- They all have the same haircut
Paramore annoy me. As much as I hate myself for doing so, I actually quite like them. They’re catchy, harmless pop-punk, and fairly enjoyable really, even if they are music, more geared towards fourteen year old kids with a penchant for brightly coloured jeans, than someone like me.
But they’re also quite shit. And when they insist upon referencing post-hardcore bands in their songs, in order to make everyone aware of just how they cool they are and what good music taste they have, it seems to me like they are going beyond what they are, a harmless, catchy pop punk band, and trying to be something else, searching for credibility. Either make music as influential, forceful and meaningful as Refused and ATD-i or don’t. I realise I’ve missed the boat with this subject, but it is my blog and you have to listen to me.
This issue is especially problematic when you consider that most of Paramore’s core audience are unlikely to know who Refused are, and are even more unlikely to notice allusion to their songs. Then, when you view YouTube videos, and see the comments below, featuring some ATD-I fan acting as though Paramore have not just committed murder, but genocide, arguing with some little toe-rag claiming ‘Paramore piss all over those bands!’ or something similar, you realise how unnecessary this whole thing is. Far from linking the fans of both bands, you just get a situation where they are placed upon opposing ends of a spectrum, and conflict is inevitably created. Paramore are never going to be At The Drive-in and they, quite frankly, shouldn’t try to be. Neither should they be making a token effort to try and placate people that would otherwise dismiss you. You don’t need to pander to these people, because like I’m doing, they’ll just slag you off for trying to and the vast majority of them would never listen to you anyway.
The following videos see Paramore referencing At The Drive-in and Refused in their songs. It just doesn’t work, and stands out for just being, well, a bit naff.
But then they do a song like this, which is completely unpretentious, catchy and enjoyable. And you realise if they just stuck to what they were good at, they can be pretty fun. Yeah of course I’m all for musical progression, and not just worrying about how many records you sell. But there is a place for both harmless pop and stuff that means a bit more in my heart. But token efforts like the above, there is no place for. It does the pop a disservice, as well as insulting the meaningful, more ‘credible’ stuff. Why masquerade as though you are something different from what you are, when what you are, is actually quite good?
One day i was singing Liberation Frequency and this girl said to me “Hey that’s Paramore!” I almost punched her in the face.
The restraint shown by you is admirable sir.
The problem seems to be that they simply can’t pull it off. The live video is horrible thing to watch.
you think so? i think i disagree to that.. watch the final riot videos..
Yeah thats what i mean, it comes across as a desperate attempt by an inferior band to get some credibility.