My Happy Ending
Encyclopedia
"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 (2004). It was released as the album's second internationally released single
in 2004 and became Lavigne's fourth most successful single. It peaked higher than "Don't Tell Me
", the album's first single. In the United Kingdom, it reached the top five; in the United States, it peaked at number nine (staying in #9 for 4 weeks), doing better in Mexico where it peaked at number 1. Structurally, the song is written in 4/4
style and has a repeated hook in both the chorus and in the intro and outro.
The RIAA
certified "My Happy Ending" platinum in January 2005, making it Lavigne's second platinum single after "I'm With You" (2002).
. It was shot on location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
and Harlem
, New York City. The video begins with Lavigne running down a street and entering a cinema, where she finds the film playing is a montage of her memories concerning a specific relationship she had. At first, the memories (shown in full color) are happy, depicting Lavigne at the park with her boyfriend, as he hands her a flower and they laugh together. They are also shown goofing off inside a laundromat. However, as Lavigne sings "so much for my happy ending", the memories start to lose color. Lavigne and her boyfriend lie in bed together, as she looks at him and he (obviously reeling from a disagreement) stares blankly away. The relationship culminates during the song's bridge
inside a grocery store, where the boyfriend antagonizes Lavigne, insisting that he talk to her. He grabs her and tries to pull her into his embrace. Fed up, Lavigne turns and pushes him away. She proceeds to run out of the grocery store and down the street (from the beginning of the video), and to a guitar shop where she grabs a guitar and walks to the roof of the building. There, she walks past the unapologetic boyfriend without looking at him. The theater film tears and the memories end, leaving the final seconds of the video as a close-up on Lavigne in the theater as she tries to decide if the break-up is happy after all. In the end, three other girls leave with Lavigne who know about the breakup as they watch from the reastaurant.
Lavigne said of the video: "It's about a relationship that doesn't work out, and having to say goodbye to all of the memories and... all that stuff." When asked if the video for "My Happy Ending" actually contains a happy ending, Lavigne said: "I don't know if the video has a happy ending. It kind of depends on how you look at it? In one way, it is because me and 'the guy' in the video aren't together anymore, and I think that's a better thing."
magazine commented "Lavigne herself sounds more burdened; ... the sk8erboi of the first album has turned out to be a selfish, nasty creep who ... treats her like crap". Allmusic highlighted the song as a "track pick" in a review of the album, Under My Skin.
In an AOL Radio
listener's poll, "My Happy Ending" was voted Lavigne's third best song.
.
The song was used in a season five episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
, "Mea culpa
" (November 25, 2004), in a season four episode of Smallville
, "Facade" (October 6, 2004) and in a season five episode of Gilmore Girls
, with Dean's little sister listening to it. The song has also appeared in video games, and has been featured in three major karaoke series: Lips
, SingStar
, and Karaoke Revolution
.
Lavigne sang the song during the closing ceremony at the 2010 Winter Olympics
and it was used in trailer of "A Lot Like Love" with Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet in 2005
(BVCP-29613; Released July 7, 2004)
UK CD single 1 / French single
UK CD single 2
Germany, Italy, and Taiwan CD single
Australia CD single
US CD promo
UK CD promo
The radio version of the song replaces the word "shit" with "stuff"; while in the music video, the word "shit" is simply censored by removing the "it" portion of the word.
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...
and Butch Walker
Butch Walker
Butch Walker is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.-Career:Walker grew up in Cartersville,...
, and engineered by Russ T. Cobb for Lavigne's second album, Under My Skin (2004). It was released as the album's second internationally released single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 2004 and became Lavigne's fourth most successful single. It peaked higher than "Don't Tell Me
Don't Tell Me (Avril Lavigne song)
"Don't Tell Me" is a song by Canadian recording artist Avril Lavigne. It is the first single from her second studio album, Under My Skin. "Don't Tell Me" was written by Lavigne and Evan Taubenfeld...
", the album's first single. In the United Kingdom, it reached the top five; in the United States, it peaked at number nine (staying in #9 for 4 weeks), doing better in Mexico where it peaked at number 1. Structurally, the song is written in 4/4
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
style and has a repeated hook in both the chorus and in the intro and outro.
The RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
certified "My Happy Ending" platinum in January 2005, making it Lavigne's second platinum single after "I'm With You" (2002).
Music video
The music video for "My Happy Ending" was written and directed by MTV and Grammy winner Meiert AvisMeiert Avis
Meiert Avis is an Irish music video and commercial director. Avis has directed videos for artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Avril Lavigne, Jennifer Lopez, New Found Glory and Josh Groban amongst many others....
. It was shot on location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
and Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York City. The video begins with Lavigne running down a street and entering a cinema, where she finds the film playing is a montage of her memories concerning a specific relationship she had. At first, the memories (shown in full color) are happy, depicting Lavigne at the park with her boyfriend, as he hands her a flower and they laugh together. They are also shown goofing off inside a laundromat. However, as Lavigne sings "so much for my happy ending", the memories start to lose color. Lavigne and her boyfriend lie in bed together, as she looks at him and he (obviously reeling from a disagreement) stares blankly away. The relationship culminates during the song's bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
inside a grocery store, where the boyfriend antagonizes Lavigne, insisting that he talk to her. He grabs her and tries to pull her into his embrace. Fed up, Lavigne turns and pushes him away. She proceeds to run out of the grocery store and down the street (from the beginning of the video), and to a guitar shop where she grabs a guitar and walks to the roof of the building. There, she walks past the unapologetic boyfriend without looking at him. The theater film tears and the memories end, leaving the final seconds of the video as a close-up on Lavigne in the theater as she tries to decide if the break-up is happy after all. In the end, three other girls leave with Lavigne who know about the breakup as they watch from the reastaurant.
