It has now been 14 years since Paramore released their sophomore album Riot! and what a time it has been. The album that was once regarded as one that was not a ‘must have’ by IGN has now become not only their most popular but a fan favourite, with hits such as ‘Misery Business’, ‘That’s What You Get’ and ‘Crush, Crush, Crush’ quickly rising up the rock charts with their release back in the day.
Fast forward to 2021 and Paramore have seen success with later albums with the release of Brand New Eyes in 2009, which featured songs such as Decode (you might recognise from the Twilight franchise) and most recently After Laughter, (2017). A more mature sound than previous albums but a loved one nonetheless, and yet, despite the success and admiration of these albums, nothing seems to get crowds going quite like getting the audience on stage for the no longer played ‘Misery Business’ or the first few drum beats on ‘That’s What You Get’. So, what is it that has made this album what it is? And why is it still loved to this day?
Flashback to 2007, you’re teasing your hair to the gods, piling up the ‘I heart boobies’ and band bracelets and getting ready to go hang out with your friends to read the latest issue of Kerrang! and argue about who gets what poster. In the background you have your only rock music channel on and you’re hearing song after song from male fronted bands such as Green Day, Four Year Strong, Good Charlotte and so on, when suddenly Misery Business makes its grand entrance onto the screen with it’s infectious riffs, it’s lead singer with her flaming red hair and the words ‘Riot!” plastered all over the screen. A complete 360 from what you’re used to, of guys with big beards shredding guitar or guys with their overly teased and straightened hair and eyeliner. For maybe the first time you’re seeing a woman sing about relationship problems from her side and in a way that makes you want to stand on your bed and scream all the lyrics rather than feel sorry for yourself or the vocalist. And that’s exactly what Riot! was, an album full of hit after hit of songs that could be sung from the top of your lungs about relationships and emotions and feelings but would make you feel alive at the same time, and to this day it still has the same effect.
To me, Riot! and especially Misery Business will always have a special place in my heart. I was always that kid who listened to rock music, I was brought up on bands like LInkin Park and Green Day, but there’s nothing I’ll remember more than the first time I saw Misery Business on TV, the Riot! everywhere, Hayley Williams singing her heart out and that iconic music video. That was the first time I had seen a woman fronted pop punk band and from that day on I always eagerly waited for it to come back on TV. It was that song that made Paramore my favourite band. It was that album that made me more interested in female fronted bands, No Doubt, We are the In Crowd, Hey Monday, Tonight Alive, the list goes on. Riot! was a gateway into pop punk for me, and for that reason I say it’s still one of the greatest albums released to this day from Paramore and will continue to be so onwards.
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