Paramore managed to make a breakup album, without it quite being a breakup album.
Paramore is Paramore’s fourth studio album, released April 2013 with Fueled By Ramen. This was the first LP released after founding members Josh and Zac Farro left the band, due to disputes with vocalist and frontwoman Hayley Williams. Paramore continues the band’s trend of experimenting with different sounds and 
genres beyond pop punk. The album occasionally references the Farros’ departure, although Paramore repeatedly stated that this was not the album’s focus.
The act of self-titling the album was a statement, as it was “not only reintroduc[ed] the band to the world, but even to ourselves” (Williams, Radio.com). Paramore is one of the band’s most vulnerable albums, a fact highlighted by Williams’ posts in the band LiveJournal during the break and creation of the album. These posts share Williams’ feelings, experiences, and other things over the years, exposing Williams’ vulnerable side.
1. Fast in My Car
“Fast in My Car” is a “rebellious anthem” that’s one rocking splash of an opener (Billboard). Williams stated that this track isn’t about the Farros, but “is actually more about people who can’t let go of our past, and the people who can’t see outside of the big, fat shadow of Paramore’s soap opera. It’s about just wanting to be left alone enough to grow and move forward and just enjoy where we are” (SPIN). Paramore, like other pop-punk bands of the emo heyday, received backlash from fans who disliked their progression in sound, purely because it wasn’t what they were accustomed to. “Fast in My Car” is a message to listeners to move the f*** on from the Farros drama and Paramore’s past sound, and accept the band as is.
2. Now
“Now” is Paramore’s statement that the band is back and better than ever. Musically, this song is a more mature take on the “Misery Business” sound of Paramore’s past. Williams told Glamour that “Now” was the first song where she could see the band’s direction. The song sees Williams talking about the uselessness she felt between albums (“Feels like I’m waking from the dead“), that she’d thought the band was strong enough to get through anything together (“I thought that we could brave it all“), and how she never thought someone close to her could hurt her so (“I never thought that what would take me out/Was hiding down below“). She also addresses fans’ fear of a Paramore breakup, stating that “there’s a time and a place to die but this ain’t it:” that the Farro brothers leaving sure as hell isn’t the band’s time of death.
3. Grow Up
This song was created by accident, when Williams and guitarist Taylor York were brainstorming in the studio one day. She credits this song as having given Paramore “confidence to do whatever we wanted,” since this song (as well as “Ain’t It Fun”) “showed a new side for us” (M Magazine). “Grow Up” is Williams’ song of recognition, noting how she’s grown up since the band first began (“Cause I’m not a little girl no more“). She’s left behind the fake friends in her life and has got “a light that won’t go out,” no matter how many tears she cries for what she lost along the way.
4. Daydreaming
Think this song sounds familiar? That’s because “Daydreaming” is “a total rip,” as Williams put it, of Blondie’s “Dreaming” (New York Times). “Daydreaming” was the first track recorded for the album, created during one of Paramore’s writing blocks. Williams calls this her “A Whole New World” (Aladdin), because like the Disney classic, “every girl relates to that song” (Entertainment Weekly). “Daydreaming” is about dreaming of a better future, of leaving a place where everyone stays in line when all you want is to make your own path.
Credit: melaniaisawizard-blog (Tumblr)
5. Interlude: Moving On
This is the first of three interludes, all of which contrast heavily from the rest of Paramore. Each is played on the ukulele, a choice inspired by the band HelloGoodbye. “Moving On” is “a kiss-off to people who’ve wronged her [Williams],” with Williams calmly stating that she’s moved on from those people, who aren’t even worth her anger (“Well I could be angry but you’re not worth the fight“) (MTV). She observes these people as they go their own way, “let[ing] them have their fun” because “one day they’re going to fall.” Williams also acknowledges that everyone has different ways of being, and if they can’t accept how she is, then “we don’t need them around.”
6. Ain’t It Fun
I love this song. “Ain’t It Fun” is a song for the losers, vocalizing everything we want to say to the popular kids who enter the real world only to realize the world doesn’t revolve around them (“So what are you gonna do/When the world don’t orbit around you“), and that real life doesn’t just hand things to them (“Where you’re from/…Well you could ring anybody’s bell and get want you want“). The lyrics are a satisfying blend of sarcasm and realistic, addressing the hard realities of becoming an adult after being dependent on others for years. What’s fun about this track is the incorporation of a gospel choir at the end, inspired by the gospel music Williams grew up listening to (Genius).
7. Part II
Back in 2013, Williams revealed lyrics from “Part II” in the Paramore LiveJournal, stating that this song was intended as a sequel track since “”Let the Flames Begin” has been a favorite of ours to play live, as well as being a favorite of most people who come out to our shows.” “Part II” shares an opening line with its prequel track (“What a shame we all remain/Such fragile broken things“), as well as the phrase “Oh glory;” the musicality of the two songs are similar as well. The song also references God (“Oh glory”) and religion (“I will catch fire to let your glory and mercy shine“). This wouldn’t be out of character, as Paramore’s members identify as Christian and have created songs connected to their religious beliefs. There’s also a lyrical reference to brand new eyes (“butterflies with punctured wings“).
