The 10 Best Paramore Songs

There aren't bad Paramore songs, which makes selecting a Top 10 damn near impossible. Whether you're all about singles or a sucker for deep cuts, you can't go wrong with the band's catalog—the “best” will always be up for debate. With Paramore transitioning well into the mainstream, let's take a moment to recount some favorites across their entire career.

“All We Know” (All We Know Is Falling, 2005)

The first song on the first Paramore record hit hard. The novelty of a female-lead pop-punk band earned looks, but lead singer Hayley Williams’ performance and the band's polish drove the hook deep. “All We Know” catapults Williams' vocals from the first few seconds through to the chorus, where she belts it for the first time. We've been sold ever since.

The “Interludes” (Paramore, 2013; The Holiday Sessions, 2013)

Okay, maybe it's bad form to sneak three songs into one slot, but give me a break—they add up to less than four minutes of ukulele goodness and work well in tandem (as proved by a flowery Record Store Day release). Williams' casual vocals paired with the ukulele's friendly tone make for a great contrast to the rest of Paramore's catalog. The ditties admittedly caused some album flow issues on their self-titled release, but are too cute to miss.

“Brick By Boring Brick” (Brand New Eyes, 2009)

Go find me another song that makes shoveling big holes sound more fun. BA DA BA BA DA BA BA DA!

“Ain't It Fun” (Paramore, 2013)

The Grammys threw some well-deserved hardware towards Paramore's big new thing. Besides featuring one of Williams' coolest melodies (“well you can ring anybody's bell and get what you want”), Taylor York shows the band's guitars are in good hands. That funky riff powers a song that helped the band transcend genres and seal their status as giants of the scene.

“Careful” (Brand New Eyes, 2009)

While Josh Farro's guitars were always crafty and unique, they generally knew their place: backing vocals. On “Careful,” a big riff battles the singing for the spotlight, resulting in a massive opener to kick off Brand New Eyes. You'd be hard-pressed to find a moment where the band sounds bigger than this chorus.

“Miracle” (Riot! 2007)

Buried between Paramore's breakthrough singles is an essential seventh track. It's tough to keep the non-stop party going that late in a record, but “Miracle” toys with the formula at the right time. While some Riot! singles feel musically hollow years later, this tune bolsters a different dynamic with a thicker chorus, showing smart songwriting that doesn't rely on Williams’ range to hook you.

“Still Into You” (Paramore, 2013)

We're always quick to praise artists who best convey hurt, but we rarely mention the sweet stuff. Breezy little love songs don't get better than “Still Into You.” Verse in and verse out, it's completely adorable. Grin-worthy lyrics would have sold the song on their own, but Williams’ delivery (and that huge note out of the bridge) hit you straight in the feels.

“Here We Go Again” (All We Know Is Falling, 2005)

With both of All We Know Is Falling's singles falling in the first four tunes, “Here We Go Again” serves as a welcome break from the pop-punk onslaught. The bounce of Farro's guitar inspires a different side of Williams, foreshadowing the band's ability to break free of a genre's confines. Had the debut lacked this song's differentiation, the album could have seen a quite different legacy.

“Native Tongue” (the b sides, 2013)

You wouldn't think a 17-song album would have great B-sides, but “Native Tongue” definitely should have made the original self-titled record’s tracklist. The upbeat pace and off-kilter chorus bridges Paramore's eras quite nicely and could have easily replaced “Proof” or “Be Alone” as a late-album shake-up, especially with that talk-talk it out bridge. Granted, starring as the deluxe album's B-side likely garnered more attention than a typical album track, but still…

“Misery Business” (Riot! 2007)

It will always be the classic Paramore track. We all enjoyed All We Know Is Falling, but the rise of Williams' spitfire side on Riot! simply captivated. Reds, yellows, severed ponytails and massive chorus hooks earned Paramore a measly 89 million YouTube views and countless plays on TRL (RIP. Does anyone even remember TRL, or do you all think The Voice is Carson Daly's first gig?). “Misery Business” will always be their breakthrough and always be the first song you show a new listener to encapsulate the band’s early raucous vibe.