Head Above Water (Avril Lavigne song)

"Head Above Water"
Single by Avril Lavigne
from the album Head Above Water[1]
Released September 19, 2018 (2018-09-19)
Format
Genre Pop rock[2]
Length 3:40
Label BMG
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Stephan Moccio
Avril Lavigne singles chronology
"Fly"
(2015)		 "Head Above Water"
(2018)
Music video
"Head Above Water" on YouTube

"Head Above Water" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne from her upcoming sixth studio album, Head Above Water (2018). It was written by Lavigne, Stephan Moccio, and Travis Clark; while being produced by Moccio. It was released as the lead single from the album on September 19, 2018, by BMG.[3] It is Lavigne's first single as a lead artist since "Fly", released in April 2015.

Background and release

Those were the worst years of my life as I went through both physical and emotional battles. I was able to turn that fight into music I’m really proud of. I wrote songs in my bed and on the couch and recorded there mostly as well. Words and lyrics that were so true to my experience came pouring out of me effortlessly

—Lavigne on releasing "Head Above Water" as lead single.[4]

On December 25, 2016, Lavigne announced via her Instagram account that she was working on new music for her upcoming sixth studio album.[5] In August 2018, Lavigne began teasing the release on social media, using pictures from a music video shoot.[6]

Composition

"Head Above Water" is backed by steady-building mix of piano, strings, synths and thunderous drums. Lavigne describes it as a "spiritual experience."[7] Musically the song is in the key of F major and shifts between 7/4 and 4/4 time signatures.[8]

Critical reception

Marina Pedrosa of Billboard wrote that "Head Above Water" "is a powerful, spiritual epiphany detailing the Canadian singer's journey through her battle with Lyme disease."[9] Robin Murray of Clash complimented the track's production and deemed it "[a] highly personal note". Murray described the song's lyrics and production in detail: "Now, we've never been 100% behind Avril Lavigne's music, but we can't help but be touched by the way she's approached what must be an enormously challenging situation."[10] Writing for Spin, Anna Gaca described the track as "dramatic piano ballad of resilience".[11] Madeline Roth of MTV Canada named "Head Above Water" an "emotionally charged comeback". Roth was impressed with the fact that song wasn't "just metaphorical", because "it documents a culminating moment in Lavigne’s years-long struggle with Lyme disease".[12] Katherine Gillespie from Paper wrote that "Head Above Water" is "heavy piano ballad about just that: trying to stay alive."[13]

Lindsay Elizabeth of Faithwire gave the song a positive review, called the song a "powerful worship ballad". Elizabeth further praised that "Lavigne details her relationship with God, and how He saved her when she thought she was at the end of her life."[14] Michael Foust of Christian Headlines described the song as "God-centric song" that even could be labeled “praise and worship",[15] while Jody Rosen of Jezebel considered the song's nature as "dramatic Christian rock vibes" and comparing it to Rachel Platten's 2015 single "Fight Song".[16]

Music video

The music video for "Head Above Water" was filmed in Iceland (Vík í Mýrdal) and directed by Elliott Lester[17][18] and it was released on September 27, 2018, on Lavigne's 34th birthday.[19]

Live performances

Lavigne gave the first televised performance of the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 26, 2018.[20]

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from Tidal.[21]

  • Avril Lavigne – main vocals
  • Stephan Moccio – producer, vocal production, piano, keyboards, background vocals
  • Kylen Deporter – record engineering assistance, background vocals
  • Chad Kroeger – vocal production
  • Chris Baseford – vocal production, record engineering, drum programming
  • Jay Paul Bicknell – additional production, record engineering, drum programming
  • John Hanes – record engineering
  • Aaron Sterling – drums, additional record engineering
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing engineering
  • Jonathan Martin Berry – guitar
  • Paul Bushnell – bass guitar
  • Kevin Fox – cello
  • Vanessa Freebairn-Smith – cello
  • Will Quinnell – mastering
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering engineering

