting drums, distorted guitars and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Co-written with Chantal Kreviazuk, with whom she wrote most of “Under My Skin”, Lavigne rants about her relationship with a man who fails to meet her expectations because of how terribly he treats her. Even though it wasn’t as successful as the other singles - only managing to chart in a few countries - it was selected by AllMusic as one of the most significant post-grunge songs of all time.
#15: “Things I’ll Never Say” (2002)
“Let Go” (2002)
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On her Grammy-nominated debut album, Avril Lavigne worked with the three-piece writing and production team, The Matrix. This collaboration would prove to be a winning combo, as the trio alongside Lavigne had five songs that they produced together make it onto the album, including the first three singles that introduced her to the world and this soft pop rock ballad. The song describes Lavigne being tongue-tied and unable to admit her exact thoughts and feelings about someone she has a thing for. It’s a heartwarming tune that is so innocent and pure, but in true Avril Lavigne fashion, still ambiguous enough to keep you guessing her true intentions.
#14: “Alice” (2010)
“Almost Alice: Music Inspired by the Motion Picture” (2010)
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From her signature necktie and tank top combination to her more gothic outfits, Avril Lavigne was an emo fashion icon, and established her own clothing line - Abbey Dawn - in 2008. Inspired by the Alice in Wonderland franchise, Lavigne was researching ideas for Abbey Dawn when she was struck with a brilliant idea - to compose a song for the Disney live action film. After getting the okay from Disney executives and director Tim Burton, Lavigne immediately wrote this cinematic rock ballad about surviving against all odds. The song’s dark themes and angsty sound tied in perfectly with those of the movie, but even if you haven’t seen 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland,” it’s still a fantastic standalone track.
#13: “What the Hell” (2011)
“Goodbye Lullaby” (2011)
Top 10 Hell Songs
The lead single from her fourth record “Goodbye Lullaby,” “What the Hell” stood out as the most upbeat pop song and reportedly the least personal on the otherwise introspective album. Featuring a “retro keyboard riff,” handclaps and just enough guitars to still keep it grounded in rock, the track is a perky anthem of independence that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Although playful and fun, many speculated that the song’s liberating lyrics may have had just a little layer of underlying subtext, as her divorce from ex-husband Deryck Whibley had been finalized not too long ago. A moderate success, “What the Hell” peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cracked the top 20 in several other countries.
#12: “Losing Grip” (2003)
“Let Go” (2002)
Standing Eight - Losing Hand (Lyric Video)
Released as the fourth single from her debut album, “Losing Grip” is an explosive rock jam that finds Lavigne dipping her toe in grunge and nu metal - sounds that she would fully delve into on her second album. Lyrically, the song talks about Lavigne feeling ignored by someone she loved, and ultimately deciding to drift away from them. She goes on a journey throughout the song - at the start, she’s confused as to why her lover barely acknowledges her, but by the end she’s realized she’s much better off without them. Lavigne flexes her undeniable vocal prowess on the song and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
#11: “Don’t Tell Me” (2004)
“Under My Skin” (2004)
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This grungy rock ballad served as the lead single for Avril Lavigne’s sophomore effort, “Under My Skin.” Co-written by Lavigne and her frequent collaborator, Evan Taubenfeld (TAWbnFELD), the track was a big screw you to self-proclaimed nice guys with a deeply rooted sense of entitlement. Written when she was just 17 years old, the song’s lyrics portray a mature young woman who knows exactly what she wants and refuses to be goaded into doing what she doesn’t. It was a very important message, especially for Lavigne’s fans, a lot of whom were teenage girls themselves, dealing with the pressure that comes with romantic relationships.
#10: “Smile” (2011)
“Goodbye Lullaby” (2011)
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While most of the songs in Avril Lavigne’s discography deal with themes of teen angst, rejection and loneliness, this upbeat pop track is sassy, happy and a whole lot of fun. Lavigne, with the help of legendary pop songwriters Max Martin and Shellback, paints a vivid picture of a wild woman who’s finally landed on someone who makes her happy. Whether this is true love, or just infatuation is not quite clear, but at this moment, Lavigne is grateful for the presence of this special person in her life. The song served as the second single from her fourth album “Goodbye Lullaby” and was a moderate success in North America and Australia.
#9: “Wish You Were Here” (2011)
“Goodbye Lullaby” (2011)
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Rounding out the single cycle for “Goodbye Lullaby” is this midtempo power ballad with a lot of heart. The song, described by Lavigne as her “most personal track on the album,” does its best to depict the indescribable feeling of needing someone who’s not around at that moment. With a more muted instrumentation than is normal for an Avril Lavigne song, the track hones in on the raw emotion in her voice and shows the pop punk princess at her most vulnerable. Music critics singled the tune as a highlight on the album and praised Lavigne for exploring more soul-baring territory while maintaining the darkness and angst usually associated with her music.
