Head Above Water (album) explained

Head Above Water
Type:studio
Artist:Avril Lavigne
Cover:Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water (Official Album Cover).png
Alt:Avril Lavigne sitting nude in a pool of water holding an acoustic guitar close to her body.
Released:[1]
Recorded:December 2016 – May 2018
Genre:Pop rock[2]
Length:41:25
Label:BMG
Producer:
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Head Above Water is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne. It was released on February 15, 2019, through BMG Rights Management.[3] It is Lavigne's first studio release since her self-titled fifth studio album five years prior, marking the longest gap between two of her studio albums, and is her first and only album recorded for the new incarnation of BMG (she was originally signed to the first incarnation of BMG, which later relaunched after Sony’s acquisition of BMG’s former labels.) She assumed an integral role in the album's production and collaborated with several producers including Chad Kroeger, Stephan Moccio, Chris Baseford, Johan Carlsson, Lauren Christy from The Matrix, Ryan Cabrera, Travis Clark of We the Kings, Bonnie McKee, JR Rotem and Mitch Allan among others.[4]

The album draws inspiration from Lavigne's battle with Lyme disease, with her describing the album as an "emotional journey". The title track was released as the lead single from the album in September 2018, followed by "Tell Me It's Over" as the second single in December 2018,[5] "Dumb Blonde" as the third single the week of the album's release, a collaboration with rapper Nicki Minaj and "I Fell in Love with the Devil" as the fourth single in June 2019.

Head Above Water received generally mixed reviews from music critics. While some praised Lavigne's vocal performance, themes and maturity compared to the singer's previous works, some noted the "generic" sound of the album, criticizing the lyrics and production of certain songs. The album debuted at number five on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart, making it Lavigne's sixth album to enter the top ten in Canada. In the United States the album debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard 200 chart. In the United Kingdom the album debuted and peaked at number ten on the UK Albums OCC chart.

In support of the album, Lavigne embarked on the Head Above Water Tour, starting on September 14, 2019 (her first tour in nearly five years following the Avril Lavigne Tour).[6]

Background and development

In December 2014, Lavigne was diagnosed with Lyme disease. According to her, she "sat behind a piano and sang past the pain". The songs on the album are inspired by her battle with Lyme disease. On December 25, 2016, Lavigne announced that she would release the album in 2017.[7] On March 1, 2017, Lavigne announced that she had signed with BMG Rights Management and promised to release the album in 2017.[8] On January 21, 2018, Lavigne responded to a fan on Twitter about the album, saying: "[The album is] personal, dear, intimate, dramatic, raw, powerful, strong and unexpected. This record is a true emotional journey."[9] On February 7, 2018, Lavigne posted on Twitter about the album, saying: "I've started mixing my album and all of the pieces are finally coming together. These songs are so close to my heart. Wish me luck while I throw every last drop of me into these final stages."[10] In May, Lavigne finished recording the album, though she was reported to have worked with songwriter Bonnie McKee afterwards.

On July 7, 2018, Lavigne stated that the album cover was being shot that week.[11] On August 18, 2018, Lavigne posted on her social media: "Exciting things coming" and "prepping for my video shoot".[12] On September 6, 2018, Lavigne posted a letter to her fans on her official website, revealing she wrote and recorded most of the album on her couch due to Lyme disease. She also stated that "Head Above Water" was the first song she wrote for the album. To Lavigne, recording this album was a "victorious moment" and a "huge accomplishment", describing it as "a very strong, triumphant, powerful and true record to me and my experiences over the last few years".[13] On December 7, the singer revealed that the name of the album as Head Above Water and the tracklist.[14] Along with revealing the album title, Lavigne also unveiled the cover artwork.[15] The front cover shows her nude sitting in a pool of water holding an acoustic guitar close to her body.

