Both were chosen as second singles from Avril's fourth and fifth albums respectively, and I recently rediscovered them, in fact "Smile" was the song that got me into Avril back when I was like thirteen. Both songs represent her punk essence and are hella catchy how come they flopped so bad managing to ruin her eras altogether? 

 

PS: The RnR video is trash but the song was a complete return to form at least musically, specially in comparision to HTNGU.

 

 

 

 

well they're bad for one

Avril's been flopping since 2007 so no surprises here.

For smile people were exhausted of bratty Avril at that point. She promised a more mature artistic approach yet we got girl friend sequels. I honestly believe Goodbye Lullaby would've done better if the correct singles were chosen. 
 

As for Rock N Roll, Avril was just passed her prime at that point & again her overall image was ruin. People just moved on to bigger pop stars. 

i love these songs too! i guess it just wasnt "current" enough compared to other songs that were smashing at the time. in 2011 songs like super bass, last friday night, ET & born this way were smashing and they were all either pure bubblegum pop or electro pop and i guess smile was too rocky to compare?

2013 was also the year of EDM inspired or hip hop inspired pop, even taylor had her go with some edm inspired songs like ikwt and miley was smashing with hip hop influenced pop tracks like we cant stop and 23. katy had dark horse too. i think avril was just a little too behind the curve

Idk but they are two of the only singles I've liked from her since UMS.

1 minute ago, Appletree said:

For smile people were exhausted of bratty Avril at that point. She promised a more mature artistic approach yet we got girl friend sequels. I honestly believe Goodbye Lullaby would've done better if the correct singles were chosen. 
 

As for Rock N Roll, Avril was just passed her prime at that point & again her overall image was ruin. People just moved on to bigger pop stars. 

When it comes to GL I feel like it was really hard to choose singles from that album, only smile and WYWH had potential in fact, the latter debuted on the hot 100 in the album release week but later it stalled in the hot 100 after being released as a single, it didn't even pull a WYG. 

 

Yes, Avril was past her prime in 2013 but HTNGU was a decent hit, it's not like this second single was released after a complete flop.

Just now, Perfect Celebrity said:

i think avril was just a little too behind the curve

Yeah, a little reinvention would have helped, getting green hair wasn't enough queen

Smile was my jam that year, i loved it and i play it very often, but the real crime it's WYWH flopping, that song is top 3 in her discography. 

 

R&R it's trash.

shes too ahead of her time 

I have bad news for you.
These songs sucks.

Edited October 11, 2025Oct 11 by starsailor

If RNR was single instead of that Growing up song, it would peak in Top 20 aswell. 
Smile didn't smash cause WTH underperformed. 
 

both were my #1s at least <3

Everyone saying these songs suck is tasteless.

 

Poor Av deserved better. We're still rock n roll queen. 

I love the songs but I feel most people thought it was the same old "brat" sound and she had taken such a long break after TBDT and the music scene had changed by then. I also remember even WTH only made it to #11 and didn't really match the sound at the time

This just reminds me how much I love "Goodbye Lullaby"  

5 hours ago, MusicFan98 said:

When it comes to GL I feel like it was really hard to choose singles from that album

I don't agree. 
 

Push would've been a great lead (the original lead) Avril wanted. Everybody Hurts as second single & Wish you were here as the 3rd final single. 
 

If Smile & What the hell didn't exist. 

ugh such iconic hits tbh