I wanted to start this blog with an album I absolutely love. Paramore have been there soundtracking multiple stages of my life and their most recent original project is what truly helped me transition into being, acting and thinking as an adult.
Built from the reflections the group had during lockdown, this album definitely reflects themes of anxiety about the current state of the world and the downsides to spending too much time in our own heads.
If you enjoy self reflection and reflection on one's place in the world, done with emotional and mental maturity to a alt-pop/rock sound, I can't recommend this album enough and am partly judging you for not already having this album in your rotation.
It was an honor to see the accompanying tour to this album as my very first concert and am incredibly grateful for how this album helped me get through my first major breakup.
Favorite Songs:
1. "Big Man, Little Dignity"
This is Paramore's magnum opus if you ask me. The almost 4 and a half minute song is such a powerful expression of distain. Starting with almost the expectation of it being a love song with the calm sound and lines
"Don't mean to stare at you from across the room,
It's like I'm glued to the sheer sight of you."
before belittling and mocking the subject for the remained of the song. This is such a refreshing "hater song" as Hayley doesn't change her calm demeanor for the whole song remaining calm and collected and lists why the subject isn't worthy of her respect as opposed to giving details of why she and the subject aren't on positive terms.
2. "Crave"
I have a very personal relationship with this song. Besides it being an unofficial soundtrack to the This Is Why UK tour, I have went on a personal journey with this song.
On my first listen, I related this song to my long term struggle with self harm and the countless relapses I had had. I then related this song to the fears of starting a serious relationship knowing my heart wasn't in it. Eventually I now associate this song with positive events and pushing myself to enjoy those moments without worrying that they'll end and may never be experienced again.
Life can be difficult and it comes with many challenges, but those challenges only make the great stuff even better. Don't worry about the end, just crave what makes you love life. That is what this song truly represents to me.
3. "Figure 8"
To me this is song is the most stand out in terms of how it sounds. It returns to more rock elements that long term Paramore listeners will be familiar with.
This song feels like the beginning of a manic episode or knowingly getting into bad situations. The powerlessness of knowing you've experienced this feeling before but can't stop yourself and feeling regret for something that hasn't happened yet is such a relatable feeling to me and can even be perceived as a horror to those with specific life experiences.
Knowing how your mind works might not "cure" the bad things, however knowing when you're not in the best headspace may help minimize the negative fallout even if it does feel inescapable and endless (like a figure 8).
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