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"Rock N Roll" is a song by Canadian recording artist Avril Lavigne. It was released as the second single from her self-titled fifth studio album by Epic Records on August 23, 2013. The song was written by Avril Lavigne, David Hodges, Chad Kroeger, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Rickard B. Göransson and Peter Svensson. It was produced by Svensson and Martin Johnson.

Background and release[]

"Rock N Roll" was produced by Martin Johnson and Svensson.  Lavigne released the full song on to her official YouTube channel on 18 July 2013.

Lavigne announced via Twitter that "Rock N Roll" would be digitally released on 30 July 2013, but later announced on the day that it had been pushed back and would be released to coincide with the song's music video. The date was later confirmed to be 27 August in a teaser for the music video.

"Rock N Roll" peaked at No. 3 on the official Billboard Hot 100 Single Sales chart. The single also debuted at No. 2 in South Korea with sales over 26,000; in the next week it took over the No. 1 spot with over 23 000 downloads sold. In Japan "Rock N Roll" peaked at No. 26 on the Oricon Daily List and peaked at No. 48 on the Oricon Weekly List with physical sales of 1,405 copies. The single fell to No. 97 in its second week with sales of 538 copies.

Music video[]

Background and release[]

On 25 July 2013, Lavigne began shooting the music video for the song, directed by Chris Marrs Piliero. It features actress Danica McKellar, Billy Zane, and Sid Wilson of the band Slipknot. Four teaser videos were released on August 13, 16, 18 and 19 August 2013 respectively, followed by the full video on August 20, 2013.

Synopsis[]

The Tank Girl-influenced music video opens with a promo for Sony Xperia which includes a reference to one of Lavigne's earliest hits "Sk8er Boi" during which the singer recites a few of the song's lyrics on the phone. As she hangs up, the phone screen shows the opening scene of the storyline, where Lavigne is dressed in army wear, dancing in front of a diner and a vehicle. The theme of the video revolves around the singer and her crew taking on the mission of "Saving Rock N Roll."

An attack by bear and shark crossbreed hybrids called the "Bearsharks" threatens the existence of Rock N Roll. The Bearshark kills off the character Billy Zane portrays. In a diner, Lavigne is on a date with her girlfriend. She shreds the waitress's outfit to make her look hotter, then she notices the Bearshark in disguised form and fights him. He throws a baby at her but she tosses the baby away. The Bearshark gets away after scaring Avril and her crew with a lobster. After defeating the lobster, the singer, her girlfriend and their dog follow the Bearshark. During the car chase, the drunken dog crashes into a tree, dying. After a dialogue between Avril and her girlfriend, they mourn the dog, agree that it will all be alright and then kiss, followed by a brief monologue from Lavigne talking about the former.

During the dog's funeral, Lavigne unlocks a magical guitar from his casket, which she plays the song's guitar hook within the front yard of a church (which is inspired in the Guns n Roses Music Video, "November Rain", where Slash appears doing a solo with his guitar in the front of a church), then she uses it to slay the Bearshark, who finally appears in his real form. After her victory, Lavigne gets a thumb up from Billy Zane, who flies off into the sky on a Segway. She smiles and raises her guitar into the sky. The picture turns into a drawing and the credits roll.

Lyric video[]

A lyric video for "Rock N Roll", featuring fan-made videos submitted through Instagram, was released onto Lavigne's official Vevo account on 12 August 2013. Irish duo, Jedward, make a cameo in the lyric video.

Critical reception[]

"Rock N Roll" received generally positive reviews from music critics. B30 Music Reviews lauded the song, calling it "pretty spectacular". B30 stated that the "pure gratitude" track "tears it apart on production value", however stated that the song was slightly similar to her previous single "Here's to Never Growing Up". Israel Defeo of Jam n Bop reacted positively to the song, saying the chorus was "full of attitude", comparing it to her 2007 single "Girlfriend", and praised the song's guitar solo. Defeo stated "everything about the single is golden except its lyrical content", noting the song's theme was redundant due to its similarity to her preceding single. Direct Lyrics gave a positive review, stating the song "rocks" and should have been picked as the album's lead single. Direct went on to praise the song's "epic production, cheeky lyrics" and "catchy melody", favorably comparing to her 2002 single "Sk8er Boi", however, noted the song's potential lack of radio appeal.

Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush gave the song 2 and a half out of 5 stars. Sciarretto called the song "overly enunciated" and "standard issue Avril", however, praised the guitar solo which provided a "tougher timbre" and compared the song to Weezer's "Beverly Hills". Sciarretto concluded her review by stating Lavigne's fans would "love" the song however that it likely wouldn't bring her any new fans.

