“This Is Why” Remixes Exist

Graphic by Monika Krueger

By Serenity Holland

Paramore released their sixth studio album, This Is Why, earlier this year. Now, eight months later, they’ve gifted their fans a new way to experience these songs with the release of Re: This Is Why. The remixes feature eleven different artists across each track. All of the artists take creative liberties on this record, either completely distorting the track or adding something unexpected to it. 

Here are five songs from Re: This Is Why that (I believe) bring their original songs the most justice.

5. “The News (Re: The Linda Lindas)”

Original

This track’s sound is filled by the rage of a moment of helplessness. Hayley Williams, frontwoman for Paramore, angrily whines the lyrics, “I worry, and I give money, and I feel useless behind this computer.” Written during a time when political movements were eager for justice, in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, Williams expresses the feelings that come with having limits on what you can do for a situation. The song features Taylor York on guitar and drums by Zac Farro. Their rhythms compliment each other with battle-like aggression while maintaining a strong backing of Williams. This is the kind of song that can’t be appreciated without its conversational instrumentation. This cohesion is perfectly demonstrated on the track.

Remix

The remixed version of “The News” features The Linda Lindas: a group of four who formed as a band back in 2018. They add a greater intensity that the content of this song demands. With delicate backing harmonies through the pre-chorus, they switch up in a matter of seconds for a casual scream session in the chorus. It’s as if their goal was to turn every instrument, vocal, and production technique to maximum volume placing emphasis on everything the song stands for. They did just that.

4. “Thick Skull (Re: Julien Baker)”

Original

Williams crafts “Thick Skull" with a heavy metaphorical throughline. Describing herself as “a magnet for broken pieces” she is in result, caught “red-handed.” It’s a slower piece that gives the listener space to pay attention to the lyrics. Then, by the time you finally grasp the meaning of it, the song breaks out into what sounds like the musical equivalent of a tantrum. 

Remix

If Paramore hadn’t released this first, you’d think singer/songwriter Julien Baker (she/her), had written and released this herself. Baker has a voice that feels like it would break if you laid a finger on it. The fragility and rawness of these vocals aligns with the theme of the song: it's the cycle of someone who constantly falls for broken people, suffering the consequences at the end each time. Baker brings in tortured-sounding guitar riffs, coated in distortion, while her vocals seem to give up as the song goes on. This remix is beautifully broken.

3. “You First (Re: Remi Wolf)”

Original

After a three stick hit and a back and forth guitar loop, revenge is born. Williams is mad and,  like a stray animal, she keeps “feeding scraps” to the devil on her shoulder. Unwilling to shy away from feeling anger to its full capacity, in the catchy chorus, she explains that everyone is a bad guy. It’s just a matter of who receives karma first. “You First” is one of those songs where listeners are able to witness an artist come to terms with the ugly parts of themselves, weaponizing it to fuel the madness. Paramore was shameless here: “Never said I wasn’t petty, you can bet I don’t regret it for a second,” Williams sings. 

Remix

Remi Wolf (she/her) was the chosen feature artist for this track and it works perfectly. The rebellious and remarkable young talent makes the remix sound like it belongs on her own album. It’s a sound reminiscent of early ‘2000s sing-along music you can dance to while wearing low-waisted jeans with no remorse. It’s a timeless piece that is playful and holds strong envy.

2. “Figure 8 (Re: Bartees Strange)”

Original

With a sense of regret, Williams sings about sacrificing parts of herself for someone else's sake. The introduction has a suspenseful and hesitant nature about it, as if what’s about to be said is difficult to confront. “And once I get going, I don’t know how to stop, I don’t know how to stop,” she repeats in the pre-chorus. When the chorus hits, the drums become a backbone of the courage needed to finally confess what the metaphorical verses allude to. It’s a powerful song for any listener to sympathize with.

Remix

Bartees Strange (he/him) is a producer and songwriter who gives this song a daunting sound. This version is slowed down and filled with dense 808s. There are subtle echoes and notes floating around until a burst of organized chaos erupts in the chorus. Towards the end, Strange breaks into an acoustic round of the chorus, including a series of runs behind the main vocal. It’s as if the intention of this remix was to showcase the dimensions of betrayal; the anger, defeat and hurt that come with it.

1. “Liar (Re: Romy)”

Original

Williams emotes in what seems to be a testimonial on “Liar.” The third to last track on the album is more stripped and vulnerable compared to the others. The guitar chords glide, while the drums follow in a simple pattern allowing a spotlight on the lyrics that discuss an inclination to protect against, rather than lean into love. “Love is not an easy thing to admit, but I’m not ashamed of it.” Unlike many of the other songs on this album, it champions acceptance over inferiority to an inner-conflict.

Remix

Romy, a guitarist for xx, adds a softness in the production that matches the tender sentiment of the lyrics. The remix starts with acapella, in which Romy soon joins as if to say, “you’re not alone in this testament.” What stands out about this version of the song is the noticeable investment from the feature artist. Romy decides to go just as deep in introspection as Williams, adding value to the song. “What if I loved you and never said it,” Romy sings. It’s heartbreaking and empowering at the same time. The song is not typical to Paramore’s style, but that is the point of a remix, right?

Paramore knew what they were doing when they chose features for this remix album. There is so much compatibility, experimentation, and emotion tied to this project. The question is whether or not remix albums do more damage, or good to the original version of songs? Remixes celebrate the flexibility of art, multiplying the amount of people it touches. Therefore, let there be more on past, present and future bodies of work.