Pop rock reached its peak in the mid-2000s andearly 2010s.Bands likeAll Time Low, Cobra Starship, Mayday Parade,andBoys Like Girlswere just a few of the many acts that held the era in the palm of their hands.It was a time of rage, disruption, and desire, where music that was jagged and alternative served as an emotional outlet, a safe space for the outsiders. From neon-colored skinny jeans to Converse with song lyrics written with sharpie on them, emo culture was a social centerpiece. Though much of this time in history has faded into the past alongside MySpace, Warped Tour, and Sillybandz bracelets, there is one particular act that somehow continues to chart:Paramore.
One of the most influential bands of the emo reign, not only has Paramore retained relevancy, but they’ve been able to somehow achieve even more success. From joiningthe European leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tourto garnering over one hundred million streams on their 2023 recordThis Is Why,Paramore might be more on fire than ever before.
How Paramore’s Journey Began
Formed in Franklin, Tennessee in 2004, Paramore now consists of vocalistHayley Williams, guitaristTaylor York, and drummerZac Farro.Originally, however, Farro’s brother Josh also formed part of the band, as well as bassist Jeremy Davis. Paramore has undergone several lineup changes over the years, though the only constant has been Williams.She is and has always been the true pulse of Paramore,the force that defines the magnitude of the band’s impact.
As an entity, however, Paramore stumbled upon something very special. “They were the first people I met who were as passionate about music as I was,”Williams shared of her bandmates, birthing Paramore out of the insatiable yearning to make music. She was originally signed to Atlantic Records as a solo artist, with the intention of being pushed as a pop singer. But Williams insisted on making alternative rock, and she insisted on making it with Paramore.
2005’sAll We Know is Fallingwas their first studio album, the spark that lit the forest fire. Their lead single “Pressure” garnered some buzz initially, though it wasn’t until their sophomore effortRiot!that things truly took off. “Misery Business” became the people’s anthem, one of the most career-defining singles of their catalog today. It offered an energy only Paramore could garner, something bold and ill-mannered yet deeply relatable and electrifying. Every album that followed, fromBrand New Eyesto their self-titled project, added another gem to their canon. “Still Into You” and “Ain’t It Fun” are songs that have garnered fandoms in their own right, whiletheir feature onTwilight’ssoundtrackserves as one of the most iconic side quests of their legacy. The band has fallen apart several times, with faith, ego, love, and betrayal at the core of their many ruptures, though they never failed to rebuild. Each Paramore comeback felt as potent as the last, an unstoppable force in pursuit of explosion.
The 10 Greatest Paramore Songs Ever, Ranked
We never meant to brag, but Paramore boasts a remarkable discography.
How Paramore Achieved Lasting Success in Music
Beyond their incomprehensible talent, what makes Paramore stand the test of time istheir ability to adapt.Though their stardom was born during the emo-rock era, they certainly didn’t stay stagnant and wither away with it. They evolved sonically and lyrically. They explored varying edges of their artistic ability and tried new things. No two Paramore records sound alike, with six bodies of work that ultimately belong in the same universe, but vary immensely.
2007’sRiot!is brash rock, an unapologetic venture through varying degrees of angst. 2017’sAfter Laughteris softer and more pop-leaning, a deeper look into the emotional psyche. 2023’sThis Is Whyis an indie alternative effort, undefinable and eclectic. Williams herself has even recently ventured into the R&B realm, releasing the sensual “I Like It I Like It” alongside Moses Sumney in 2025. Each of the band’s charting singles is absolutely nothing like the other, from “The Only Exception” to “crushcrushcrush.” There is no box you may suffocate Paramore in, asthey are wired to pivot.
Beyond all else, this is a testament to their southern upbringing, growing up immersed in a culture that was eccentric in its own right. Williams sang in a predominantly Black church as a young girl, with her hunger for music shaped by gospel and soul. The band cites influences ranging fromAaliyah,toFreddy Mercury,toDeath Cab For Cutie, toEtta James. Paramore is not rock, nor pop, nor indie. Paramore is pure music, bred from gut.
As the band served their stint forTaylor Swift’s Eras Tour, they’ve consequently been introduced to an entirely new generation of young Swifties who hadn’t witnessed the years poured into their rise. These virgin ears now dive into their extensive catalog, experiencing the varying flavors of Paramore and playing it all from the beginning.
