"Emergency" is a song by American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

band

Paramore Paramore is an American rock band formed in Franklin, Tennessee, in 2004. Since 2017, the band's lineup includes lead vocalist Hayley Williams, lead guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of ...

. It was released on October 21, 2005, as the second single from their debut studio album, ''

All We Know Is Falling ''All We Know Is Falling'' is the debut studio album by the American rock band Paramore, released on July 26, 2005, under the Atlantic-distributed Fueled by Ramen in the United States. Its production was handled by James Paul Wisner, Mike Green ...

''. It was released on 7" vinyl in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2006, and contained the B-side "Oh, Star," and a poster of the band. The song was written by

Hayley Williams Hayley Nichole Williams (born December 27, 1988) is an American singer and songwriter. She is the lead vocalist and only constant member of the rock band Paramore, which she co-founded in 2004. Williams was born and raised in Meridian, Miss ...

and

Josh Farro Joshua Neil Farro (born September 29, 1987) is an American musician, best known as co-founder, former guitarist and backing vocalist for the rock band Paramore. Since leaving Paramore in 2010, he has pursued a solo career as the lead vocalist ...

. It failed to chart in the United States, however, it was released in ''Kerrang!''s "Class of '06" compilation CD, calling it one of the best rock tracks of that year. An alternative

post-hardcore Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. Like the term " post-punk", the term "post-hardcore" has been applied to a broad conste ...

version of the song, providing a heavier sound and screamed vocals, was released on '' The Summer Tic EP'' in 2006.

Background

The song is about the fact that love is taken for granted, and how most relationships are in emergency status. It is also about Williams' witnessing her parents' argument and failing marriage as a child. During an interview with the February 2008 edition of ''Alternative Press'', Williams said, There have been several versions of the song released, including the original, a live version in

Anaheim Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the tenth-most ...

(featured on an extended edition of

Riot! ''Riot!'' is the second studio album by the American Rock music, rock band Paramore. It was released in the United States on June 12, 2007, through Fueled by Ramen as a follow-up to the band's debut album, ''All We Know Is Falling'' (2005). The ...

), and a "Crab Mix", more commonly known as the "Screamo Version" which features screaming vocals introduced in some parts.

Reception

Ed Masley at ''

The Arizona Republic ''The Arizona Republic'' is an American daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. History Early years The newspap ...

'' ranked it as the 11th best Paramore song, stating "this one offsets melancholy jangling with headbanging power chords, the jangling underscoring Williams' bittersweet delivery as she sets the tone with a pout of, "I think we have an emergency.""

Music video

The beginning of the music video opens with Paramore having minor but bloody injuries, sitting a room looking miserable. They wear dirtied but formal clothing with red roses pinned to them. In between cut scenes are of them performing outside. Then a man (

Shane Drake Shane C. Drake is an American music video director and producer originally from Redding, California. He has directed videos for many artists, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Avril Lavigne, Trivium, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at th ...

) walks in the room Paramore are in, tosses a rose at Williams, and gestures them to follow him. All of them go outside where there is a stage (being) set up for them to perform. The man is apparently the director and before he mouths the word, "Action!" makeup artists apply more to the bloody injuries on the band members. And as the band performs, there are cut scenes of Williams sitting in a chair from the beginning and singing along to the song.

Live performances

Paramore performed this song live in

, opening their "All We Know Is Falling" tour. The song was extended to have a piano introduction, which was played by Hayley, whom also did lead vocals. "Emergency" was also played live on "The Final Riot" tour and also given an extended piano introduction. This version of the song is also included in "The Final Riot" album/DVD set.

Track listing

References

External links

Official Paramore website
{{Authority control Paramore songs 2006 singles Music videos directed by Shane Drake Songs written by Hayley Williams Songs written by Josh Farro 2005 songs Fueled by Ramen singles