10 - "Misery Business," Riot!
This is by no means a diss to the iconic track that everyone between the ages of 16 and 30 knows about. While I absolutely love this song, it’s certainly not the only amazing Paramore song that exists, and I feel like the world needs to acknowledge this.
That being said, you'll for sure find me screaming every damn word of this song whenever it pops up on my playlist.
This song was there for every girl that felt like they had a score to settle, and it definitely left us feeling like we'd reclaimed some small part of ourselves. While we can look back in hindsight and recognize that a certain lyric doesn't really communicate that "girl power" vibe we're going for, the song as a whole will remain in our hearts forever.
9 - "Decode," Twilight
I feel obligated to include this song because, despite the fact that we can (almost) all agree about how disgusting the Twilight movies were, I’ll be damned if they’re not recognized as a part of my adolescence. If anything, those movies adequately describe the existential crisis that was our childhood, so it's perfect.
Also, horrible plot or not, this song was fire. Hell, this song almost made the movies good..!
8 - "Told You So," After Laughter
I had to include one of the tracks off their newest record. To be honest, I love the bop and twang of this song, and the vibe is definitely up my alley.
Also regarding the shift in Paramore's sound with this record, I think it's fan-fucking-tastic. You can't deny their growth and experimentality as artists, and frankly, the shift almost makes sense in a sort of identity-crisis type of way. Not to say that Paramore doesn't know who they are, but rather that we the audience are kind of in limbo trying to figure out who the fuck we are, and who we're trying to be.
The point is that this record, for whatever reason, made us a lot of us look in the mirror and wonder what the fuck we're doing with our lives, and a big part of that may very well have been our preconceived notions of what to expect from the new Paramore album.
7 - "Still Into You," Paramore
I don’t care if it’s the “trashy” commercially successful pop-era of Paramore, this song will always be a great time.
6 - "Playing God," Brand New Eyes
This song would make this list on shade-factor alone. Seriously considering a tattoo that says, "next time you point a finger, I'll point you to the mirror."
Also pro tip: don't drink any tea that Haylee Williams prepares for you.
5 - "When It Rains," Riot!
Like Jesus mother fucking H Christ, just fucking kill me already. (<— That’s how I feel about how emotional this song makes me.)
I can't tell you how many times I cried to this song growing up. I mean shit, if there was ever a track written as a medium for a cathartic emotional breakdown, this would definitely be in the running. The weird thing is that I feel like this song goes unrecognized by so many top sources. Maybe I'm giving it too much credit, but the best songs are the ones that make us emotional, especially when we don't want to be.
4 - "Pressure," All We Know Is Falling
If this didn’t make you fall in love with Paramore in 2005, idk what you’re doing with your life.
Seriously. Find a new life.
3 - "Monster," Transformers
Ugh, the angst! *nostalgic sigh*
This song was something we all needed to hear when we weren't quite sure what the future of Paramore held. It came out with a BANG and showed us that this band is HERE. TO. STAY.
2 - "Brick By Boring Brick," Brand New Eyes
Ugh, just beautiful. This track just personifies Paramore’s “fuck you, asshats” attitude to a palpable degree.
Okay, maybe that's a bit more aggressive than the song itself, but that's definitely the level I end up taking it to.
Coming back to Earth--this song is just glorious in its own right. The music video tells a very dark, very twisted fairy tale that many teenage girls honestly find themselves living. There's definitely this tension between wanting the "ideal" life (and love) that we're shown in books and on TV, but then there comes the self-sacrifice and sabotage that leaves you wondering, "why can't I be me AND find a fulfilling love?"
1 - "Emergency," All We Know Is Falling (music video version)
I make this distinction because anyone who’s heard both can tell you that they’re COMPLETELY different tracks. Idc if the lyrics and progressions are the same; they sound nothing alike.
As for why this song is officially dubbed (by me) to be THE Paramore banger, I could honestly talk about a number of things. The fact that it’s a track featured on Paramore’s first record, the solid guitar rifts, the beautiful melody, the wonderfully twisted music video, all of it, really.
To be frank, I think my admiration for this song can be summed up by the chorus:
“Cause I’ve seen love die way too many times when it deserved to be alive; and I’ve seen you cry way too many times when you deserved to be alive.”
I mean, that’s as romantic-heartbroken-emo as it gets, and it’s a perfect lyric to scream in a car with your friends. Also, the fact that I never see it on ANY lists for top Paramore songs is enough to make it #1 in my eyes.
My last comment on this track is that, if you find yourself trying to remind a friend of the person they used to be, or someone close to you has essentially lost that creative spirit that made them shine as bright as the stars, you may be surprised at just how meaningful sending this song to them will be. Hey, maybe you need a reminder yourself. Go ahead, take a listen. Send a friend some love. Either way, don't ever forget that, with all the negativity in the world, and all the lights slowly burning out, it's never been more crucial that we keep our spirits burning bright.
Stay emo, my friends!
