Top 10 Avril Lavigne Songs

Avril Lavigne first hit the pop charts in 2002 when she was only 17. She has drawn both criticism and strong praise throughout her career. She has also gathered a loyal army of fans and sold millions of albums and singles. These are her 10 best songs.

of 10

"Don't Tell Me" (2004)

Avril Lavigne Don't Tell Me — Avril Lavigne - "Don't Tell Me". Courtesy Arista

On "Don't Tell Me," Avril Lavigne asserts her independence and unwillingness to give in to the demands of a male lover. This first single from the second album Under My Skin is a muscular rock ballad. It powered its way into the top 10 at both adult and mainstream top 40 radio while going to #5 on the UK pop singles chart.

Watch Video

of 10

"Alice" (2010)

Avril Lavigne Alice — Avril Lavigne - "Alice". Courtesy Buena Vista Records

While going over clothing ideas inspired by Alice in Wonderland with Disney personnel in an effort to find ideas for her own Abbey Dawn clothing line, Avril Lavigne offered to write a song for the Disney live action film. Director Tim Burton gave his approval for the idea, and Avril Lavigne sat down and immediately wrote "Alice." In the song, she created a raw, throbbing statement of the survival instinct.

Watch Video

of 10

"Here's to Never Growing Up" (2013)

Avril Lavigne Here's To Never Growing Up — Avril Lavigne - "Here's To Never Growing Up". Courtesy Epic

Between her 2011 album Goodbye Lullaby and the 2013 self-titled collection, Avril Lavigne switched labels from RCA to Epic. "Here's To Never Growing Up" was the first single at her new recording home. Co-written with her future husband Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, the song is a celebration of remaining young. It became Avril Lavigne's eighth top 20 pop hit single and led into a #5 chart debut for the album.

Watch Video

of 10

"Girlfriend" (2007)

Avril Lavigne Girlfriend — Avril Lavigne - "Girlfriend". Courtesy RCA

Avril Lavigne's only #1 pop single so far is a perky, upbeat cheerleader rock tune. It is brimming with her classic attitude in instructing a certain boy that his girlfriend selection is wrongheaded. Comparisons have been made between the song and Toni Basil's classic 1982 #1 pop hit single "Mickey." Avril Lavigne co-wrote the song with Dr. Luke. It is the first single from her third studio album The Best Damn Thing. "Girlfriend" was a #1 pop hit around the world.

Watch Video

of 10

"What the Hell" (2011)

Avril Lavigne What the Hell — Avril Lavigne - "What the Hell". Courtesy RCA

"What the Hell" on the surface is a perky upbeat Max Martin-produced pop tune. However, in the lyrics, there is a hint of more seriousness particularly in light of the end of Avril Lavigne's first marriage to Sum 41's Deryck Whibley. The song was released as the first single from the studio album Goodbye Lullaby. It climbed to #8 at mainstream pop radio just missing the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, peaking at #11.

Watch Video

of 10

"I'm With You" (2002)

Avril Lavigne I'm With You — Avril Lavigne - "I'm With You". Courtesy Arista

"I'm With You" earned Avril Lavigne two Grammy Award nominations including for Song of the Year. As the third single from her debut album Let It Go, it received kudos for its adult-oriented sound. It was her first ballad single and her third consecutive release to reach the pop top 10. "I'm With You" peaked at #4 topping both the mainstream pop and adult pop radio charts. Celebrated photographer David LaChapelle directed the accompanying music video. Rihanna sampled "I'm With You" on her hit "Cheers (Drink to That)." Avril Lavigne appears in Rihanna's music video.

Watch Video

of 10

"When You're Gone" (2007)

Avril Lavigne When You're Gone — Avril Lavigne - "When You're Gone". Courtesy RCA

Producer Butch Walker provides a power ballad setting that helps this song deliver maximum emotional impact. Avril Lavigne said that she was originally not intending "When You're Gone" to be a love song. It was simply a slow song, but eventually, it brought out a lot of emotion. It was released as the second single from her album The Best Damn Thing. "When You're Gone" climbed into the top 10 at both mainstream and adult pop radio. In the UK it landed at #3 on the pop singles chart.

Watch Video

of 10

"My Happy Ending" (2004)

Avril Lavigne My Happy Ending — Avril Lavigne - "My Happy Ending". Courtesy Arista

Avril Lavigne delivers a definitive musical statement on romantic relationships that do not work out. A massive hook animates the song and makes it stick in the memory long after the music ends. Producer and co-writer Butch Walker contributes to the big sound. "My Happy Ending" was the second single from the album Under My Skin and became Avril Lavigne's fourth top 10 pop smash. In the UK it climbed to #5 on the pop singles chart.

Watch Video

of 10

"Sk8er Boi" (2002)

Avril Lavigne Sk8er Boi — Avril Lavigne - "Sk8er Boi". Courtesy Arista

Avril Lavigne's second single has been derided in the past as being too naive lyrically. However, with the benefit of hindsight, it seems perfectly pitched to her audience and the particular point in her career. The power pop hook of the song sticks strongly in your head. Many critics considered "Sk8er Boi" a highlight of Avril Lavigne's debut album Let Go. It earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal. The song peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 while topping the mainstream pop radio chart. It also reached the top 10 across the ocean in the UK.

Watch Video

of 10

"Complicated" (2002)

Avril Lavigne Complicated — Avril Lavigne - "Complicated". Courtesy Arista

Avril Lavigne still has not surpassed the quality of her first single, but that is not a commentary on the quality of her subsequent music. It is a comment on what a pop landmark "Complicated" remains. There has never been a more solid, hooky depiction of presenting a fake persona discussed in a pop song. Some observers celebrated the song as the antithesis of Britney Spears' hit singles. "Complicated" earned two Grammy Award nominations including for Song of the Year. It introduced Avril Lavigne to pop fans around the world peaking at #2 in the US, #3 in the UK and the top 10 in many other countries.

Watch Video