Fake as Hell

"Fake as Hell"
Single by All Time Low and Avril Lavigne
ReleasedSeptember 14, 2023 (2023-09-14)
GenrePop punk
Length3:00
LabelFueled by Ramen
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Zakk Cervini
All Time Low singles chronology
"Calm Down"
(2023) 		"Fake as Hell"
(2023) 		"Hate This Song"
(2024)
Avril Lavigne singles chronology
"I'm a Mess"
(2022) 		"Fake as Hell"
(2023) 		"Can You Die from a Broken Heart"
(2024)
Audio
"Fake As Hell (with Avril Lavigne)" on YouTube

"Fake as Hell" is a song by American band All Time Low and Canadian singer Avril Lavigne, released on September 14, 2023. The song was released as a standalone single following the band's 2023 album, Tell Me I'm Alive.

Background

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Prior to their collaboration, All Time Low and Avril Lavigne had already joined forces in 2022 when they performed a cover of Blink-182's "All The Small Things" during their set at the When We Were Young festival.[1][2] A year subsequent to their initial collaboration, All Time Low and Avril Lavigne forged their second collaborative effort with the release of the single "Fake As Hell".[3] The song was written by Andrew Goldstein, Alex Gaskarth, Avril Lavigne, Jack Barakat, and Zakk Cervini with Cervini also serving as the producer.[4] It was released on September 14, 2023, on digital and streaming platforms through Fueled by Ramen.[5]

Composition and themes

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"Fake As Hell" is a pop punk track that delves into the emotional landscape of a breakup and its aftermath.[6][7] According to All Time Low's frontman, Alex Gaskarth, the song revolves around the theme of "recognizing what's real and saying goodbye to what's not".[8] Gaskarth describes it as an anthem about cutting ties with people and things that hinder personal progress, symbolizing a departure from the past and a fresh perspective on the future. In his words, "It's a wave goodbye to whatever's in the rear-view mirror and a new perspective on the road ahead".[8] The lyrics convey a symbolic departure from the past and an optimistic embrace of a new journey ahead.[6]

Critical reception

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"Fake As Hell" was received positively upon release by critics; with Mary Varvaris of The Music describing the song as " a three-minute pop-punk anthem about “recognizing what’s real and saying goodbye to what’s not".[9] Alternative Press' Andrew Sacher praised the song, calling it an "aughts-era pop-punk sugar rush you’d expect from a collaboration like this one".[10] Cillea Houghton of American Songwriter, praised the artists' vocal performance in the song by calling them "strong voices that were made for each other, making for a natural collaboration".[6]

Live performances

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The debut live performance of "Fake As Hell" took place on October 22, 2023, during All Time Low's set at the When We Were Young festival.[11] The band showcased the song in a medley alongside Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi".[12] All Time Low also opened for the first part of the North American leg of Lavigne's Greatest Hits Tour in May and June 2024, where the song was performed together during her set.[13]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Fake As Hell"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[14] 44
Belarus Airplay (TopHit)[15] 144
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[16] 50
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[17] 52
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[18] 29
US Alternative Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19] 7
US Rock Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[20] 10

References

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  1. ^ Rogers, Jack (October 24, 2022). "Watch Avril Lavigne & All Time Low Cover blink-182's 'All The Small Things'". Rock Sound. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (October 24, 2022). "Watch Avril Lavigne & All Time Low Cover Blink-182's "All The Small Things" At When We Were Young". Stereogum. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. ^ "All Time Low and Avril Lavigne Team Up For "Fake As Hell"". Illustrate Magazine. September 19, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  4. ^ "All Time Low & Avril Lavigne release new collaborative single, "Fake As Hell"". ABC. September 15, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  5. ^ "All Time Low & Avril Lavigne release new collaborative single, "Fake As Hell"". Alt Az. September 15, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Houghton, Cillea (September 15, 2023). "All Time Low and Avril Lavigne Are "Fake As Hell" in New Song". American Songwriter. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  7. ^ Johnson, Laura (September 15, 2023). "All Time Low And Avril Lavigne Team Up For New Single Fake As Hell". Stereo Board. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "All Time Low and Avril Lavigne join forces for new single Fake As Hell". Kerrang. September 15, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  9. ^ Varvaris, Mary (September 16, 2023). "All Time Low Drop New Single 'Fake As Hell' Ft. Avril Lavigne". The Music. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  10. ^ Sacher, Andrew (September 15, 2023). "All Time Low and Avril Lavigne team up for new song "Fake As Hell"". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  11. ^ Rizzo, Carita (October 23, 2023). "Watch Avril Lavigne Perform 'Sk8er Boi' With All Time Low at When We Were Young Festival". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  12. ^ Bucksbaum, Sydney (October 22, 2023). "Watch Avril Lavigne sing 'Sk8er Boi' with All Time Low in surprise return to When We Were Young". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  13. ^ Alternative Press Magazine (May 23, 2024). "See the setlist from the first night of Avril Lavigne's Greatest Hits tour". Kerrang!. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 25 September 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1751. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 25, 2023. p. 9.
  15. ^ "Fake As Hell – All Time Low & Avril Lavigne - TopHit - Highway To Airplay". TopHit. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart". Official Charts Company. September 22, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. September 22, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  18. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Charton". Official Charts Company. September 22, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  19. ^ "All Time Low Chart History (Alternative Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  20. ^ "All Time Low Chart History (Rock Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
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