Fake as Hell

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.{{cite web|last=Rogers|first=Jack|url=https://rocksound.tv/news/watch-avril-lavigne-all-time-low-cover-blink-182s-all-the-small-things|title=Watch Avril Lavigne & All Time Low Cover blink-182's 'All The Small Things'|website=Rock Sound|date=October 24, 2022|access-date=December 31, 2023}}{{cite web|last=Brodsky|first=Rachel|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2203888/watch-avril-lavigne-all-time-low-cover-blink-182s-all-the-small-things-at-when-we-were-young/news/|title=Watch Avril Lavigne & All Time Low Cover Blink-182's "All The Small Things" At When We Were Young|website=Stereogum|date=October 24, 2022|access-date=December 31, 2023}} 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".{{cite web|url=https://illustratemagazine.com/all-time-low-and-avril-lavigne-team-up-for-fake-as-hell-a-must-listen-single/|title=All Time Low and Avril Lavigne Team Up For "Fake As Hell"|website=Illustrate Magazine|date=September 19, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}} The song was written by Andrew Goldstein, Alex Gaskarth, Avril Lavigne, Jack Barakat, and Zakk Cervini with Cervini also serving as the producer.{{cite web|url=https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/all-time-low-avril-lavigne-release-new-collaborative-single-fake-hell|title=All Time Low & Avril Lavigne release new collaborative single, "Fake As Hell"|website=ABC|date=September 15, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}} It was released on September 14, 2023, on digital and streaming platforms through Fueled by Ramen.{{cite web|url=https://altaz933.com/all-time-low-avril-lavigne-release-new-collaborative-single-fake-as-hell/|title=All Time Low & Avril Lavigne release new collaborative single, "Fake As Hell"|website=Alt Az|date=September 15, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}}

"Fake as Hell" is a pop punk track that delves into the emotional landscape of a breakup and its aftermath.{{cite web|last=Houghton|first=Cillea|url=https://americansongwriter.com/all-time-low-and-avril-lavigne-are-fake-as-hell-in-new-song/|title=All Time Low and Avril Lavigne Are "Fake As Hell" in New Song|website=American Songwriter|date=September 15, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}}{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Laura|title= All Time Low And Avril Lavigne Team Up For New Single Fake As Hell|url=https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/241140/9|website=Stereo Board|date=September 15, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}} 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".{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/all-time-low-and-avril-lavigne-join-forces-for-new-single-fake-as-hell|title=All Time Low and Avril Lavigne join forces for new single Fake As Hell|website=Kerrang|date=September 15, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}} 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". The lyrics convey a symbolic departure from the past and an optimistic embrace of a new journey ahead.

"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".{{cite web|last=Varvaris|first=Mary|url=https://themusic.com.au/news/all-time-low-drop-new-single-fake-as-hell-ft-avril-lavigne/3S9j8fDz8vU/16-09-23|title=All Time Low Drop New Single 'Fake As Hell' Ft. Avril Lavigne|website=The Music|date=September 16, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}} 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".{{cite web|last=Sacher|first=Andrew|url=https://www.altpress.com/all-time-low-avril-lavigne-fake-as-hell-listen/|title=All Time Low and Avril Lavigne team up for new song "Fake As Hell"|website=Alternative Press|date=September 15, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}} 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".

In a review for The Eastern Echo, Kasper Mielke described the track as "the definition of pop punk", praising its catchy guitar-driven sound and the strong vocal contrast between Gaskarth and Lavigne, calling them "a match made in heaven", while also highlighting the effective simplicity of lyrics like "Feel like a kite in a hurricane, so cut the string and let me fly away", ultimately rating the song 8 out of 10.{{cite web|last=Mielke|first=Kasper|url=https://www.easternecho.com/article/2023/09/all-time-lows-fake-as-hell-is-too-real|title=Review: All Time Low's "Fake as Hell" is too real|website=The Eastern Echo|date=October 22, 2023|access-date=April 25, 2025}}

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.{{cite magazine|last=Rizzo|first=Carita|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/avril-lavigne-sk8er-boi-all-time-low-when-we-were-young-festival-2023-video-1234860034/|title=Watch Avril Lavigne Perform 'Sk8er Boi' With All Time Low at When We Were Young Festival|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 23, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}} The band showcased the song in a medley alongside Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi".{{cite magazine|last=Bucksbaum|first=Sydney|url=https://ew.com/music/watch-avril-lavigne-sing-sk8er-boi-all-time-low-when-we-were-young-festival-2023/|title=Watch Avril Lavigne sing 'Sk8er Boi' with All Time Low in surprise return to When We Were Young|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=October 22, 2023|access-date=December 31, 2023}} 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.{{cite magazine|author=Alternative Press Magazine|url=https://www.altpress.com/avril-lavigne-greatest-hits-tour-setlist-may-22-2024/|title=See the setlist from the first night of Avril Lavigne’s Greatest Hits tour|magazine=Kerrang!|date=May 23, 2024|access-date=May 29, 2024}}

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Category:2023 songs

Category:2023 singles

Category:All Time Low songs

Category:Avril Lavigne songs

Category:Songs written by Alex Gaskarth

Category:Songs written by Avril Lavigne

Category:Songs written by Jack Barakat

Category:Songs written by Zack Merrick

Category:Fueled by Ramen singles