Jump to content

Head Above Water (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by SAC Gelm (talk | contribs) at 17:40, 23 May 2019 (Undid revision 898409242 by 68.203.168.246 (talk)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Head Above Water
Studio album by
Avril Lavigne
ReleasedFebruary 15, 2019 (2019-02-15)[1]
GenrePop rock[2][3]
Length41:47
LabelBMG
Producer
  • Avril Lavigne
  • Stephan Moccio
  • Johan Carlsson
  • Jon Levine
  • JR Rotem
  • Mitch Allan
  • Chris Baseford
Avril Lavigne chronology
Avril Lavigne
(2013) 		Head Above Water
(2019)
Singles from Head Above Water
  1. "Head Above Water"
    Released: September 19, 2018

Head Above Water is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer Avril Lavigne. It was released on February 15, 2019, through BMG Rights Management.[4] It is Lavigne's first studio release since her self-titled fifth studio album (2013), marking the longest gap between two of her studio albums.[1] Lavigne 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.[5]

The album draws inspiration from Lavigne's battle with Lyme disease, with her describing the album as an "emotional journey".[6] The song "Head Above Water" 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 and "Dumb Blonde" as the third single the week of the album's release, a collaboration with rapper Nicki Minaj. The album became her sixth consecutive album to chart in the top five of Lavigne's home country, Canada.

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".[5] The songs on the album are inspired by her battle with Lyme disease.[5] 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."[6] 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."[9] 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.[10] On August 18, 2018, Lavigne posted on her social media: "Exciting things coming" and "prepping for my video shoot".[11] 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".[12] On December 7, the singer revealed that the name of the album as Head Above Water and the tracklist.[13] Along with revealing the album title, Lavigne also unveiled the cover artwork.[14] The front cover shows her nude sitting in a pool of water holding an acoustic guitar close to her body.[13]

Singles

The song "Head Above Water" serves as the album's lead single.[15] It was released on September 19, 2018, and impacted hot adult contemporary radio and Christian radio on October 8, 2018.[16][17] The song was described as "a powerful, spiritual epiphany detailing the Canadian singer's journey through her battle with Lyme disease."[18]

"Tell Me It's Over" was announced as the first promotional single from the album on December 5, 2018, and was released the following December 12, with the album's pre-order.[19]

"Dumb Blonde" was released as the second promotional single from the album on February 12, 2019. The song features rapper Nicki Minaj.[20]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic55/100[21]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[22]
Clash7/10[23]
Exclaim!6/10[24]
The Guardian[25]
Idolator3.5/5[26]
The Independent[27]
NME[28]
Punknews[29]
Pitchfork5.5/10[30]
Rolling Stone[31]

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".

Commercial performance

In the United States the album debuted at number 13 on Billboard 200, selling 28,000 units on its first week, making it Lavigne's first album to not enter on the top ten on the first-week release. It also became the lowest-entrance 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. 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 sold 25,229 copies in its opening week, debuting at #17 on the oricon charts. The following week, another 9,500 copies were sold.

Track listing

Credits adapted from Amazon.com and iTunes Store meta data.[32][33]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Head Above Water"
3:40
2."Birdie"
  • Rotem
  • Baseford
3:35
3."I Fell in Love with the Devil"Lavigne
  • Lavigne
  • Baseford
4:15
4."Tell Me It's Over"
  • Carlsson
  • Noah "Mailbox" Passovoy[b]
3:09
5."Dumb Blonde" (featuring Nicki Minaj)
3:34
6."It Was in Me"
  • Carlsson
  • Christy[b]
3:43
7."Souvenir"
  • Lavigne
  • Christy
2:57
8."Crush"
  • Lavigne
  • Zane Carney
  • Carlsson
  • Carlsson
  • Passovoy[b]
3:33
9."Goddess"
Carlsson3:41
10."Bigger Wow"
  • Lavigne
  • Christy
  • Levine
  • Levine
  • Christy
2:55
11."Love Me Insane"
  • Lavigne
  • Christy
  • Levine
  • Christy
3:00
12."Warrior"
  • Lavigne
  • Clark
  • Kroeger
Lavigne3:45
Total length:41:47
Physical editions
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
5."Dumb Blonde"
  • Lavigne
  • Allan
  • McKee
3:09
Japan bonus track[34]
No.TitleLength
13."Head Above Water" (featuring Travis Clark from We the Kings)3:40

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[b] signifies a vocal producer
  • "Dumb Blonde" does not feature Nicki Minaj on physical releases.