#8: “Keep Holding On” (2006)
“Eragon: Music From the Motion Picture” (2006) & “The Best Damn Thing” (2007)
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Originally written for the 2006 action fantasy film “Eragon,” this rock ballad also appeared on Lavigne’s third record “The Best Damn Thing” as the album’s closer. The song, written to tie in with themes of the movie, has an uplifting message of endurance and knowing that no matter how difficult things may be, you’re never alone and you can always come out on top. While the movie received strongly negative reviews, the song was praised by critics and pointed out as one of the highlights related to the film. It peaked in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and was shortlisted for an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
#7: “Girlfriend” (2007)
“The Best Damn Thing” (2007)
Five years after making her debut in the music scene, Avril Lavigne scored her first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with this infectious power pop anthem. Released as the lead single from her third studio album, the catchy tune detailed how Lavigne had her sights set on another woman’s man and was ready to snatch him away. Complete with hand claps, stomping drums and heavy guitar riffs, the song’s chorus was reportedly written in two minutes while Lavigne was drunk, and has been compared to Toni Basil (BAZl)’s 1982 hit single “Mickey.” Lavigne recorded the chorus of the track in seven other languages including French and Japanese. This helped it catch on with foreign audiences, taking it to the top ten in several countries.
#6: “When You’re Gone” (2007)
“The Best Damn Thing” (2007)
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This pop punk princess sure knows how to deliver an emotional ballad! Avril Lavigne effortlessly pulls at our heartstrings with this soaring rock tune that was released as the second single from “The Best Damn Thing.” Co-written by Lavigne and Butch Walker, the single was originally not intended to be a love song, but according to her, once she started writing it, she realized so much more emotions that needed to be expressed. It was in stark contrast to the previous single “Girlfriend,” and showcased Lavigne’s emotional depth, versatility and vocal prowess. While it only achieved moderate success in the U.S., the song was a hit in Canada and the UK, where it peaked at #8 and #3 respectively.
#5: “My Happy Ending” (2004)
“Under My Skin” (2004)
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The second single from “Under My Skin,” “My Happy Ending” tells the story of a romantic relationship that doesn’t work out, and all the great memories that fade away with it. The song starts off slow as Lavigne’s passionate vocals narrate the details of the ill-fated relationship, then fully leans into post-grunge territory once the chorus comes on and the heavy guitars kick in. It became a huge hit for Lavigne, peaking at #9 in the U.S. and cracking the top 10 in several other countries. The song earned as much critical success as it did commercial, as the track received positive reviews from music critics and has remained one of her defining songs to date.
#4: “I’m With You” (2002)
“Let Go” (2002)
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After her first two singles established her as a burgeoning punk and pop rock icon, Avril Lavigne released this power ballad as the third single from her debut album. The song received highly positive reviews from critics, who praised it for its adult contemporary sound and mature songwriting. It became her third consecutive top 10 hit and her second song to receive Grammy nominations for both Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Lyrically, the song describes feelings of loneliness and wishing someone would lend a helping hand in those tough moments. It has appeared in multiple TV shows and was even sampled in Rihanna’s 2011 hit single “Cheers (Drink to That).”
#3: “Sk8er Boi” (2002)
“Let Go” (2002)
With the success of her super smash debut hit single, many thought of Avril Lavigne as a one-hit wonder enjoying her fifteen minutes of fame, but this punk tune sure proved the naysayers wrong. Released as the second single from her first record, the power pop track details the life of a skateboarder who was rejected by his high school crush and eventually became a superstar rock musician. The song was critically acclaimed for its production, sense of humor and Lavigne’s high energy performance. It reached the top 10 in multiple countries, including the U.S. and UK, and was nominated for the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
#2: “Nobody’s Home” (2004)
“Under My Skin” (2004)
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If this song ever helped you when you felt lost or hopeless, then believe us when we say, you were definitely not alone. The third single from “Under My Skin,” this rock ballad was co-written with ex Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody, and marked a departure from the heavier, more grungy sounds of the album’s first two singles. In the song, which was inspired by a friend of hers, Lavigne confronts feelings of powerlessness, as she sings about not being able to help her friend in need. Even though it failed to crack the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it was an exceptional showing from the then-20 year old Lavigne, and remains a fan favorite of hers.
#1: “Complicated” (2002)
“Let Go” (2002)
Even after several albums, multiple hit songs and millions of records sold, the quality of Avril Lavigne’s introduction to the world has largely gone unmatched. “Complicated” served as the lead single from her debut album “Let Go” and helped launch a fresh-faced Lavigne to superstardom. Critically, the pop rock tune was a success, with most critics praising its infectious nature and celebrating Lavigne as the antithesis of the sexualised teen pop stars of the time. Commercially, the song was a huge hit, peaking at the number two spot on the Hot 100 and reaching the top five in several other countries. It received two Grammy nominations and paved the way for the force that Avril Lavigne was to become.
