"Complicated" is a song by Avril Lavigne and was her first single, released in 2002 from her debut album, Let Go. It was written by Lavigne and The Matrix (Scott Spock, Lauren Christy, and Graham Edwards), and produced by The Matrix. The single reached number two on the United States Billboard Hot 100, number three in the United Kingdom and number one in Australia, Norway and Mexico. Based on its chart performance, the song is Lavigne's second most successful single and was one of the most successful releases of 2002.

The song was ranked at number 197 in Blender magazine's "The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born". It has a parody by "Weird Al" Yankovic called "A Complicated Song". It is featured on the video game Karaoke Revolution. Complicated was the biggest hit of 2002.

Track listings

Default CD single (UK, Canada, Mexico)

1. "Complicated" (Tom Lord-Alge mix)
2. "I Don't Give"
3. "Why"
4. "Complicated" (music video)Australian CD single
5. "Complicated" (The Matrix mix)
6. "I Don't Give"
7. "Why"Brazilian promo
8. "Complicated"
9. "Complicated" (Tom Lord-Alge mix)
10. "Complicated" (The Matrix mix)UK/Mexico promo
11. "Complicated"Japan/U.S./France/Italy/Netherlands single
12. "Complicated"
13. "I Don't Give"

Music video

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. Some shots show Lavigne on guitar playing with her band in a skatepark; others show her with the band at the mall playing around with clothes and jewelry, throwing objects, and harassing employees. Lavigne's brother and sister appear as extras in the video.

Awards

The Canadian single of "Complicated" has shipped over 100,000 copies in Canada, where the song has been awarded the gold and platinum single certifications by the CRIA for, respectively, shipments of at least 50,000 and 100,000 singles shipped. Lavigne won Best New Artist at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards for "Complicated". "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; it lost both awards to Norah Jones's "Don't Know Why".

Charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Brazil - Hot 100	1
Argentine Top 40	3
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	1
Austrian Singles Chart	2
Belgian Ultratop 50 (French)	5
Belgian Ultratop 50 (Dutch)	3
Canadian BDS Airplay Chart	45
Canadian Singles Chart	21
Danish Singles Chart	2
Dutch Singles Chart	4
Finnish Singles Chart	17
French Singles Chart	21
German Singles Chart	3
Irish Singles Chart	1

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Italian Singles Chart	2
México Top 100	12
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	1
Norwegian Singles Chart	1
Swedish Singles Chart	2
Swiss Singles Chart	2
UK Singles Chart	3
U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40	1
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	13
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Latin Pop Airplay	28
U.S. Billboard Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay	20
Venezuelan Singles Chart	1
United World Chart	1

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	April 23, 2002	Arista Records	CD, digital download
Europe	July 8, 2002	Sony BMG	CD, digital download	74321 94576 2
United Kingdom	August 12, 2002	Arista Records	CD, digital download

References