8. Last Hope
When Williams finished writing this song, she told her manager that “this song feels like our purpose” (Fresh 102.7). “Last Hope” is about surviving dark times and depression, realizing that sometimes you need to stop trying to control the situation, and allow it to run its course (“The more I try to push it I realize/Got to let go of control“). Williams talks about wishing every day that the next one will bring better times, only to “wake up to the cold reality/Not a thing has changed.” She talks about a “spark” that clearly gives her purpose to keep going and endure the dark times; it’s likely that this spark refers to the fans. Williams will play this song on keyboard at shows.
9. Still Into You
“Still Into You” is one of my favorite tracks off Paramore, purely because of its light tone and sheer spunk. The song is an “an uptempo love anthem, fit for couples that have been together…through ups and downs” (Billboard). At the time of this song’s creation, Williams was dating New Found Glory guitarist and future (now ex) husband Chad Gilbert, whom she had been with for five years. I especially love the music video for the song. Hayley’s iconic pink and orange hair…every time I saw how she rocked it with such confidence, it makes me wish I could do the same!
10. Anklebiters
“Anklebiters” is Paramore’s term for haters and naysayers–folks who prey on other people’s actions. The song is about self-acceptance and learning not to care about what others think of you. As Williams stated in the Paramore LiveJournal, “This song is our way of contributing to the art of self-love and self-acceptance, no matter the odds.” “Anklebiters” is such a funky, energetic song that makes you want to get up and just dance around like a total fool in your room–or even in public!
11. Interlude: Holiday
Time for ukulele interlude #2! Williams and then-bassist Jeremy Davis came up with this song while out food shopping. In “Holiday,” Williams sings about moving on to “big girl problems” now that she’s “graduated with honors” from high school-level drama. She’s now a more mature adult, drinking her coffee while reading the paper as she sings about going on vacation, where “wherever I go I might stay/I don’t plan on coming back.”
12. Proof
“Proof” is the only song on Paramore where the lyrics and melody were created first (Paramore Spain, 4:00). The song is about the struggles of long-distance relationships, which was the type of relationship Williams and Gilbert often had due to touring schedules and different hometowns. In the chorus, Williams dives into how she never believed in love until she met this guy, who has become “the only proof that I need” that love does exist. “Proof” is in line with the themes heard in “The Only Exception.”
13. Hate to See Your Heart Break
“Hate to See Your Heart Break” is a heart-wrenching song about York’s struggles with the severe emotional lows during Paramore’s creation, sung from William’s point of view. She feels York’s pain as if it was her own (“The dullest knife just sawing back and forth/And ripping through the softest skin there ever was“), and the pain she feels over seeing a loved one hurt so badly. Williams reminds him that things will get better one day (“For all the joy that is to come/For all the things that you’re alive to feel“). A line I particularly love, and think is worth remembering, is “Just let the pain remind you hearts can heal.” In 2014, Paramore re-released this track and featured Joy Williams on it. The collaboration was included on the deluxe version of Paramore.
14. (One of Those) Crazy Girls
“(One of Those) Crazy Girls” tells the story of a girl who post-breakup turns into a psycho stalker that still loves the guy. The song begins with Williams misinterpreting her boyfriend’s request for a break (“Now when you say you want to slow down/Does it mean you want to slow dance?“). She then goes into denial and can’t understand why he’s leaving. Post-breakup, Williams starts to go crazy until she’s borderline stalker: blowing up his phone, taking a bus across town to his house, breaking into his apartment, and hiding in his closet to smell his clothing.
15. Interlude: I’m Not Angry Anymore
We’ve now hit the third and final interlude! Of the three, this one was done the fastest; Williams told Saturday Night Online that the title came first. “I’m Not Angry Anymore” is a sickeningly sweet song that finds Williams claiming she’s not angry anymore…except sometimes she is. Williams says that “It depends on the day/The extent of all my worthless rage.” She ultimately decides to kill her enemies with kindness (“I’m syrupy sweet/I rot your teeth down to their core“).
16. Be Alone
“Be Alone” accurately describes what it’s like being an introvert, with zero desire to be in the spotlight. Williams has always been vocal about her desires to stay out of the limelight, even turning down magazine covers (Paramore LiveJournal). She’s not a partier or drinker (“Stay on the couch while/All my friends are going out“), and is okay with that. Williams spent most of 2012 alone, learning about herself and learning to live with herself, and “Be Alone” is a reflection of that.
17. Future
Williams calls this song a “happy accident:” she’d been playing around with a half-finished version since after the Farros left, and it came back up when Williams was searching for demo ideas in her voice memos (Artist Direct). “Future” is the longest track at eight minutes. The song is about realizing that “moving forward is better than wallowing in the past” (Artist Direct). “Future” is essentially two songs stitched together, as Paramore had also recorded a jam session that was added onto the lyrical portion of “Future.”
Click here for my review of the new album After Laughter! And for my Track by Track of Riot!, click here.
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