Track listing[]

Digital download[]

  1. "Rock N Roll" - 3:26

CD single (Walmart exclusive)[]

  1. "Rock N Roll" - 3:26
  2. "Rock N Roll" (Instrumental) - 3:27

Credits and personnel[]

  • Songwriting – Avril Lavigne, Chad Kroeger, David Hodges, Peter Svensson, Rickard B Göransson, Jacob Kasher Hindlin
  • Production – Peter Svensson, Martin Johnson, additional by Kyle Moorman and Brandon Paddock
  • Mixing – Serban Ghenea
  • Engineering – Kyle Moorman, Brandon Paddock

Lyrics[]

Explicit version[]

Let 'em know that we're still rock n roll

I don't care about my make-up
I like it better with my jeans all ripped up
Don't know how to keep my mouth shut
You say, "So what (what)?"

I don't care if I'm a misfit
I like it better than the hipster bullshit
I am the motherfuckin' princess
You still love me

Some-somehow
It's a little different when
I'm with you
You know what I really am
All about
You know how it really goes
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
Some some way
We'll be getting out of this
Town one day
You're the only one that I
Want with me
You know how the story goes
Oh, oh, oh

When it's you and me
We don't need no one to tell us who to be
We'll keep turning up the radio
What if you and I
Just put up a middle finger to the sky
Let 'em know that we're still rock 'n roll

Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey
Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey

Call it a bad attitude dude
I'm never gonna cover up that tattoo
I might have a couple issues
You say, "Me too." (yeah)
Don't care about a reputation
Must be living in the wrong generation
This is your invitation
Let's get wasted

Some-somehow
It's a little different when
I'm with you
You know what I really am
All about
You know how the story goes
Oh, oh, oh

When it's you and me
We don't need no one to tell us who to be
We'll keep turning up the radio
What if you and I
Just put up a middle finger to the sky
Let 'em know that we're still rock 'n roll

Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey
Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey
Rock 'n roll, yeah

Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah

When it's you and me
We don't need no one to tell us who to be
We'll keep turning up the radio

What if you and I
Just put up a middle finger to the sky
Let 'em know that we're still rock 'n roll

When it's you and me
We don't need no one to tell us who to be
We'll keep turning up the radio

What if you and I
Just put up a middle finger to the sky
Let 'em know that we're still rock 'n roll

Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey
Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey

Radio edit[]

Let 'em know that we're still rock n roll

I don't care about my make-up
I like it better with my jeans all ripped up
Don't know how to keep my mouth shut
You say, "So what (what)?"

I don't care if I'm a misfit
I like it better and the hipsters know it
I am the one and only princess
You still love me

Some-somehow
It's a little different when
I'm with you
You know what I really am
All about
You know how it really goes
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah
Some some way
We'll be getting out of this
Town one day
You're the only one that I
Want with me
You know how the story goes
Oh, oh, oh

When it's you and me
We don't need no one to tell us who to be
We'll keep turning up the radio
What if you and I
Just put up both of our hands up to the sky
Let 'em know that we're still rock 'n roll

Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey
Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey

Call it a bad attitude dude
It's just a finger, didn't mean to point it at you
I might have a couple issues
You say, "Me too." (yeah)
Don't care about a reputation
Must be living in the wrong generation
This is your invitation
Just don't waste it

Some-somehow
It's a little different when
I'm with you
You know what I really am
All about
You know how the story goes
Oh, oh, oh

When it's you and me
We don't need no one to tell us who to be
We'll keep turning up the radio
What if you and I
Just put up both of our hands up to the sky
Let 'em know that we're still rock 'n roll

Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey
Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey
Rock 'n roll, yeah

Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah

When it's you and me
We don't need no one to tell us who to be
We'll keep turning up the radio

What if you and I
Just put up both of our hands up to the sky
Let 'em know that we're still rock 'n roll

When it's you and me
We don't need no one to tell us who to be
We'll keep turning up the radio

What if you and I
Just put up both of our hands up to the sky
Let 'em know that we're still rock 'n roll

Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey
Rock 'n roll
Hey hey hey

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

In the censored/Radio Disney version, the lyrics "I like it better and the hipsters know it" are sometimes misheard as "I like it better and the hipsters don't win".

Navigation[]

Avril Lavigne
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  • "Here's to Never Growing Up"
  • "How You Remind Me"
  • "Hush Hush"
  • "Let Me Go"
  • "Rock N Roll"
  • "Sippin' on Sunshine"
  • "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet"
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