Composition and themes

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Lavigne explained that she "wanted to make this record about the vocals so you could really hear the lyrics and feel the emotion because sometimes the music can be overbearing", and to "explore with different sounds like "Crush" and "Tell Me It's Over"; they're a little bit more throwback and jazzy." She also described the album as "going back to my roots — I got my start in church and musical theater before I started writing my own music.".[16]

Songs

Head Above Water opens with its title track, an "empowering" pop rock and Christian rock ballad, backed by steady-building mix of piano, strings, synths and thunderous drums".[17] [18]

Second track "Birdie" contains "gloomy, feet-crunching-in snow beats"[19] and lyrics about feeling trapped. Regarding the song's inspiration, Lavigne said "I had that concept in my head two years before I wrote it. I was feeling bad. I kept saying to myself, "I feel like I'm a bird locked up in a cage. I feel like I'm in jail." I was just stuck with a bunch of s–t. That's where that concept came from. It's not necessarily about my illness but about other stuff in my life. I love that song because it has an empowering message of standing up for yourself, doing something about a situation you're in, taking charge, and removing yourself. I think a lot of people can relate to that whether that's a toxic relationship they're in, or they're not happy with their job."[20]

Third track "I Fell in Love with the Devil" is an "ominous, tightly crafted rumination on toxic relationships",[21] which Lavigne wrote "as a constant reminder to [herself] that some of the darkest people in this world can be disguised as angels".[22]

The album's fourth track and second single "Tell Me It's Over" is a Memphis soul and rhythm and blues ballad.[23] Lavigne explained in a statement that the song is about "being strong, finally putting your foot down and closing the door on a relationship that you know is wrong after time and time again of falling for their games." About her inspirations to write the song, Lavigne said, "The vocals and the lyrics are very vulnerable which is reflective of the feelings I had in relationships like these. I wanted to write something classic and have been inspired by some of the timeless queens I listen to everyday at home, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin and Etta James."[24]

Fifth track and third single "Dumb Blonde" is a "fiery"[25] [26] and "plucky"[27] mix of pop,[28] pop punk,[29] power pop,[30] hip hop,[29] punk rock[31] and urban[31] music; with Lavigne describing the conception of the song as "something I actually went through where I had an experience with someone calling me a dumb blonde. I was like, 'Ooh that's a good concept and title.' It started as a misogynist intimidated by my independence. I just thought that was really unfair."[16]

Sixth track "It Was in Me" is an "earnestly delivered self-empowerment anthem",[32] which Lavigne compared to her 2002 single "I'm with You".[33] Seventh track "Souvenir" was described by Pitchfork as a "sun-drenched love song",[34] and features lyrics "guardedly optimistic about a new love".Eighth track "Crush" is "retro-leaning"[35] and "a warm ode to the more fluid moments of early love".

Ninth track "Goddess" "comes on with a playful note, wishing for a simpler time with breezy sonic flair",[36] while tenth track "Bigger Wow" was said by NME to "sound like a cross between Shania Twain and Sheryl Crow". Eleventh track "Love Me Insane" was described by Rolling Stone as containing a "half-yodel" which "is a hook in itself". Twelfth and final track "Warrior" is a ballad described by Lavigne as "one of the first songs I wrote for the album" and according to her, is "about the health battle I continue to fight every day".[37]

Singles

The song "Head Above Water" serves as the album's lead single.[38] It was released on September 19, 2018, and impacted hot adult contemporary radio and Christian radio on October 8, 2018.[39] [40] The song was described as "a powerful, spiritual epiphany detailing the Canadian singer's journey through her battle with Lyme disease."[41] The single was certified 2× Platinum in Canada and Platinum in Brazil and US.[42] [43] [44]

"Tell Me It's Over" was announced as the second single from the album on December 5, 2018, and was released the following December 12, with the album's pre-order.[45] The album's third single, "Dumb Blonde", was released on February 12, 2019, featuring rapper Nicki Minaj, it debuted at number ninety-two on the Canadian Singles chart.[46] [47] "I Fell in Love with the Devil" was announced as the fourth single from the album on June 7, 2019,[48] and was released on June 28.

"We Are Warriors" was released as a new version of her song "Warrior", and was released as a charity single on April 24, 2020, for the COVID-19 pandemic.[49] [50]

Critical reception

Head Above Water received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 55 based on 12 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Lavigne's vocals were complimented by critics; Arielle Gordon, writing for Pitchfork, commented that Head Above Water "is an album about resilience, one that explores the range of her vocal chords, with little time for the scream-singing that once defined her sound";[34] and David Needleman of Rolling Stone writing that Lavigne has "never sounded stronger or more vocally confident".[19] The album was also noted to show maturity compared to Lavigne's previous works; with Nick Levine of NME writing that Head Above Water "isn't her most banging album, but it is a deeply honest one that sounds a lot like growing up gracefully."[35]

