Track Review: Paramore, ‘This Is Why’

It’s been five long years since Paramore’s last studio album. Following the sublime After Laughter, the band embarked on a hiatus which gifted us a pair of stellar solo records from lead vocalist Hayley Williams. From Olivia Rodrigo and Miley Cyrus to WILLOW and Demi Lovato, various forms of pop-punk, rock, and pop-rock have come raging back into the forefront of popular music. With “This Is Why,” the lead single for their album of the same name, Paramore effortlessly situates themselves in the 2022 music scene and delivers a delectable slice of pop-rock goodness.

Immediately, the song’s juxtaposition of funky guitars and haunting woodwinds bridges the gap from After Laughter’s glossy new wave to the more sinister undercurrent that runs through “This Is Why.” Hayley croons the song’s opening lines, “If you have an opinion / Maybe you should shove it,” with a gentle coo — one that implies control and eschews fragility. Hayley might be explaining why she doesn’t “leave the house,” but she still finds power in her choice to stay at home and find solace and safety wherever she can. Her vocal approach on “This Is Why” recalls the more muted and restrained vocal performance she opted for on Petals for Armor. At times, she creeps into the upper registers of her voice. The chanty glissando-anchored hook, in particular, grants her the space to soar over the infectious instrumental. The final chorus, however, doesn’t offer the moment of catharsis that often coincides with Hayley’s show-stopping belts, but that self-awareness is what allows the song to maintain its steady build throughout its runtime.

As we continue to grapple with life in an allegedly post-pandemic world, “This Is Why” evokes the tension between the subtle darkness of isolation and the freedom to be found in solitude. Paramore truly couldn’t have chosen a more timely or more accessible single to usher in their return.

Score: 80