Hayley Williams on being a feminist: "'Misery Business' is not a set of lyrics that I relate to"
It appears that Hayley Williams has been receiving flack for the lyrics in Paramore's breakout track, “Misery Business,” which was released in 2007. Instead of ignoring the noise, she penned a blog on the matter, in which she claims, “'Misery Business' is not a set of lyrics that I relate to as a 26-year-old-woman. I haven’t related to it in a very long time. Those words were written when I was 17… admittedly, from a very narrow-minded perspective. It wasn’t really meant to be this big philosophical statement about anything. It was quite literally a page in my diary about a singular moment I experienced as a high schooler.”
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She concludes the piece with, “I’m a 26-2024-old person. And yes, a proud feminist. Just maybe not a perfect one? Thanks for reading this.”
You can read all of what she had to say below.
i read a couple comments today about how i can’t be feminist or whether or not i’m a “good” feminist. to speak specifically to one of those comments, i’ll say this: Misery Business is not a set of lyrics that I relate to as a 26 year old woman. i haven’t related to it in a very long time. those words were written when i was 17… admittedly, from a very narrow-minded perspective. it wasn’t really meant to be this big philosophical statement about anything. it was quite literally a page in my diary about a singular moment i experienced as a high schooler.
…and that’s the funny part about growing up in a band with any degree of success. people still have my diary. the past and the present. all the good AND bad and embarrassing of it!
but i’m not ashamed. one thing i’m more thankful for than just about anything is all that my experiences – including my mistakes – have shaped me and made me someone i’m happier to be. in songs and in life. it’s always a little nerve-wracking to bring you guys along for the ride but when i step back and think about it… it’s kind of a huge honor that anyone cares in the first place.
in conclusion. i’m a 26 years old person. and yes, a proud feminist. just maybe not a perfect one?
thanks for reading this.
(ps, i’m coming back for a blog about the Self-Titled era and Writing The Future… soon)
