“If you have an opinion, maybe you should shove it,” kicks off Paramore’s latest single “This Is Why,” and ends the alternative rock band’s five-year music hiatus.
“This is Why” was released on Sept. 28 as the first-ever titular song from its upcoming sixth studio album, also titled This Is Why. The musical awakening follows the critically acclaimed, 80’s-esque new wave album After Laughter.
“This Is Why,” though straying from Paramore’s roots of the circa 2005 emo-punk genre that fans know and love, shows itself as a strong comeback for the band and even sheds some light as to where the trio has been these past few years.
Released in 2017, After Laughter was a musical wager for the band. While the preceding self-titled album Paramore dipped its feet into the genre of pop-rock back in 2013, including radio hits like “Ain’t It Fun” and “Still Into You,” After Laughter hurdled the band into an epoch of neon colors and upbeat disco synths. Its debut single “Hard Times”—with its funky underlying bass, syncopated guitar rhythms, and vocal distortions—shook the music scene. Lyrics depicting the pains of growing up were coupled with an upbeat rhythm, making for an engaging album that resonated with listeners.
Although music critics widely accept After Laughter as an exciting evolution of the band’s image and sound, some fans expressed disappointment in the deviation from the genre that gave the band its start— seen in their 2005 debut album All We Know Is Falling.
Despite the overwhelming success of After Laughter, the unexpected death of a bandmate’s family friend caused the band members to take a break from music for the sake of their mental health. The five-year hiatus is the first the band’s experienced in almost 15 years since the inception of its pop-punk reputation.
Nonetheless, not all members of Paramore were completely silent in the years following the band’s break. Powerhouse frontwoman, Hayley Williams, released her experimental-pop debut album Petals for Armor in May 2020. Tracks such as “Simmer” and “Dead Horse” have garnered tens of millions of listens on various streaming platforms.
Produced by Paramore’s lead guitarist Taylor York, Petals for Armor has evidently had an influence on the band’s latest single. Soft vocals contrast domineering verses, and a steady drumbeat wraps it all together neatly with a themed and varied bassline bow on top. The same is applicable to many songs on Petal for Armor. “This Is Why” is easily its own contribution to the frontwoman’s solo album.
The gang vocals on the chorus in “This Is Why” repeatedly chant, “This is why I don’t leave the house / You say the coast is clear, but you won’t catch me out / Oh, why? / This is why.” Circling back to the opening lyrics, one can assume that “This Is Why” serves as an explanation for Paramore’s disappearance— clashing and sometimes derogatory opinions can keep individuals from wanting to engage in the outside world.
For the Los Angeles Times, social-media-less Williams said that she “think[s] about how the internet is supposed to be this great connector, but drives us further inward and further apart… How could we go through these things together and come out worse?” This train of thought is clearly communicated throughout “This Is Why,” showing some social commentary within the song, as well as the band’s returning statement. The catchiness of the song emphasizes this point further, causing listeners to repeat to themselves over and over again: “this is why.”
Overall, the new single illustrates continuing maturity from the band, which is synonymous with the band’s career trajectory. “This is Why” is an exciting sneak-peek into what’s in store for this next album. This is Why is set to release on Feb. 10, 2023, and hopefully future singles will continue to give listeners a deeper dive into this new, exciting era for Paramore.