Lavigne said of the video: "It's about a relationship that doesn't work out, and having to say goodbye to all of the memories and... all that stuff." When asked if the video for "My Happy Ending" actually contains a happy ending, Lavigne said: "I don't know if the video has a happy ending. It kind of depends on how you look at it? In one way, it is because me and 'the guy' in the video aren't together anymore, and I think that's a better thing."
Critical reception
David Browne of Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment 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...
magazine commented "Lavigne herself sounds more burdened; ... the sk8erboi of the first album has turned out to be a selfish, nasty creep who ... treats her like crap". Allmusic highlighted the song as a "track pick" in a review of the album, Under My Skin.
In an AOL Radio
AOL Radio
AOL Radio powered by Slacker, , is an online radio service available only in the United States.- Roots :...
listener's poll, "My Happy Ending" was voted Lavigne's third best song.
In visual media
"My Happy Ending" was used for the movie Bring It On: All or NothingBring It On: All or Nothing
Bring It On: All or Nothing is the third installment in the Bring it On series of films that revolves around high school cheerleading. Directed by Steve Rash, the movie was released direct-to-DVD on August 8, 2006 by Universal Pictures....
.
The song was used in a season five episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, "Mea culpa
Mea Culpa
Mea culpa is a Latin phrase that translates into English as "my mistake" or "my fault". To emphasize the message, the adjective "maxima" may be inserted, resulting in "mea maxima culpa," which would translate as "my most [grievous] fault."...
" (November 25, 2004), in a season four episode of Smallville
Smallville (TV series)
Smallville is an American television series developed by writers/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on the DC Comics character Superman, originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The television series was initially broadcast by The WB Television Network , premiering on October...
, "Facade" (October 6, 2004) and in a season five episode of Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
, with Dean's little sister listening to it. The song has also appeared in video games, and has been featured in three major karaoke series: Lips
Lips (video game)
Lips is a video game for the Xbox 360. Lips was developed by iNiS and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The game features the use of motion sensitive wireless microphones and supports the use of songs already owned through a Zune or iPod. The game was released on November 18, 2008 in North...
, SingStar
SingStar
SingStar is a competitive music video game series for PlayStation consoles, developed by London Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. 23 English-language instalments of the series have been released for the PlayStation 2, and six versions for the PlayStation 3 have been released...
, and Karaoke Revolution
Karaoke Revolution
Karaoke Revolution and its many sequels are video games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360, developed by Harmonix Music Systems and Blitz Games and published by Konami in its Bemani line of music games. The Original Concept for Karaoke Revolution was...
.
Lavigne sang the song during the closing ceremony at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
and it was used in trailer of "A Lot Like Love" with Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet in 2005
Track listing
Japan CD(BVCP-29613; Released July 7, 2004)
- "My Happy Ending" (radio version)
- "My Happy Ending" (album version)
- "Don't Tell Me" (live acoustic version)
UK CD single 1 / French single
- "My Happy Ending" (album version)
- "Take It" (previously unreleased)
UK CD single 2
- "My Happy Ending"
- "My Happy Ending" (live acoustic version)
- "Take Me Away" (live acoustic version)
- "My Happy Ending" (music video)
Germany, Italy, and Taiwan CD single
- "My Happy Ending" (album version)
- "My Happy Ending" (live acoustic version)
- "Take Me Away" (live acoustic version)
- "Take It" (previously unreleased)
- "My Happy Ending" (music video)
Australia CD single
- "My Happy Ending" (clean version)
- "My Happy Ending" (live acoustic version)
- "Take Me Away" (live acoustic version)
- "Take It" (previously unreleased)
US CD promo
- "My Happy Ending" (radio version) - 4:02
- "My Happy Ending" (album version) - 4:02
- "My Happy Ending" (Callout Hook) - 0:10
UK CD promo
- "My Happy Ending" (album version) [explicit]
- "My Happy Ending" (radio edit) [clean]
The radio version of the song replaces the word "shit" with "stuff"; while in the music video, the word "shit" is simply censored by removing the "it" portion of the word.
Charts
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... ) |
11 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
Gold |
| Brazil Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos The Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos is an official representative body of the record labels in the Brazilian phonographic market.- About :... |
Platinum |
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 62 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 45 |
| Sweden Singles Chart | 66 |
| UK Singles Chart | 106 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 54 |
Awards
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Imperio Music Awards | Video of the Year | |
| 2005 | Socan Awards | Pop Music Award | |
| Canadian Radio Music Awards | Fan Choice Award | ||
| 2006 | BMI Awards | Best Pop Song | |
Release history
| Country | Date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | BMG Japan | CD single CD single A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s... |
|
| Australia | Arista | ||
| Germany | |||
| United Kingdom | |||
| France | |||