Many critics noted a generic sound to the album. Alexandra Pollard from The Independent wrote that the album "might not have found a musical identity that truly becomes her, but Head Above Water is an effective, and occasionally affecting, album".[51] In an article for Exclaim!, Ian Gormely observed that "Across the record's 12 tracks, Lavigne tries on a variety of styles, inhabiting each with ease, but rarely manages to rise above and make the sound her own".[52] Marianna Lozowska called the album "boring", being "[Lavigne's] own worst nightmare" while writing for Now.[53] Dylan Tuck gave the album 2/5 stars in an article for The Skinny, acknowledging the powerful ballads such as the lead single, but negatively spoke about the majority of the album, noting that "it [felt] much like a lost Lavigne seeking a sound that’ll just keep her afloat".[54]

Accolades

Award! scope="col"
YearCategoryResult
GAFFA Awards (Denmark)align=center 2020align=center Best International Albumalign=center [55]
align=center 2020align=center Best 3 Albumsalign=center [56]
Juno Awardsalign=center align=center Pop Album of the Yearalign=center [57]

Commercial performance

Head Above Water debuted at number five on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. In the United States the album debuted at number thirteen on the US Billboard 200 chart, with 29,000 units on its first week.[58] It also became the lowest entry on the chart, comparing to the previous one, Avril Lavigne (2013) that sold 44,000 copies. On the Billboard Independent Albums, the album peaked at number one. In the United Kingdom the album debuted and peaked at number 10 with 5,766 units sold. It also went straight to number one on the UK Independent Albums.[59] In Germany, the album debuted at number three, making it her best performance on the chart since The Best Damn Thing (2007). Overall, the album reached top 10 positions in 10 countries. In Japan, the album had sold 42,424 copies by the end 2019.[60] Head Above Water was certified Gold in Denmark selling 10,000 units.[61]

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Vocals

Instrumentation

Production

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[62] 3
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[63] 51
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)[64] 35

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"
Position
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[65] 21
US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)[66] 153