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[35] 9
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[36] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[37] 12
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[38] 25
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[39] 5
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[40] 11
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[41] 18
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[42] 41
French Albums (SNEP)[43] 34
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[44] 3
Irish Albums (IRMA)[45] 25
Italian Albums (FIMI)[46] 6
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[47] 7
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[48] 3
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[49] 21
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[50] 31
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[51] 11
Scottish Albums (OCC)[52] 8
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)[53] 35
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[54] 18
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[55] 4
UK Albums (OCC)[56] 10
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[57] 1
US Billboard 200[58] 13
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[59] 1

References

  1. ^ a b "Avril Lavigne Reveals New Album Details With Ellen K". Spreaker. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  2. ^ Lozowska, Marianna (February 27, 2019). "Review: Avril Lavigne's Head Above Water sinks expectations". Now Magazine. Canada: Now Communications. Retrieved February 28, 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Levine, Nick (February 8, 2019). "Avril Lavigne – 'Head Above Water' review". NME. Retrieved March 28, 2019. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ "Avril Lavigne Says the Night She 'Accepted' She Was Dying Inspired Her New Album". Entertainment Tonight. September 20, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "About". Avril Lavigne. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Avril Lavigne on Twitter". January 21, 2018 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Instagram post by avrillavigne". December 25, 2016.
  8. ^ "Instagram post by avrillavigne". March 1, 2017.
  9. ^ "Twitter post by avrillavigne". February 7, 2018.
  10. ^ "Instagram post by Avril Lavigne". July 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "Avril Lavigne Hints New Music Could Be Coming Soon: 'Prepping for Video Shoot'". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Avril Lavigne".
  13. ^ a b Thiessen, Brock (December 7, 2018). "Here's Avril Lavigne's Very Naked Album Cover for 'Head Above Water'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Hannan, Devon (December 7, 2018). "Here's Avril Lavigne Shares Tracklist, Cover Art For Head Above Water". altpress. Archived from the original on December 8, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Avril Lavigne announces highly-anticipated new single 'Head Above Water' in letter to fans". BMG. September 6, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  16. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; September 18, 2018 suggested (help)
  17. ^ "Avril Lavigne - Head Above water - Daily Play MPE®". Daily Play MPE®. October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  18. ^ Pedrosa, Marina. "Avril Lavigne Makes Powerful Comeback With Emotional Single 'Head Above Water': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  19. ^ Nied, Mike (December 7, 2018). "Avril Lavigne Reveals The Cover & Tracklist Of 'Head Above Water'". Idolator. Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Avril Lavigne & Nicki Minaj Drop Fiery Collaboration 'Dumb Blonde': Listen". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Critic Reviews for Head Above Water - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  22. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Head Above Water - Avril Lavigne | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  23. ^ Padin, Malvika (February 15, 2019). "Avril Lavigne - Head Above Water". Clash Music. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  24. ^ Gormely, Ian (February 12, 2019). "Avril Lavigne Head Above Water". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  25. ^ Petridis, Alexis (February 14, 2019). "Avril Lavigne: Head Above Water review – Sk8er girl on thin ice | Alexis Petridis's album of the week". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  26. ^ Nied, Mike (February 17, 2019). "Album Review: Avril Lavigne's 'Head Above Water'". Idolator. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  27. ^ Pollard, Alexandra (February 14, 2019). "Avril Lavigne searches for her sound on Head Above Water – review". The Independent. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  28. ^ Levine, Nick (February 8, 2019). "Avril Lavigne – 'Head Above Water' review". NME. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  29. ^ MattStaff (February 10, 2019). "Avril Lavigne Head Above Water (2019) BMG". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  30. ^ Gordon, Arielle (February 19, 2019). "Avril Lavigne: Head Above Water Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  31. ^ Browne, David (February 15, 2019). "Review: Avril Lavigne Goes the Breakup-Album Route on 'Head Above Water'". Rolling Stone.
  32. ^ "Head Above Water by Avril Lavigne". Amazon. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  33. ^ "Head Above Water by Avril Lavigne". iTunes Store. United States. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  34. ^ "Head Above Water [Blu-spec CD2] [Regular Edition] [Japan Bonus Track] by Avril Lavigne". CDJapan. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  35. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  36. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  37. ^ "Ultratop.be – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  38. ^ "Ultratop.be – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  39. ^ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  40. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 08.Týden 2019 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  41. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  42. ^ "Avril Lavigne: Head Above Water" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  43. ^ "Lescharts.com – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  44. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  45. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 22 February 2019". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  46. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  47. ^ 25, 2019/ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: February 25, 2019" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  48. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2019/02/25 付け". Billboard Japan. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  49. ^ "Charts.nz – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  50. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  51. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  52. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  53. ^ "Slovak Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Retrieved 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.
  54. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  55. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  56. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  57. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  58. ^ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  59. ^ "Avril Lavigne Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Head_Above_Water_(album)&oldid=898454328"