Paramore’s 10 Most Underrated Songs

As one of modern rock’s biggest bands and an inspiration for countless women vocalists everywhere, Paramore has released a number of hits loved by both the alternative and mainstream music scenes. Through several line-up changes and heated band quarrels, they have grown up a lot as a band and as people over the years. Their current line-up consists of singer Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro.

Although they do have numerous songs that are loved by millions, they also have a multitude of bangers that tend to get overlooked. Here are 10 of them you should check out right now.

1. Fences

The penultimate track off 2007’s Riot!, “Fences”, often gets overshadowed by the record’s singles (as a lot of great songs unfortunately tend to). One listen to this song and you’ll find yourself inadvertently swinging to the grooving bassline that is sure to get stuck in your head. It complements the swaying, snappy vocal melody in a way that is so satisfying, only to warm you up for that fierce chorus and cheeky bridge.

2. Idle Worship

For this song, there’s one thing in particular that draws in the listener’s startled attention – its hysteria. You can hear the unhinged frustration and exhaustion in Hayley’s voice from start to finish, and it’s all real. The guitar tones and synth effects capture a brilliant depiction of how anxiety and depression can feel. Also, they couldn’t have done a better job at making “lalala” sound unsettling and satirical.

3. My Heart

For any old-school dedicated Paramore fan, this one really hits home. It is the closing track on their debut album, and the only song they have ever done that features screamed vocals (besides the alternate unreleased version of “Emergency”). The powerful and touching ballad starts soft and has an ending chorus that explodes into former guitarist Josh Farro’s screams and Hayley’s invigorating belts.

4. Part II

This one is a sequel to 2007’s “Let The Flames Begin,” featuring some clever lyric parallels for old fans to pick up on. It has a high-powered energy with vigorous harmonies, glimmering guitars and a thrilling chorus. The instrumental section though is what makes it truly brilliant – it starts off slowly, and then erupts into a sonic storm of thundering guitars and rumbling drums (an absolutely surreal experience live).

5. Last Hope

This one’s a real tearjerker. The heavy-hearted verses are some almost anyone can relate to at some point in their life, while the chorus glistens as a ray of hope, making for a bittersweet but overall optimistic message. It also has one of the most uplifting bridges you could imagine.

6. Renegade

Many people don’t know about this one since it was never on an album, and rather on their 2011 EP titled Singles Club. Its aspiring lyrics and catchy chorus are sure to get stuck in your head once you give it a listen, though (might as well check out the whole EP while you’re at it).

7. Escape Route

This is one of the bonus tracks off the deluxe edition of their self-titled record. Its shuffling rhythmic guitars and drums draw you in, and then go into a lively chorus that makes it hard to believe it’s only a bonus track. Those bouncing guitar riffs and bass lines are beautifully placed behind the vocal melodies, making for a very appealing tune that deserves more attention.

8. Native Tongue

Another bonus track off the self-titled album that often gets forgotten about – “Native Tongue” jumps right into Hayley’s captivating vocals from the start, backed by Taylor’s crisp guitar tones. You’ll quickly find yourself singing along to the simplistic chorus. It also has a gleaming guitar solo that races with a fluorescing energy.

9. Misguided Ghosts

This is one of the acoustic tracks off 2009’s Brand New Eyes. Its mellow guitars and harmonies set a warm, dulcet structure for Hayley’s syrupy vocal tones. It has a melancholic mood that creates an energy lower than what we usually hear from the band, but they manage to nail this tenderhearted vibe.

10. All I Wanted

The closing track on Brand New Eyes is also the song where we hear possibly Hayley’s most outstanding vocals ever. The verses have a tranquil flowing nature that make you even more unsuspecting of the rapidly changing dynamics. When the instruments stop suddenly and Hayley unleashes her full vocal potential, powerfully belting out a capella style, it is a truly breathtaking moment.