Release history

Country!scope="col"
DateFormatLabel
VariousFebruary 15, 2019BMG

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Avril Lavigne Reveals New Album Details With Ellen K. Spreaker. October 30, 2018.
  2. Web site: Avril Lavigne – 'Head Above Water' review. Levine. Nick. February 8, 2019. NME. March 28, 2019.
  3. Web site: Avril Lavigne Says the Night She 'Accepted' She Was Dying Inspired Her New Album. Entertainment Tonight. September 20, 2018. October 5, 2018.
  4. Web site: About. Avril Lavigne. October 31, 2018. April 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210409112059/https://avrillavigne.com/about/. dead.
  5. Web site: Avril Lavigne 'Tell Me It's Over' (Single Review) . Amnplify . May 28, 2019.
  6. Avril Lavigne Announces First North American Tour in 5 Years. Billboard. June 24, 2019. July 5, 2019.
  7. Web site: Instagram post by avrillavigne. https://web.archive.org/web/20170311225409/https://www.instagram.com/p/BOcsLQOAiaG/. dead. March 11, 2017. December 25, 2016.
  8. Web site: Instagram post by avrillavigne. https://web.archive.org/web/20170311134458/https://www.instagram.com/p/BRGYk8VAnlc/. dead. March 11, 2017. March 1, 2017.
  9. AvrilLavigne . 955197059245551616 . January 21, 2018 . Personal, dear, intimate, dramatic, raw, powerful, strong and unexpected. This record is a true emotional journey. -AL.
  10. AvrilLavigne . 961303260618346496 . February 7, 2018 . And I needed this time. To live. To write. To go through my ups and downs. And while I am eager to get this done ha I’ve finally learned to enjoy the journey, the ride, the present time. .
  11. Web site: Instagram post by Avril Lavigne. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bk6Pwv1nE_8 . 2021-12-24 . limited. July 7, 2018.
  12. Avril Lavigne Hints New Music Could Be Coming Soon: 'Prepping for Video Shoot'. Billboard.
  13. Web site: Letter to fans . Avril Lavigne . March 25, 2020 . March 26, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200326033426/https://avrillavigne.com/letter-to-fans/ . dead .
  14. Web site: Thiessen. Brock. Here's Avril Lavigne's Very Naked Album Cover for 'Head Above Water'. Exclaim!. December 7, 2018. December 7, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181207215809/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/heres_avril_lavignes_very_naked_album_cover_for_head_above_water. December 7, 2018.
  15. Web site: Hannan. Devon. Here's Avril Lavigne Shares Tracklist, Cover Art For Head Above Water. altpress. December 7, 2018. December 8, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181208085832/https://www.altpress.com/news/avril-lavigne-tracklist-cover-head-above-water/. December 8, 2018.
  16. Kaplan. Ilana. Avril Lavigne on Head Above Water, near-death experiences, and that crazy conspiracy theory. Entertainment Weekly. February 11, 2019. February 12, 2019.
  17. Web site: Wass. Mike. Avril Lavigne Returns With Powerful Pop/Rock Ballad "Head Above Water". September 19, 2018 . September 20, 2018.
  18. Web site: After 5 Years, Avril Lavigne Is Back. Vogue. September 19, 2018. September 22, 2018.
  19. Review: Avril Lavigne Goes the Breakup-Album Route on 'Head Above Water'. David. Browne. February 15, 2019. Rolling Stone.
  20. Web site: Avril Lavigne on her new album, Head Above Water. 2021-01-17. EW.com. EN.
  21. News: Avril Lavigne, Head Above Water, album review: Still searching for a musical identity. June 21, 2019. February 14, 2019. The Independent.
  22. Web site: Watch Avril Lavigne's 'I Fell in Love with the Devil' music video. NME. 16 July 2019. 18 June 2021.
  23. Avril Lavigne Goes Memphis Soul With New Song 'Tell Me It's Over': Watch the Video. Billboard. 2019-02-20.
  24. Avril Lavigne Goes Memphis Soul With New Song 'Tell Me It's Over': Watch the Video. Billboard. Kaufman. Gil. December 12, 2018. December 12, 2018.
  25. Web site: Nied . Mike . Avril Lavigne & Nicki Minaj Hit Back At "Dumb Blonde" Comments On Fiery New Single . . April 25, 2020 . February 12, 2019.
  26. Avril Lavigne & Nicki Minaj Drop Fiery Collaboration 'Dumb Blonde': Listen . . April 25, 2020.
  27. Web site: Nied . Mike . Album Review: Avril Lavigne's 'Head Above Water' . . April 25, 2020 . February 17, 2019 . Meanwhile, the latter is a plucky pop/rap fusion that channels the Canadian’s brattiest material..
  28. Web site: The 9 best and 9 worst songs of the year. Insider. Ahlgrim. Callie. December 17, 2019. May 12, 2020.
  29. Web site: Hughes . Josia . Avril Lavigne Teams Up with Nicki Minaj for Punk Pop Banger "Dumb Blonde" . Exclaim . 12 February 2019 . "Dumb Blonde" sees Avril join forces with Nicki Minaj, and the final result is a pop-punk/hip-hop blend.
  30. Spanos . Brittany . Brittany Spanos . Hear Avril Lavigne, Nicki Minaj Prove Haters Wrong on 'Dumb Blonde' . Rolling Stone . February 12, 2019 . February 12, 2019 . Avril Lavigne has recruited Nicki Minaj for the power pop kiss-off "Dumb Blonde.".
