If you’ve been following Paramore since they released their first album “All We Know Is Falling” back in 2005, you’d know that they’ve been through a lot as a band. From parting ways with some of its members (Josh and Zac Farro), facing lawsuit with its former bassist Jeremy Davis, to finally reuniting with its drummer Zac and making a masterpiece of an album that is “After Laughter” in 2017.
It took them four years to put out an album after their self-titled record in 2013. In an interview with New York Times, Hayley Williams, the vocalist of the band, shared that there were times she thought they wouldn’t make it. “I didn’t even know if we were going to make another record,” she said. “There was a moment when I didn’t even want it to happen. Then it was like, I want it to happen, but I don’t know how we’re going to do it.”
Hayley have been vocal about dealing with depression and clearly, the lyrics of some of the songs in After Laughter aren’t afraid to be vulnerably honest about mental health. Paramore may have traded their usual alt rock/punk sound but they’ve decided to evolve into synth pop — with upbeat songs that will make you dance and lyrics that will make you cry. It’s truly “candy-coated bitterness at its best“!
The band have been touring across the world for After Laughter, and after five years, Paramore announced their return to Manila which hyped up all their Filipino fans. Unfortunately, the supposed date of their show in Manila, February 18, got postponed due to Hayley’s respiratory condition at the time.
But after the long wait, Pinoy fans proved that after all this time, they’re still into Paramore during their one-night show in Mall of Asia Arena last August 23, presented by MMI Live.
The band performed all the songs from the album except “Tell Me How”. Fans were also treated to some of Paramore classics such as “That’s What You Get,” “crushcrushcrush,” and other hits songs from their previous albums like “Still Into You,” “Playing God,” “Ignorance,” and “Ain’t It Fun”. And as tradition, they picked one lucky fan from the crowd who got to sing “Misery Business” with the band on stage (and even hugged Hayley!).
During the “acoustic session” part of the show, Hayley teared up when they crowd screamed “We love you” and said “We love you, too!” They performed “Misguided Ghosts,” “26,” and a stripped down cover of Drake’s “Passion Fruit”.
Paramore gave us a night that was surely worth all the wait.
Hayley teared up when the crowd screamed “We love you!” 😭😭😭 She said, “We love you too!” #ParamoreTourFourMNL @paramore
— POP! (@InqPOP) August 23, 2018
Hayley shared a toast to “all the mistakes that got us to where we are” and “most importantly, to MISERY”. 🍺🍺🍺 #ParamoreTourFourMNL
— POP! (@InqPOP) August 23, 2018
Check out some of our photos from the show:
We’re all “fake happy” no more with Paramore!
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Read more from InqPOP!:
Paramore return with “After Laughter”
WATCH: Paramore releases video directed by Zac Farro for ‘Fake Happy’