Singer says there's no need to try and be cool
Adam Tait

13:15 7th April 2013

Paramore’s Hayley Williams claims she doesn't feel the need to write songs about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.

The frontwoman said she doesn’t feel the need to try and be cool by swearing in songs or attempting to appeal to older audiences with drug and sex references, saying instead she prefers to sing about normal life problems.

Speaking with NPR, she said: “I don’t really feel like i need to say anything about sex, drugs and rock ‘n; roll. I don’t need to swear. And I’m not saying that I’m a perfect angel, but i think it would feel very disingenuous - like, ‘This is me trying to be cool. Maybe we’ll grab a couple of older fans if I just put this swear word in’. I want to talk about normal life problems.”

The singer also spoke about Paramore’s recent troubles, but insisted that when she felt like calling it a day with the band she thought about what others would would feel if they were in her position.

'There's probably a million kids wishing they were doing what I do'

“There are definitely days that I am like, ‘Am I doing the right thing?’,” she conceded.

“But then you kind of look over at your friends and realise there’s probably a million kids that are sitting at school, wishing they were doing what you’re doing.”

The band release their fourth, self-titled studio album tomorrow (April 8).

Below: Debbie Harry - the greatest living woman in music

  • PJ Harvey

  • Florence Welch of Florence & The Machine

  • Bjork

  • Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire

  • Lana Del Rey

  • Jessie J

  • Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth

  • Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

  • Hayley Williams of Paramore

  • Alice Glass of Crystal Castles

  • Patti Smith

  • Annie Clark of St Vincent

  • Rihanna

  • Katy B

  • Janelle Monae

  • Debbie Harry of Blondie

  • Beyonce

  • Beth Cosentino of Best Coast

  • Robyn

  • Lady Gaga

  • Feist

  • Samantha Urbani of Friends

  • Katy Perry

  • Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells

  • Courtney Love

  • Andrea Estelle of Twin Sister

  • Carrie Brownstein of Wild Flag

  • Cat Power

  • Brody Dalle of Spinnerette

  • Adele

  • Gwen Stefani of No Doubt

  • Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley

  • Neko Case of The New Pornographers

  • Madeline Follin of Cults

  • Grace Jones

  • Victoria Legrande of Beach House

  • Madonna

  • Jenny Lee Lindberg of Warpaint

  • Lykke Li

  • Theresa Wayman of Warpaint

  • Katie Stelmanis of Austra

  • Nicki Minaj

  • Nika Roza Danilova of Zola Jesus

  • Emily Kokal of Warpaint

  • Anna Calvi

  • Naana Oland Fabricius of Oh Land

  • Cameron Mesirow of Glasser

  • Willow Smith

  • Amy Lee of Evanescence

  • Alison Mosshart of The Kills

More about:


Photo: Wenn