Paramore and Hayley Williams' Official Top 20 biggest songs in the UK revealed

Since their debut in the mid-00s, Paramore have grown in stature, now widely regarded as one of the pillars of the pop-punk explosion, and now one of its most widely beloved vanguards. 

In a career that has now spanned six albums - and an extra two solo records from frontwoman Hayley Williams - Paramore may have been defined by their early, raucous pop-rock roots, but they have moved inbetween genres and moves like a steadily flowing stream of water.

From the tender emo-pop of Brand New Eyes (2009), to their stunning New Wave re-invention in After Laughter (2017) and now to This Is Why's confidently jagged, hard post-punk soundscape (2023), there is a reason why to their loyal legions of fans Paramore are regarded, proudly, as the best band in the world.

To celebrate the release of This Is Why - which looks set to claim Hayley Williams, Zac Farro and Taylor York their first Number 1 album in a decade, and third overall - we've crunched the numbers to reveal the biggest songs released by Paramore, and Hayley during her solo endeavours. 

MORE: Paramore's Official Charts history in full

Before we reveal the Top 20 in full below, let's catch up on the Top 5, shall we?

5. Stay The Night (Hayley Williams with Zedd)
Released: 2014
Official Singles Chart peak: Number 2
Total UK chart units: 504,000

Who's that? Hayley Williams? On an EDM song? In 2014?

In one of the many ruts of Paramore's revolving door of members (before the trio of Williams, York and Farro settled into their groove), Hayley dipped her toe once again into solo waters for this buoyant house anthem with Zedd. Released on the back of his career-making singles with Foxes (Clarity) and Ariana Grande (Break Free), Stay The Night burnt a fire up the Official Singles Chart, reaching Number 2. 

4. Hard Times
Released: 2017
Official Singles Chart peak: Number 34
Total UK chart units: 675,000

And that is how you perform a sonic pivot so fully-formed and lived-in, it feels like it was the music you were born to make. Channeling heartbreak and anger in the midst of her divorce, Hayley Williams' solidified Paramore's sturdiest pairing of herself, York and Farro (returning from a seven year hiatus from the band) with their fifth album After Laughter. With its candy-coated melodies and suave 80s-pop influences, lead single Hard Times re-introduced Paramore as strong as they have ever been, making the best music of their career.

Hard Times ranks as Paramore's fourth most-popular song on streaming in the UK, with a combined total of 69 million streams.

3. Still Into You
Released: 2013
Official Singles Chart peak: Number 15
Total UK chart units: 952,000

The biggest hit from Paramore in the UK, Still Into You presents a softer pop edge to the band, helped along by its very Tumblr-esque visuals; with Hayley's bright, pink hair, yellow paint-splattered tights and quirky images of the band rowing a boat through balloons. It's their second-highest peaking track in the UK as a band, reaching Number 15, and is their most-downloaded too (259,000), as well as claiming over 80 million streams across audio and video.

2. Misery Business
Released: 2007
Official Singles Chart peak: Number 17
Total UK chart units: 1 million

The song that made Paramore's career, Misery Business hits you straight between the eyes as a guttural burst of fire and rage, as only a teenager in the midst of feeling her feelings can do.

Misery Business has of late been a bit of a murky spot in Paramore's discography, with Hayley herself retiring the song from their live sets, stating that she no longer agreed with its aggressive message. Time seems to have healed that wound, though. After a resurgence of the pop-punk moment which resulted in a hastily-added credit in Olivia Rodrigo's Good 4 U, Hayley performed the track with Billie Eilish at Coachella and since, the band have re-instated the song at their shows, although now they invite fans up on the stage to sing it for them. 

You may be surprised to know Misery Business never actually reached the UK Top 10, settling for a peak of Number 17, while it's Paramore's biggest seller in the UK, cracking 1 million total chart units and over 88 million streams.

1. Airplanes (Hayley Williams with B.O.B)
Released: 2010
Official Singles Chart peak: Number 1
Total UK chart units: 1.6 million

We like to think that, in an alternate universe, Hayley Williams used the success of Airplanes - her first UK Number 1 single and a Number 2 hit in the US - to break away from Paramore and live her best big pop girl life, but in hindsight it's probably best she didn't, as Petals For Armor sounded like the solo statement she always wanted to make.

Still, far be it for us to knock Airplanes. It still, and always has, slapped, and was a staple of the lived experience of any tween in 2010, it was everywhere.

So, Hayley's shining-star moment as a pop vocalist is her biggest track by far in the UK - with over 1.6 million total chart units, including the most downloads (825,000) and streams (101 million) of any song on this list.

Paramore and Hayley Williams' Official Top 20 biggest songs revealed

©2023 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.

This Is Why is out now via Atlantic.