  31. Web site: Avril Lavigne: Head Above Water . Punk News . 13 February 2019 . Dumb Blonde"; a blend of punk rock and urban carries the track on an easygoing instrumental journey..
  32. Web site: Avril Lavigne searches for her sound on Head Above Water – review. Pollard. Alexandra. February 14, 2019. The Independent. February 16, 2019.
  33. Web site: Q&A INTERVIEW: Avril Lavigne, playing Parx Casino tonight, tells how she kept her 'Head Above Water' through health and personal struggles. The Morning Call. 11 October 2019. 18 June 2021.
  34. Web site: Avril Lavigne: Head Above Water Album Review. Pitchfork. Gordon. Arielle. February 19, 2019. February 25, 2019.
  35. Web site: Avril Lavigne – 'Head Above Water' review. Levine. Nick. February 8, 2019. NME. February 16, 2019.
  36. Web site: Avril Lavigne Head Above Water (2019) BMG. MattStaff. February 10, 2019. February 15, 2019. Punknews.org.
  37. Web site: Avril Lavigne Confronts Health Battle On New Song 'Warrior': Hear A Snippet. www.iheart.com. 5 February 2019. 22 April 2020.
  38. Web site: Avril Lavigne announces highly-anticipated new single 'Head Above Water' in letter to fans. BMG. September 6, 2018. September 19, 2018.
  39. Web site: Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases. September 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180918151411/https://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases. September 18, 2018.
  40. Web site: Avril Lavigne - Head Above water - Daily Play MPE®. October 5, 2018. October 5, 2018. Daily Play MPE®.
  41. Avril Lavigne Makes Powerful Comeback With Emotional Single 'Head Above Water': Listen. Pedrosa. Marina. September 19, 2018. Billboard. September 19, 2018.
  42. Web site: Head Above Water (single) 2×Platinum Canada. 2021-01-14. Music Canada. en-US.
  43. Web site: Certified Platinum Head Above Water (single) Brazil. 2021-01-14. pro-musicabr.org.br.
  44. Web site: Certified Gold Head Above Water (single) US. 2021-01-14. RIAA. en-US.
  45. Web site: Nied. Mike. Avril Lavigne Reveals The Cover & Tracklist Of 'Head Above Water'. Idolator. December 7, 2018. December 7, 2018. December 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181207220655/https://www.idolator.com/7689317/avril-lavigne-reveals-the-cover-tracklist-of-head-above-water. dead.
  46. Avril Lavigne & Nicki Minaj Drop Fiery Collaboration 'Dumb Blonde': Listen. Billboard.
  47. Avril Lavigne. 2021-11-04. Billboard.
  48. Web site: Instagram post by avrillavigne . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bya2fZ4lakn . 2021-12-24 . limited. June 7, 2019 . June 7, 2019.
  49. Web site: Avril Lavigne Releases Charity Single, We Are Warriors.
  50. Web site: Avril Lavigne's 'We Are Warriors' Tributes Essential Workers During Pandemic.
  51. Web site: Pollard. Alexandra. 2019-02-14. Avril Lavigne, Head Above Water, album review: Still searching for a musical identity. 2020-11-29. The Independent. en.
  52. Web site: Gormely. Ian. Avril Lavigne Head Above Water. 2020-11-28. Exclaim!. en.
  53. Web site: Lozowska. Marianna. 2019-02-27. Review: Avril Lavigne's Head Above Water sinks expectations. 2020-11-29. NOW Magazine. February 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190228144017/https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/avril-lavigne-head-above-water/. dead.
  54. Web site: Tuck. Dylan. Avril Lavigne album review: Head Above Water - The Skinny. 2020-11-29. The Skinny. en.
  55. News: GAFFA-PRISEN '20. November 21, 2019. GAFFA. Denmark. da. June 2, 2020. January 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200111084625/https://gaffa.dk/prisen/afstemningen. dead.
  56. Web site: The 34th Japan Gold Disc Award 2020. riaj.or.jp. ja . Gold Disc . February 27, 2020 . February 27, 2020 .
  57. News: 2020 Juno Awards nominees announced, singer Alessia Cara to host ceremony. Global News . 28 January 2020 . 28 January 2020 .
  58. Web site: 2019-02-27 . US: Avril Lavigne's new album Head Above Water debuts on charts around the world . 2022-08-13 . BMG . en.
  59. Web site: Avril Lavigne scores Number 1 indie album, J. Cole claims top vinyl . 2022-08-13 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  60. Web site: 2019-12-23 . オリコン年間 アルバムランキング 2019年度 91~100位 ORICON NEWS . 2022-12-03 . December 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191223070012/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2019/p/10/ . bot: unknown .
  61. Web site: Avril Lavigne "Head Above Water" IFPI . 2024-04-10 . ifpi.dk.
  62. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2019/02/25 付け. Billboard Japan. February 20, 2019.
  63. Web site: Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100). lt. AGATA. February 22, 2019. December 4, 2019.
  64. Web site: Slovak Albums – Top 100. ČNS IFPI. February 28, 2019. Note: On the chart page, select SK Albums and "201908" on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data.
  65. 2019 Top Independent Albums. Billboard. December 6, 2019.
  66. 2019 Top Current Albums. Billboard. December 6, 2019.