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[22] 75
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[23] 57
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[24] 47
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[25] 37
Canada AC (Billboard)[26] 27
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[27] 47
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[28] 36
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[29] 13
France (SNEP)[30] 58
Germany (Official German Charts)[31] 69
Hungary (Single Top 40)[32] 5
Italy (FIMI)[33] 97
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[34] 42
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[35] 2
Malaysia (RIM)[36] 14
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[37] 21
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[38] 21
Spain Physical/Digital Songs (PROMUSICAE)[39] 28
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 36
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 84
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[42] 16
US Billboard Hot 100[43] 64
US Christian Songs (Billboard)[44] 1

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various September 19, 2018 Digital download BMG [3]
Italy September 21, 2018 Contemporary hit radio [45]
United States October 8, 2018 Hot adult contemporary radio [46]
Christian radio [47]

References

  1. ↑ "Avril Lavigne Says the Night She 'Accepted' She Was Dying Inspired Her New Album". Entertainment Tonight. September 20, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  2. ↑ Wass, Mike. "Avril Lavigne Returns With Powerful Pop/Rock Ballad "Head Above Water"". Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Avril Lavigne announces highly-anticipated new single 'Head Above Water' in letter to fans". BMG. September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  4. ↑ Moore, Sam. "Listen to Avril Lavigne's battling new single 'Head Above Water'". Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  5. ↑ Havens, Lyndsey (December 28, 2016). "Avril Lavigne Will Release a New Album In 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  6. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (August 18, 2018). "Avril Lavigne Hints New Music Could Be Coming Soon: 'Prepping for Video Shoot'". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  7. ↑ "After 5 Years, Avril Lavigne Is Back". Vogue. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ Lavigne, Avril. "Avril Lavigne "Head Above Water" Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2018-09-28.
  9. ↑ Pedrosa, Marina. "Avril Lavigne Makes Powerful Comeback With Emotional Single 'Head Above Water': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  10. ↑ Murray, Robin. "Listen: Avril Lavigne - 'Head Above Water'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  11. ↑ Gaca, Anna. "Avril Lavigne – "Head Above Water"". Spin. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  12. ↑ Roth, Madeline. "Avril lavigne makes an emotionally charged comeback with 'head above water'". MTV Canada. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  13. ↑ Gillespie, Katherine. "Avril Lavigne Returns With an Angsty Piano Ballad". Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  14. ↑ Elizabeth, Lindsay. "Avril Lavigne Releases First Song in Five Years – And It's a Worship Song". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  15. ↑ Foust, Michael. "Avril Lavigne Cries Out to God in Emotional, Chart-Topping Song". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  16. ↑ Rosen, Jody. "Avril Lavigne Returns, and Lana Del Rey's 'Venice Bitch' Is the Soundtrack to a Sun-Soaked Drive". Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  17. ↑ Sheridan, Wade. "Avril Lavigne goes to Iceland in 'Head Above Water' music video". UPI.com. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  18. ↑ Rincón, Alessandra (August 24, 2018). "Avril Lavigne Shares Silly Behind-The-Scenes Clips From Set of New Video". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Avril Lavigne on Twitter". Retrieved September 26, 2018 – via Twitter.
  20. ↑ Pedrosa, Marina. "Avril Lavigne Performs Emotional 'Head Above Water' for First Time on 'Kimmel': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Head Above Water / Avril Lavigne". Tidal. September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  22. ↑ "ARIA Chart Watch #492". auspOp. September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Euro Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Singles Telecharges – Classement 2018 de la semaine 39". SNEP. October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". Top Digital Download. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  36. ↑ "RIM CHARTS Top 20 Most Streamed International" (PDF). (RIM). October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  37. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 1, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Spain Digital & Physical Songs Sales". spanishcharts.com. September 23, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  45. ↑ "AVRIL LAVIGNE "Head Above Water" | (Radio Date: 21/09/2018)". radiodate.it. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Avril Lavigne - Head Above water - Daily Play MPE®". Daily Play MPE®. October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
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