What the Hell
"What the Hell" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne from her fourth studio album, Goodbye Lullaby (2011). It was released on 10 January 2011 by RCA Records as the lead single from the album. The song was produced by Max Martin and Shellback, who co-wrote the song with Lavigne. According to Lavigne, she wrote the song as her "personal message for freedom".
For other uses, see What the Hell (disambiguation)."What the Hell"
Upon its release, "What the Hell" received positive reviews from music critics with many complimenting its catchiness and comparing it to her 2007 single "Girlfriend". The song was successful, reaching number one in Japan, the top five in Asia, the top ten in Europe, Australia, South America, Mexico, Canada, and the top 20 in the US and the UK.
An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Marcus Raboy and premiered on 23 January. "What the Hell" was performed by Lavigne on several television programs such as Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, Daybreak, The View, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and on the Much Music Video Awards, America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent. Additionally, she added the song to the setlist of the Black Star Tour (2011).
Background[edit]
"What the Hell" is written by Lavigne, Max Martin, and Shellback, while the latter two produced the song. It was recorded at Maratone Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. This is the second song these three have written together, the first one being Miranda Cosgrove's "Dancing Crazy". In November 2010, Lavigne announced via a blog on her official website that her fourth album, Goodbye Lullaby, had been completed for a year and cited her record company as the reason for the album's delays. She revealed in the blog that "What the Hell" would be the first single from the album.[1] The song was premiered on 31 December 2010 on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve[2] during a pre-taped segment along with a performance of "Girlfriend".[3] Lavigne described "What the Hell" as "a really fun, upbeat party song, so it worked out really well to play it for the first time on New Year's Rockin' Eve."[4] The following day, "What the Hell" was available as a free download for 48 hours from Lavigne's official Facebook page.[5]
Composition[edit]
"What the Hell" has been described as "bubblegum pop-punk"[6] and synthpop song.[7][8] The song has been compared to previous Lavigne's single, "Girlfriend" (2007). It is written in the verse–pre-chorus–chorus form. The track opens with its characteristically "retro keyboard riff" and hand-claps.[9] The inclusion of the keyboard has drawn comparisons to the garage rock genre and the band The Hives.[9][10] The song also features guitars during the chorus.[9] The song is performed in the key of A major[11] at a tempo of 150 beats per minute. Avril Lavigne's vocals span from F#3 to F#5.
Although Lavigne simply described the song as "a broad message about personal freedom",[1] critics have interpreted it in various ways. Gil Kaufman of MTV.com suggested that it is a "declaration of independence from a former teen star who is storming back onto the scene". Kaufman proposed Lavigne's public divorce from Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley, along with friction between her and her record company, as possible themes.[9] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone magazine called the song "an anthem about a good girl... staying out late, swapping boys and exacting psychological revenge."[10] Heather McDaid of Stereoboard.com was critical of the song's theme being about Whibley: "with such an upbeat song it's hard to envisage divorce as the underlying subject matter as you listen."[12] Holly Thomas of Frost Magazine suggested Lavigne was "starved of affection from the one she truly loves."[13] Lavigne described the song as "more reminiscent of some of my old pop rock stuff",[3] calling it her "most pop track on the record" and the least personal song from the album.[1]
Live performances[edit]
Lavigne performed the song live several times. The first performance was on the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on 31 December 2010/1 January 2011.[2] She performed it on Daybreak (UK) on 15 February 2011; on T4, BBC Radio 1, The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, at Walmart Soundcheck, and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 14 March 2011; and on Sunrise on 31 March 2011, and on the Canadian premiation Much Music Video Awards on 19 June.[31] On 1 June 2011, Lavigne performed the song on the fifth season of Britain's Got Talent as a medley with "Smile".
Credits adapted from What the Hell CD single liner notes.[37]