For twenty years, Paramore has maintained a stronghold on rock music. Alternating between romantic soft rock ballads, fun pop-punk breakouts, and everything in between, Paramore’s mainstream appeal rarely falters.
In stark contrast to the vast appeal of their tunes, on stage and off, Paramore hasn’t shied away from their political and social stances. For the band’s frontwoman, Hayley Williams, that remains true in her solo works.
On her new studio album, Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party, Williams rejects the sanitized storytelling standards for raw truths. During her recent appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Williams delivered a timely statement disguised as a performance.
With string arrangement by Doug Peck, the tune, produced by Daniel James, provides unapologetic commentary on America’s current political landscape. As the cover art and title confirm, the warped weaponization of Christianity is at its center.
Surrounded by fellow instrumentalists, including drummer Jaylen Petinaud, bassist 13th Law, pianist Nick Kassoy, cellist Angelique Montes and Maria G Figueroa, as well as violinist Nicole Wright, Candace Rembert, Alexandria, Chiara Fasi, Kayla Williams, Lakshmi James, Williams’ performance of her spine-chilling single, “True Believer,” she subtly acknowledges the attack on the arts.
On stage, as Williams glides through the verses, she addresses the destabilization of housing, gun violence, and racism.
“They put up chainlink fences underneath the biggest bridges / They pose in Christmas cards with guns as big as all their children / They say that Jesus is the way, but then they gave him a white face / So they don’t have to pray to someone they deem lesser than them / The South will not rise again / Til it’s paid for every sin / Strange fruit, hard bargain / Till the roots, Southern Gotham,” sings Williams.
Williams’ nods to the late musicians Nina Simone (“Mississippi Goddam” banner) and Billie Holiday (“Strange Fruit” lyric reference and live instrumental arrangement) honor the activism of Black women.
Although Williams’ performance has been met with mixed reviews online, her overall mission, to reflect the times (as instructed by Nina Simone), was accomplished.
Watch Hayley Williams’ performance of “True Believer” on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon below.
Hayley Williams’ album Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party is out now via Post Atlantic. Click here to stream or order.
