Tag: Hayley Williams

No One Is As Lucky As Us

Over the past 6 years, our band has been through some of the most intense and incredible experiences of our lives. None of these things have been without trial. We’ve worked so hard to get to where we are and the fact that you are all still here with us says something about you that we will never be able to truly understand. You have stuck with us through thick and thin and we are so grateful. A couple of months ago, Josh and Zac let us know they would be leaving the band after our show in Orlando last Sunday. None of us were really shocked. For the last year it hasn’t seemed as if they wanted to be around anymore. We want Josh and Zac to do something that makes them happy and if that isn’t here with us, then we support them finding happiness elsewhere. But we never for a second thought about leaving any of this behind. We really hope that you can be encouraged by the fact that the three of us who are still here are ready to take on another chapter of our journey together. You have always been what keeps us going so why would we stop now? We want to stick by you. Knowing that we have a unified passion and a clear vision makes us feel stronger than ever.

The “blog” that was posted regarding everything that is going on with our band was a fake. We aren’t sure who did it or why… And we aren’t sure how they timed it this way. This is the first time that we have spoken out about what’s going on and we wouldn’t have released an official statement that important through a personal blog. So, we’re sorry for any confusion and just to remain clear, this is the first time we have spoken out about this.

We have some amazing things lined up for next year starting with our tour in South America. We are still coming to you and we are excited about who we are bringing with us! The tour is still on and we can’t wait to see you all.

As we look back, and now as we look with excitement to the future, in all of this what truly matters are the good times. The pictures of us with our arms around each other, the long van rides, your faces while you sing along as we play. Thank you for getting us right here to this very moment. We look forward to our best times. And we hope you will go there with us.

Love, Hayley, Jeremy & Taylor

Paramore

Source

Joshua Neil Farro & Zachary Wayne Farro

I woke up this morning to an unpleasant surprise, to find that Twitter and Tumblr are exploding with news about Josh & Zac leaving Paramore, and the first thought that came to mind was, this cannot be true. There were rumours going on that Hayley posted a post on her Tumblr about Josh leaving but I was so relieved when I found out it was fake, only to find out later on that both Zac and him indeed are leaving the band, although that post wasn’t written by Hayley. All sorts of feelings started to bombard me, a mixture of shock, sadness, and regret. I cannot listen to their songs and relive that night I saw them live on the 19th of October without bursting into tears, because, God help me 2 months ago exactly on this day I saw them live for the first time. Imagine how it is like waking up brimming with happiness over those memories, only to find out that 2 members from your favourite band are leaving.

Paramore wrote many songs about the band almost breaking up in many occasions, but I couldn’t believe the Farros would want to leave, especially since the band was faring so well, with so many tours under their belt. They have been there ever since the starting of the existence of Paramore, and have strived to be one of the well-known bands in the world. But apparently things changed drastically after the complications between Hayley and Josh’s personal relationship, so many weren’t all that surprised about Josh’s leaving. But Zac, Zac who has been playing the drums for Paramore since the mere age of twelve was leaving too, although it made sense for him to leave if his brother was leaving too. I don’t even know what I’m trying to say here, but I’m past caring anything. I think I’m just saying there were the ups and downs of being in Paramore, and despite the downsides that made the Farros leave, I will always remember the old memories Paramore had together. If Josh and Zac felt they would be happier if they left the band, well so be it. It’s their happiness that counts, right? And Paramore will never stop being Paramore for me, I’m not saying it won’t be different, it will be so, so different without the Farros, but people leave, and we just have to accept it, and fuck the haters because I won’t stop loving Paramore for their music, and for the memories I had with them. Good luck to Josh & Zac Farro, we will miss you.

No one is as lucky as us, we’re not at the end but we’ve already won.

Paramore Live in Kuala Lumpur 2010

Note: I am sorry if the pictures are of terrible quality because I only had my phone with me at the time.

19th October 2010 has been one of my most anticipated dates this year, ever since Daphne told me Paramore is officially coming to Malaysia to perform for the first time. I bought the tickets off Ticketpro for RM242 and got Joshua to go with me.

Joshua and I reached the Bukit Jalil Stadium at 3pm, and waited at the very front of the gates until 6.30pm when the guards finally let us in. I know the tickets said “Doors open @ 7.00pm” but people were starting to chant “LET US IN!” and someone slipped in or something and even the guards couldn’t control everyone by then so everyone just started rushing in.

The crowd at 4/5pm.
The crowd at 5/6pm.
The Gates of Run-Like-Hell-To-Get-The-Best-Seats

So after getting through the gates, it was a race of getting your ticket scanned, torn, having ladies giving out flyers, and reaching the entrance to the seats where you had to get your ticket and hand stamped. We were pretty much the first to reach the seats as we were first in the line at the gates after all. And then it’s another hour or so of waiting.

Those lucky Rock Zone people getting in early + getting their autographs and all. 😦
Courtesy of Huixian.

Then finally the lights went off and everyone gasped and got to their feet but it was the opening act, a local band called Y2K which, to be fairly honest, sucked. The female lead singer was actually trying to imitate Hayley by jumping around but I’m sorry no one beats Hayley Williams that easily. No one.

Y2K playing and no one is paying attention. Wonder why.

They performed about 5 songs and said, “I’m so sorry because I know you guys want to watch Paramore and we’re in the way” and I was like, “Yeah you are”, so they played their final song (which was not good actually) and they left the stage and we had to wait for another half hour, I think.

But the wait was worthwhile, because their entrance was spectacular. I started screaming like there was no tomorrow and it was definitely amazing no words could ever describe my adrenaline high.

Courtesy of Huixian

Then the curtain dropped, and they started blasting Ignorance.

Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
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Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian (Acoustic- Hayley + Josh)
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian (Acoustic- Hayley + Josh + Taylor)
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian (Skirt=<3)
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian (Someone threw her a plushie)
Courtesy of Huixian (Someone threw her a shirt too)

I think I screamed and cried and sang at the same time. It wasn’t just the song, I’ve heard it millions of times, although it was an upbeat number, it was the atmosphere, the crowd, the simple fact of looking –looking with my own naked eyes!– at Paramore, at Hayley Williams, Josh Farro, Zac Farro, Jeremy Davis and Taylor York with their guitars, drum and Hayley’s trademark red mic that set me off. Paramore! Right in front of my eyes! After years and years of just looking at photographs and salivating/drooling over them and how amazing they are. There was no need to think at all when I started singing. Everything came on its own, the tears, the lyrics, the screams. It was amazing. An entirely out-of-world experience.

The setlist for the show is as goes:

  • Ignorance
  • Feeling Sorry
  • That’s What You Get
  • For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic
  • Emergency
  • Playing God
  • Careful
  • Decode
  • Let This Go (Acoustic)
  • When It Rains (Acoustic)
  • Where The Lines Overlap (Acoustic)
  • Misguided Ghosts (Acoustic)
  • Crushcrushcrush
  • Pressure
  • Looking Up
  • The Only Exception

Encore:

  • Brick By Boring Brick
  • Misery Business

When Hayley and Josh headed for a corner of the stage to sing Let This Go, I actually thought they would sing My Heart, you have no idea how much I want to hear Josh screaming. And at some point when Hayley was singing Misguided Ghosts, the mic broke. The mic broke. Malaysia, you and your shitty sound system! Hayley actually curtsied and ran to the back of the stage, leaving Josh and Taylor just sitting there and I was horrified if she was mad at the sound system or something and we started chanting “Paramore! Paramore!” and I was actually at the verge of tears. Elya said the mic even broke when Josh was singing When It Rains/Where The Lines Overlap. Are you actually kidding me? But eventually Hayley came back out front and started singing Crushcrushcrush and I was so glad and relieved I just couldn’t stop screaming.

At some point during Pressure, Hayley started introducing everyone in the band and oh my God I couldn’t stop screaming when Hayley called John the vocalist slash keyboardist slash man on the computer, Jeremy the bass player, Zac the youngest drummer, Taylor the Justin Timberlake of Paramore, Josh the lead guitarist, and finally Josh took the mic and said, “There’s only one member left of Paramore to introduce…the lead vocalist of Paramore, Hayley Williams!” And I thought I couldn’t scream anymore but apparently I could so I screamed some more. And when Jeremy flipped over Josh with his guitar, I swear I just screamed till I died. What do you do at a concert if you’re not screaming? Because everytime they started playing a new song I was basically screaming out the song, dancing, jumping, waving my hands, clapping, and headbanging. Forgetting everything else except the music, myself and the band on stage in that hour and a half was the best moment ever. Indulging. Forgetting the woes and troubles and just enjoying yourself to your very last cell. Pumped. Wanting for more. The feeling is just indescribable. For people, it might just seem like “another concert to go to on a fairly boring day” but to me, it actually means a lot. The world. It’s Paramore. They band I’ve been listening to for two years over and over again. It was the feeling of being in their presence. To jump and dance wildly along with them, forgetting every single thing, how silly you might actually look like or how terrible your singing might be, going into that zone where there is just you, the music and the band. It’s like the spotlight on your mundane life, a significant memory you would remember and cherish forever, the memory of being to your first concert to watch your favourite band, because it was the only night you truly felt happy and free, to just forget the world and live in your own for a while. It was amazing. I just can’t describe the immensity of ecstasy and euphoria through words.

When Hayley said the show was about to end, I wanted more. I didn’t want this moment to end, but end it did, with a very energetic Misery Business that made the crowd go crazy. Oh, and there was this guy who got called by Hayley to sing Misery Business together with her and if looks were daggers he would have been dead. And Hayley threw Zac’s drumsticks and Josh’s/Jeremy’s guitar pick and being the one who was about a metre away from the stage I wanted to tear my hair out in frustration. And then there was confetti. And then the lights went on, Paramore left the stage and the show ended.

Before you facepalm at my photos, here are the ones I stole from Elya’s Tumblr:

When Josh introduced Hayley. <3"
Hayley and Paramore's box set.

These were shots taken by Huixian’s friend, Keana, who was in the mosh pit and therefore got clear headshots and stuff.

Courtesy of Keana
Courtesy of Keana
Courtesy of Keana
Courtesy of Keana
Courtesy of Keana
Courtesy of Keana
Courtesy of Keana
Courtesy of Keana
Courtesy of Keana
Courtesy of Keana
Confetti everywhere
Courtesy of Huixian
Courtesy of Huixian (Hayley jumped onto Josh to piggyback her aww adorbz)

DIY tattoo that I am never washing off.
The state I was in after the show. Sweaty, panting and exhausted, but ecstatic all the same.
Courtesy of Huixian

After the show, I met up with Sasha and we both agreed the concert was so sick. No chance to meet up with Elya but there’ll always be a next time. Haziqah even said she saw me which was unexpected but put a smile on my face all the same.

Despite lining up for hours, the show was totally worth it. I probably should mention I came home with a hungover, feeling sick and dizzy, but it was worth it. No photos, autographs or merch but they’ll be back, I’m absolutely sure, and if they’re not, I’m flying over to meet them pronto. Despite the sore neck, back, arms, legs and throat, it was worth it.

IT WAS THE BEST SHOW/NIGHT EVER.

“Once you’re in the Paramore family, we’re never letting you out. You’re in for life!”

-Hayley Williams