7. Paramore at the O2 Arena.
after over 5 years, I finally saw the most influential band to me again and it was an emotional, beautiful night. cry hard, dance harder.
The most appropriate way to begin this piece is my favourite lyrics from one of my favourite tracks from Paramore’s latest record, ‘This Is Why’, ‘Crave’. “A picture could not contain the way it feels… so I crave, crave to do it again, all again.” Paramore shows are such a special experience - I went to the After Laughter London O2 Arena show alone in January 2018, and have been craving to do it again (all again) ever since. Originally, I had a standing ticket to the first London show, but because of my worsening chronic pain, I instead went to the second show, seated up in the heavens with my friend. I truly think no matter where you were situated in that room, it felt like you were so close and were the only person there.
Starting the night off in the nearest Spoons (iykyk), getting tipsy was first on the agenda. My friend and I arrived just as Bloc Party were finishing their set, and I’m glad I caught the last couple of songs because frontwoman Hayley Williams cites them as a great inspiration to Paramore.
The set kicked off with my personal favourite from the new record, ‘You First’. Hearing this live was so theraputic, all the rage came to surface but in a conclusive, accepting way for me. Finally hearing Hayley’s voice live again was a huge moment for me and I truly felt surrounded by so much love and unity.
‘The News’ was next, another favourite from ‘This Is Why’ for me. Screaming the lyrics about the devastating state of the world was cathartic, but also made me think how there’s 20,000 people in this room, and yet no matter what we do, the actions of the elite decide the fate of millions of people and the future of our planet. Light thinking for a gig, I know.
A favourite moment of any Paramore show is when they play ‘That’s What You Get’ - because it’s a banger of course, I love it when they play older, heavier songs, but even more so because every single person in the standing area is jumping enthusiastically. My friend and I were too, the people around us not so much. It was very different to when I heard it live in the standing area in 2018, in a bustling crowd jumping up and down on Hayley’s command, but it was so wholesome to watch the crowd having the time of their lives from up high.
Finally hearing ‘Playing God’ live was momentous for me. I was introduced to Paramore during the ‘Brand New Eyes’ era, and remember watching their music videos on MTV with my sister and my cousin, including the video for ‘Playing God’ - and I was hooked forever.
Despite never having seen Twilight (sorry) I love ‘Decode’, and this is clearly a fan favourite because the crowd was so loud. The visuals were also pretty cool, too, even from afar.
I cannot believe they played Last Hope. I thought it was a random addition to the setlist, but I am so, so glad they played it because with everyone holding their flashlights and singing about having one last spark of hope in them, it was one of those moments that made you glad to be alive.
As a surprise moment for the last show of the tour, Hayley and Kele Okereke of Bloc Party acoustically sang ‘Blue Light’, a song that Hayley said she used to cry to by herself. It was clear she was amazed by singing this with him, and it’s always special to get a surprise song at a show.
Followed by ‘Hard Times’ and ‘Still Into You’, the crowd were still firmly hooked on the show. With slightly depressing lyrics but upbeat production, they’re always fun to hear to dance away your troubles.
Probably my favourite song of the night, and a memory I will keep with me for the rest of my life, was ‘The Only Exception’. I never thought they would play this song live again because of what it’s about (Hayley’s shitty ex-husband) but I even more can’t believe I got to experience it. I always remember being sad I didn’t know about the competition to send in love letters for the music video, but this definitely made up for that.
Another one of my favourites from ‘This Is Why’, ‘Crave’, was next. It’s such a perfect song to play live because of the lyrics, reliving a perfect memory in your head, a photo being a small aspect of how you really felt in the moment. I’ll always be craving to be back at a Paramore show - nothing makes me feel as deeply.
A Paramore show wouldn’t be the same without ‘Misery Business’, so I’m glad the misogyny cancellation blew over and it is rightfully back on the setlist. Yes I’m a feminist, yes I screamed “once a whore you’re nothing more, I’m sorry, that will never change” at the top of my lungs. But it was especially exciting tonight because my friend was at barrier and hoping to be one of the people picked to sing on stage. Because I was so far away, I couldn’t see too well… until the big screen SHOWED THEM HUGGING HAYLEY ON STAGE!!! I was so happy for them, seeing them get to sing in front of 20,000 people was pretty cool (definitely an understatement).
The final song before the encore was ‘Ain’t It Fun’, and it’s a classic. I remember when it first came out I was angry because Paramore and the song were getting so popular, but locals will never love Paramore like I do, sorry. Singing the lyrics about being totally on your own in the real world with 20,000 other people makes it so much more real. No, Hayley Williams, it is not fun living in the real world, apart from when I can sing along to the lyrics live.
I may have many thoughts on the tiktokification of music (maybe I’ll leave that for another day, or not because many people have said it a lot better than I could), but I will give them making ‘All I Wanted’ blow up. It’s another Paramore song I never thought I’d hear live and it was even better than I could have imagined. Hayley hit every single note incredibly, and it made me get over every heartbreak that hasn’t happened yet.
The last song of the night was ‘This Is Why’, and I often feel like it’s hard to enjoy what you know is the last song because you know it’s about to be over. However, it’s hard not to dance along to, and I made sure I danced as hard as I could (boy did I feel it in my bones for the next few days). My friend was kind enough to grab me some of the confetti, which is now forever in my journal.
A picture can’t contain the way it feels, but I don’t think words can, either. I have made a good go at it (I have been trying to write this for over two weeks), but I think a Paramore show is something that can’t be adequately described - you have to be there to truly feel it. I wish they had played ‘C’est Comme Ça’’, especially because they soundchecked it, as well as ‘Figure 8’, another one of my favourites from the new album. But nothing could have stopped this night from being pure perfection. I crave to do it again, all again.
Rating: 5/5
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