Five Songs to Expand Your Paramore Knowledge Beyond the Eras Tour

The Eras Tour has been the catalyst for page after page to be written about the pure dominance of Taylor Swift, the tour’s rotating cast of openers has been one of our favorite things to see the internet react to. What has been surprising, however, is how, upon the announcement of the European leg of the tour, so few people were familiar with the opening act, Paramore. While the amount of people who don’t know Paramore is rather sad, this provides the perfect opportunity to gush about one of the best bands of the 21st century. 

Paramore Eras Tour Setlist: London 8/15/24 via setlist.fm.

1. Hard Times
2. Burning Down the House (Talking Heads Cover)
3. Still Into You
4. Forgiveness
5. Caught in the Middle
6. The Only Exception
7. Misery Business
8. Ain’t It Fun
9. This is Why

Starting off as a pop punk band of teenagers in the early 2000s, Paramore has grown and changed to give us a catalog that is varied in its sounds and lyrical themes, but consistent in sheer quality. While the band’s Eras Tour Setlist features the band’s most iconic songs, there’s a plethora of fantastic tracks that couldn’t make the cut. For Swifties who may be discovering Paramore for the first time, or fans who want more recommendations, here are some of our personal favorite Paramore songs.

“Ignorance”

The oldest song on this list, “Ignorance” showcases Paramore at arguably the peak of their pop-punk origins. “Ignorance” is a catchy, heavy and angry rock track about being screwed over and ignored. While this isn’t the first song about this subject matter, Paramore of course puts their own spin on it with overflowing energy, a fantastic lead riff and a fist-pumping chorus.  Long-time drummer Zac Farro gives one of our favorite performances of his career on this track, as the backbone of this song’s ferocity. It’s a perfect addition to any gym or pump-up playlist. “Ignorance” is pretty much everything to look for in pop punk. It’s fun, catchy and filled with angst. While we love the mature new Paramore, these heavier, youthful and messy early albums will always hold a special place in our hearts.

“Anklebiters”

Paramore’s self-titled 2013 record is a transitional period from the band’s pop-punk roots to their more varied modern sound. While singles like “Still Into You” have stood the test of time as one of Paramore’s bigger hits, the song immediately following it “Anklebiters” has gone under the radar. The song is extremely fun, featuring light guitars and a chant-able chorus. However, the song’s lyrical material and some moments of distortion show that this song retains some of the rock edge Paramore had been famous for, making this song a perfect middle point for the trajectory of this band. 

“Rose-Colored Boy”

The extremely funky “Rose-Colored Boy” is a great example of the sound of 2017’s After Laughter, a record that took Paramore in a lighter direction sonically, but a darker direction lyrically. “Rose-Colored Boy” poppy, infectious jam that is guaranteed to get you off of your feet. This song takes the vibe of the lead single “Hard Times” and cranks it up to 11. Just like that song, and the whole album, “Rose-Colored Boy” is about sadness; namely, how bad it feels to be around someone who’s constantly happy when you are not. After Laughter is when Paramore’s lyrics strep up from good to exceptional. In this album and the following release, Paramore has cemented their lyrics as one of their best qualities. Even though it may be jarring to not hear the hard rock edge on “Rose-Colored Boy,” the song still has plenty of kick in its tight rhythm section. That, along with the fantastic vocal layering and catchy guitar lick, make this one of Paramore’s grooviest songs, and one to constantly keep in rotation. 

“Crave”

Crave is a great example of modern Paramore and why their new album, 2023’s This is Why was one of the best records of last year. One of the band’s more sentimental tracks, “Crave” is about memories; not only of the past, but of the ones being made right now, and dwelling on how badly we want to relive that. Light and chill guitars are mixed with strong percussion and a soaring chorus to instantly evoke the end of a coming-of-age film. Considering the lyrical message of the song, and how Paramore’s band history is essentially one big coming-of-age story, it’s a perfect fit. “Crave” is a great example of how Paramore balances being accessible and relatable without dumbing down the insane talent they have both lyrically and instrumentally. This song was played a few times during the Eras tour, but as it’s been inconsistently on the setlist, and it’s just so powerful, I think it’s still worth including here

“The News”

If you’re looking for a Paramore song with their mature and refined lyrical skills, plus some of the old-school rock grit, “The News” is probably the best of both worlds. As per usual with This is Why, “The News” is Paramore unpacking the sentiment of being overwhelmed by the 24/7 news cycle constantly spewing tragedy after tragedy. These lyrics combine with the punchy lead guitar riffs to create a song that’s just as fast-paced as the world it’s commenting on. The song’s best part is arguably its bridge where lead singer Hayley Williams sings a list of rhyming adjectives before the instrumental drops to let “all along we call it normal” linger in isolation before the chorus roars back in. The news is great proof that Paramore can still rock as well as another example of how far they’ve come lyrically.