Avril Lavigne "Complicated (Single & Video)"

"Complicated" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne from her debut album, Let Go (2002). The ballad was released as her debut single and the lead single from the album 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 positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song as infectious pop rock. "Complicated" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately selling 1.1 million copies in the US. The song also spent a consecutive sixteen weeks at number one on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart, breaking a previous record held by Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn". Internationally, "Complicated" topped the charts in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway, with the song peaking in the top five in over twenty countries. "Complicated" was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

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. The management pitched her songs written by other songwriters, but she declined, insisting she wanted to write songs herself. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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.

Composed in the key of F major, "Complicated" is a pop rock 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.

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 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 two days. During the shooting, the mall remained open. The video for "Complicated" was shot March 4–5, 2002 in L.A. The music video was released in April 2002.

As of May 2022, the video has over 500 million views on YouTube.

The music video was ranked at number 41 on Billboard's 100 Greatest Music Videos of the 21st Century.

Track listings and formats

US CD single and 7-inch vinyl

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

European CD single

1. "Complicated" (Tom Lord-Alge mix) – 4:08
2. "I Don't Give"  – 3:39

Italian and Japanese CD single

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

UK cassette and European maxi-single 1

1. "Complicated" (Tom Lord-Alge mix) – 4:08
2. "I Don't Give"  – 3:39
3. "Why"  – 3:59
4. "Complicated" (video) 

Australian maxi-single and European maxi-single 2

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