He Wasn't
Encyclopedia
"He Wasn't" is the fourth single from Avril Lavigne
's second album Under My Skin. It was not released in the United States
, instead "Fall to Pieces" was released but only as a radio single. The song was released in Germany
, Australia
and the United Kingdom
. Beforehand, it was a released as a third single in Japan
in June 2004. It was written and produced by Avril Lavigne and Chantal Kreviazuk
.
" music video, "He Wasn't" plays in the background and Lavigne jokes, "'He wasn't what I wanted'...is that a theme on my record?".
magazine described the song as a "crappy faux-punk tune", mostly because of the lyrical content. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly
described the song as a "bratty kiss-off" and labelled it "boardroom-approved mall punk" noting that it sounded similar to songs on Lavigne's first album, Let Go.
However, "He Wasn't" has also been praised for its loud, pop punk
nature; Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic describes the song as "the fastest, loudest, catchiest, and best song here, and the one closest to the spirit and sound of Let Go
". He also highlighted the song as a 'track pick' in a review of the album, Under My Skin.
), and other scenes where she is wearing devil horns on her head (she is portraying the devil
). It turns out that Avril and her band are at a video shoot, and later get into a food fight
, much to the dismay of the directors - who are played by Avril and the band, all dressed up in wigs and suits. Avril then rebels and smashes her guitar into the camera lens, and then into the paper wall, where pink paint splashes out. The video ends with the band dancing and Avril doing the splits
.
Also, during the shooting of the music video when the pink slime came out, Avril tells that days later her hair was still pink and she needed to redye it because during the next days she was scheduled to have a photoshoot with 'Cosmopolitan' and her hair was looking really messy and all pink.
(82876690742; Released April 8, 2005)
UK
French single
UK promo / AU promo
but the song gained success in the UK
charting at #23, #25 in Australia
and #35 in Ireland
. In some countries it did poorly on the charts, such as Canada
, where it peaked at #92, However, "He Wasn't" was successful, becoming a top 5 hit in Belgium, and a top 10 Hit in Japan.
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
's second album Under My Skin. It was not released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, instead "Fall to Pieces" was released but only as a radio single. The song was released in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Beforehand, it was a released as a third single in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in June 2004. It was written and produced by Avril Lavigne and Chantal Kreviazuk
Chantal Kreviazuk
Chantal Jennifer Kreviazuk is a Canadian singer-songwriter of the adult contemporary music genre. She is also a classically trained pianist, and can play the guitar.-Albums:...
.
Song meaning
"He Wasn't" is about an unsuccessful relationship between Lavigne and a man who appears to be treating her badly, such as not even opening the door to her. The song is a fast and up-beat take on the boyfriend "not being good enough" as opposed to Lavigne's slower paced songs from "Under My Skin" on the same matter. On a documentary of the making of the "My Happy EndingMy Happy Ending
"My Happy Ending" is a song written and produced by Avril Lavigne and Butch Walker, and engineered by Russ T. Cobb for Lavigne's second album, Under My Skin . It was released as the album's second internationally released single in 2004 and became Lavigne's fourth most successful single. It peaked...
" music video, "He Wasn't" plays in the background and Lavigne jokes, "'He wasn't what I wanted'...is that a theme on my record?".
Critical reception
"He Wasn't" was criticized for the shallowness of the lyrics. Sal Cinquemani of SlantSlant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
magazine described the song as a "crappy faux-punk tune", mostly because of the lyrical content. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
described the song as a "bratty kiss-off" and labelled it "boardroom-approved mall punk" noting that it sounded similar to songs on Lavigne's first album, Let Go.
However, "He Wasn't" has also been praised for its loud, pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
nature; Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic describes the song as "the fastest, loudest, catchiest, and best song here, and the one closest to the spirit and sound of Let Go
Let Go (Avril Lavigne album)
Let Go is the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne, released on June 4, 2002. For a year after signing a record deal with Arista, Lavigne struggled due to conflicts in musical direction. Lavigne relocated to Los Angeles, California, and recorded there her earlier materials for...
". He also highlighted the song as a 'track pick' in a review of the album, Under My Skin.
Music video
The video features Avril singing and her band playing instruments in the background. There are scenes where she dances around wearing white gloves, a pink skirt, and holding a magic wand (she is portraying a fairyFairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
), and other scenes where she is wearing devil horns on her head (she is portraying the devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
). It turns out that Avril and her band are at a video shoot, and later get into a food fight
Food fight
A food fight is a form of chaotic collective behavior, in which food is thrown at others in the manner of projectiles. These projectiles are not made to harm or damage others, but to simply ignite a fight filled with spontaneous food throwing. Food fights may be impromptu examples of rebellion or...
, much to the dismay of the directors - who are played by Avril and the band, all dressed up in wigs and suits. Avril then rebels and smashes her guitar into the camera lens, and then into the paper wall, where pink paint splashes out. The video ends with the band dancing and Avril doing the splits
Split (gymnastics)
A split is a human body configuration in which the legs are parallel to each other and extended in opposite directions. Splits are performed in various athletic activities, including dance, figure skating, gymnastics, martial arts, contortionism, synchronized swimming, cheerleading and yoga...
.
Also, during the shooting of the music video when the pink slime came out, Avril tells that days later her hair was still pink and she needed to redye it because during the next days she was scheduled to have a photoshoot with 'Cosmopolitan' and her hair was looking really messy and all pink.
Track listing
Australia(82876690742; Released April 8, 2005)
- "He Wasn't" (Album version)
- "He Wasn't" (Live full band performance)
- "He Wasn't" (Live and acoustic)
- "He Wasn't" (Music video)
UK
- "He Wasn't" (Album version)
- "He Wasn't" (Live version)
- "He Wasn't" (Music video)
- Plus exclusive video diary and other stuff.
French single
- "He Wasn't" (Album version)
- "He Wasn't" (Live version)
UK promo / AU promo
- He Wasn't (Album version)
Chart positions
"He Wasn't" wasn't released in the U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but the song gained success in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
charting at #23, #25 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and #35 in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In some countries it did poorly on the charts, such as Canada
Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems
Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, better known as BDS, is a service that tracks monitored radio, television and internet airplay of songs based on the number of spins and detections...
, where it peaked at #92, However, "He Wasn't" was successful, becoming a top 5 hit in Belgium, and a top 10 Hit in Japan.
| Chart (2005) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian BDS BDS - Companies and organizations :* Bergenske Dampskibsselskab, a Norwegian shipping service* Black Dragon Society, a Japanese paramilitary organization* Blessed Damien Society, a leprosy charity organization... Airplay Chart |
92 |
Awards
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | MTV Video Music Brasil | Best International Video |