He Wasn't

Infobox Single
Name = He Wasn't


Caption =
Artist = Avril Lavigne
from Album = Under My Skin
A-side =
B-side =
Released = March 28, 2005 (U.K.)
Format = CD single
Recorded =
Genre = Pop punk
Length = 3:00
Label = Arista
Writer = Avril Lavigne, Chantal Kreviazuk
Producer = Avril Lavigne, Chantal Kreviazuk
Certification =
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = Avril Lavigne
Type = Canada singles
Last single = "Nobody's Home" (2004)
This single = "He Wasn't" (2005)
Next single = "Fall to Pieces" (2005)Extra chronology
Artist = Avril Lavigne
Type = Australia singles
Last single = "Nobody's Home" (2005)
This single = "He Wasn't" (2005)
Next single = "Take Me Away" (2005)Extra chronology
Artist = Avril Lavigne
Type = UK singles
Last single = "Nobody's Home" (2004)
This single = "He Wasn't" (2005)
Next single = "Girlfriend" (2007)

"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 the fourth single. 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. The song has been criticized because of its lyrical content, but was praised for its hard-edged sound.

Track listing

;Australia
# "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)

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 fairy), 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. Avril then rebells 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 performing the splits.

ong meaning

"He Wasn't" is about an unsuccessful relationship between Avril and another guy. The song is a fast, up-beat catchy take on the guy "not being good enough" and how he never made her "feel like she was special." So now she is bored and alone. She says "There's not much going on today", and other similar phrases. On a document of making "My Happy Ending", the song was playing in the background, and Avril jokes, "'He wasn't what I wanted'...is there a theme on my record?"

Chart positions

"He Wasn't" wasn't released in the U.S. 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, and the European chart, where it only reached #112. However, "He Wasn't" was successful, becomming a top 5 hit in Taiwan and Belgium, a top 10 Hit in Japan, and a #1 hit in Brazil. The song also reached #18 on the world chart despite not having a full global release.

References