• Hayley Williams has publicly listed her five favourite Paramore songs, first during the early COVID period and in a later update.
  • Many picks come from the 2017 album After Laughter; her all-time favourite is the stripped-back “Future (live)”.
  • Williams has balanced a growing solo career while regularly reflecting on Paramore’s catalogue.

Hayley Williams’ shortlist: a frontwoman’s picks

Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams has shared the five Paramore tracks she prefers — a rare look at which songs the band’s lead singer values most. She first posted a list during the early COVID summer and later expanded and revised it, revealing a mix of singles, deep cuts and live-only favourites.

Why the lists matter

Williams’ choices show how an artist’s relationship with their catalogue evolves. While her recent solo work — including the 20-track Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party — explores personal identity beyond the band, she frequently returns to Paramore songs that shaped her career.

The first list (COVID-era)

In the initial Twitter list Williams posted, her top five leaned heavily on songs from Paramore’s pop-leaning 2017 record After Laughter. Her picks were:

  1. “Told You So”
  2. “Hard Times”
  3. “Pool”
  4. “Rose-Coloured Boy”
  5. Live version of “I Caught Myself”

That selection prompted talk of a recency bias — several songs came from the same era — but it underscored how After Laughter’s mix of upbeat melodies and darker lyrics resonates with Williams.

The updated list: broader favourites

Responding to fan curiosity, Williams later shared a different five, noting that “the last two Paramore albums [at the time] are our best, no contest.” Her revised picks broadened the timeframe and included gospel-tinged and deeper album tracks:

  1. “Future (live)” — Williams’ top pick and her all-time favourite Paramore track
  2. “Crazy Girls”
  3. “Fast In My Car”
  4. “Last Hope”
  5. “Ain’t It Fun”

Why “Future (live)” tops the list

Williams chose the live version of “Future” as her favourite. The stripped-back performance lets the lyrics and voice carry the moment — lines such as “I’m writing the future / I’m leaving a key here” resonate as hopeful and intimate in contrast to the band’s louder anthems.

Notable inclusions

“Ain’t It Fun” appears for its gospel-infused chorus and stadium appeal. “Last Hope” and “Fast In My Car” highlight Paramore’s emotional range, from persistence through depression to raw rock drive. The lists together map a career that spans pop-punk beginnings to more experimental pop textures.

What this shows about Hayley Williams

Williams’ public rankings are a reminder that artists often re-evaluate their own work. While she continues to build her solo identity, her choices show a clear affection and ongoing creative dialogue with Paramore’s catalogue.

Fans can revisit the songs — studio and live versions — to hear why the frontwoman picked them, and to trace how those tracks helped shape both her voice and the band’s evolving sound.

Image Referance: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-five-best-paramore-songs-according-to-hayley-williams/