“All that I want is to wake up fine…”

Hard Times is the new single from American band, Paramore. It’s been a little quiet on the Paramore front for a while now, with their last album release dating back five years. But alas, Paramore are back! And so too is Zac Farro, as the band officially announced back in February that Farro was returning as their official drummer. Paramore recently announced a statement that their forthcoming fifth studio album, After Laughter is due for release May 12^th, creating chaos among fans new and old.

It’s been one week since the release of the single and the music video. Within 48 hours, the video was trending on YouTube at number three via the Fuelled by Ramen channel, so it’s obvious people are digging the new Paramore track. Personally, I’m not 100% sold on Hard Times yet… After all, this is not the Paramore I know. Paramore have been widely known (since their formation in 2004) to be heavily a part of the Alt genre – pop punk, alt-rock, rock/pop punk… All the songs and albums that gained major popularity for Paramore were in these genres, and this new track has ventured completely left field.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying this song isn’t great because quite frankly it is. It is bloody great! This track is an obvious breath of fresh air, a new start for Paramore who have been known not to stick to one particular song or genre type in the past. Hard Times is a pumping electro-pop rock track led by the light 80’s influenced keyboard/electric guitar infused melody and a strong drum foundation. The song accompanies the well-tuned melodic voice of vocalist Hayley Williams and vice versa; I don’t think I’ve ever heard a Paramore song that hasn’t done exactly that. Williams has a voice that fits any genre, any song perfectly like a glove!

“Hard times, gonna make you wonder why you even try. Hard times, gonna take you down and laugh when you cry…”

Hard Times is evidently an introduction to an entirely new Paramore, a new chapter with their honest as ever lyrics and hard work following them every step of the way. What awaits us in the impending release of After Laughter is entirely different story and for the first time ever, I can’t even begin to predict what this album is going to bring to fans and to the music world. Will it be the electro-pop based album with songs like Hard Times? Maybe… Will it have some real pop-punk, alt-rock bangers too? Your guess is as good as mine!

For now, Hard Times is here while we sit and wait. Welcome back, Paramore. Hard Times, go check it out!