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 and Magness wrote ' Losing Grip' and 'Unwanted', songs that she deemed reflective of her vision for the entire album. Lavigne relocated to Los Angeles, where she collaborated with songwriter-producer Clif Magness, who gave her ample creative control in the writing process. The management pitched her songs written by other songwriters, but she declined, insisting she wanted to write songs herself. For a year, nothing was working for Lavigne and was on the verge of getting dropped off Arista. However, the collective failed to click 'with a girl who'd just discovered guitar-based rock'. Reid expected Lavigne to record folk songs because she auditioned to them in a ' balladic, 'new country'' type. For six months, the label set up Lavigne with two co-writers, who worked with her upon Arista's instructions. There, she began working on her debut album, Let Go, collaborating with a host of prime songwriters and producers. The song was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.Īfter 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.

Internationally, 'Complicated' topped the charts in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway, with the song peaking in the top five in over twenty countries. 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'. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, ultimately selling 1.1 million copies in the US. Some reviewers, however, felt that the song was inauthentic and that Lavigne was a poseur. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song as infectious pop rock. According to Lavigne, the song is about being honest with oneself rather than 'putting on a face.' Production on the song was helmed solely by The Matrix. Lavigne and production team The Matrix ( Lauren Christy, Scott Spock, and Graham Edwards) are credited as writers, although the extent of Lavigne's contributions have been publicly disputed by both parties. It was released as the lead single from the album on 11 March 2002, by Arista Records. ' Complicated' is the debut single of Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne from her debut studio album, Let Go (2002).

2002 single by Avril Lavigne 'Complicated'

A complicated song