More about: Paramore

It was twenty years ago that thirteen-year-old Hayley Williams met brothers Zac and Josh Farro, planting the seed of one of the biggest bands to come out of the emo scene. Though the line-up would ebb and flow throughout its history, at the centre was its frontwoman, the fiery-headed vocalist with powerful pipes and a sharp, sardonic tongue to boot.

Paramore has managed to straddle its influence in both the pop and punk scenes; they’re equally as comfortable on a Twilight soundtrack as they are leading a double-headline tour with Fall Out Boy. Even after shedding much of their old sound on 2017’s After Laughter, William’s honesty about the struggles of depression charmed TikTok fans, turning ‘Fake Happy’ into a viral sound years after its release. 

Beyond these staples, the world of Paramore contains plenty of hidden gems; Gigwise runs down eleven of their most underrated songs. 

'Brighter'

We begin with All We Know Is Falling (2005), the band’s debut album. It’s primarily inspired by bassist Jeremy Davis walking out, along with the divorce of Hayley’s parents. ‘Brighter’ is a stunning outlier that’s dedicated to Hayley’s friend, who tragically passed away in a boating accident aged just sixteen. "And if you ran away/I’d still wave goodbye watching you shine bright" she sings softly, before crashing into a shrieking chorus.  

'Conspiracy'

At the time, Hayley was the only member of the band with a contract. Add to that the amorphous rota, and you had rumours of Hayley being a rather domineering frontwoman. At just thirteen, Hayley managed to dispel those rumours by writing ‘Conspiracy’. It’s impressive writing for the young teenager, managing to incorporate easycore riffs amongst impeccably executed belts. "I’ve lost my power", she sings resignedly towards the end, admitting the toll the accusations have had on her.

'Fences'

We move onto 2007’s seminal album Riot!, which spawned the emo classic ‘Misery Business’ (a song Hayley has since distanced herself from). At this point, the band had shot to fame, the struggles of which were written about in ‘Fences’. What really makes the song is the iconic walking bassline, giving a jazzy, alternative touch to Hayley’s flouncing vocal rhythms and dark chorus.

'Renegade'

Along with their single ‘Monsters’ for Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, Paramore released the Singles Club EP (2011). Out of the EP, ‘Renegade’ stands out as the best written. Though its chorus is a little derivative, it’s the verses which showcases Hayley’s songwriting capabilities: "your anger, your anchor/But I’ll sail much further on".

'Feeling Sorry'

Brand New Eyes (2009) has been so overshadowed by the legacy of ‘The Only Exception’ that many of its other songs go completely underappreciated. It’s an album that deals in growing up, moving on, and having zero time for those who refuse to grow with you. ‘Feeling Sorry’ is the climax of all these feelings, culminating in the devastating line: "the worst part is that this, this could be you!". It’s got crunching rhythms, a triumphant chorus, and just the perfect amount of snark: in other words, it’s the perfect Paramore song.  

'Misguided Ghosts'

‘Misguided Ghosts’ is, surprisingly, the first acoustic track on this list. ‘Misguided Ghosts’ is more vulnerable than the cleanly-produced ‘The Only Exception’, and it charms with its dissonant guitar lines and intimate mixing. "Don’t need no roads. In fact, they follow me…" Hayley sings softly. It’s a rare moment of quiet for the band, and it works beautifully in the tracklist of Brand New Eyes. 

'Moving On'

Paramore’s self-titled fourth album marked a shift in their sound: away from their beloved emo rock, and more towards new-wave. Frustrated with their old songwriting habits, these ukulele interludes were the first things written for the record. Hayley’s attitude is on full display against the hopelessly upbeat ukulele, as she sings: "Let them spill their guts, coz one day they’re gonna slip on ‘em".

'Part II'

'Part II' is the sequel to Riot!’s ‘Let the Flames Begin’, signalling a clear shift in the band’s sonic evolution. Hayley’s turbulent relationship with religion has been well documented over the years, and here she expands on these feelings with powerful lyrics about the human condition. "What a mess, what a mystery we’ve made/Of love and other simple things," you can practically hear her sigh. 

'Pool'

Paramore leaned even further away from their old sound on After Laughter, an album that disguises its exhausted, jaded lyrics with synth-wave optimism. ‘Pool’ is a love song with a Paramore twist; amongst the sparkly marimbas is a relationship so enticing that Hayley can’t help but go back again. "You are the wave I could never tame," she confesses. "If I survive, I’ll dive back in".

'26'

Unlike Paramore’s previous forays into acoustic songs, ‘26’ is unabashed in its message. There’s no malice or sarcasm to be detected. Hayley walks back her old attitude on ‘Brick By Boring Brick’, proclaiming: "After all, wasn’t I the one who said/To keep your feet on the ground?/Man, you really brought me back down". It’s refreshing to see a band – especially one with such a defined cynical perspective – to show that vulnerability and admit their limitations. 

'Idle Worship'

‘Idle Worship’ is one of the better musings on cancel culture and celebrity made in the pop-rock hemisphere, but it makes perfect sense for a writer like Hayley. ‘Idle Worship’ contains some great lyrics: "We all need heroes, don’t we?/But rest assured, there’s not a single person here who’s worthy". It’s Hayley’s impassioned performance that makes this track stand out, letting her voice break as she belts in frustration.  

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More about: Paramore