Ain't It Fun

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Lore & Background

The song's lyrics were inspired by Williams' decision to move from Nashville to Los Angeles, feeling overwhelmed after the departure of Josh and Zac Farro from Paramore. She said, "I took off for L.A. as if it was going to be some kind of paradise or saving grace. I got there and realized that my problems were following me. Okay, so I was having a bad six months? Get over it." The song was penned as a message regarding her behavior, in order for her to cope with her decision. She stated, "No one else was saying that to me, so I had to say it to myself." Development started in a hotel room, where York created an audio loop with his keyboard, which Williams likened to works by Siouxsie and the Banshees and Paula Abdul. Six months later, they recorded with a gospel choir composed of six individuals: Brandon Hampton, Joslyn James, Katherine and Sean Dancy, Talitha Manor and Yolanda Harris-Dancy. Williams linked the inclusion of a gospel choir to her upbringing, in which she frequently went to churches. Jeremy Davis said, "After we started writing weird stuff like 'Ain't It Fun', we got nervous. But that was a comfort. We've grown and we don't like the same music we liked, so why would [our fans] not?"

In Their Own Story

The song was performed on television several times, including on The Voice, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and American Idol. On the American Idol season 13 finale, finalist Jena Irene sang the second verse of "Ain't It Fun" alone, then sang the chorus and bridge with Paramore. The band also performed it on Good Morning America on June 13, 2014. For each performance of the song during The Self-Titled Tour, the band was accompanied by a gospel choir who sang alongside Williams. The New Zealand Herald's Rachel Bache stated that the track "had everyone dancing." After the original music video directed by Jonathan Desbiens was canceled, a second video was directed by Sophia Peer. The latter, released in January 2014, documents the band attempting to break a series of world records.

Reader's Guide

Released as the fourth single from Paramore's self-titled album, "Ain't It Fun" was serviced to American mainstream radio on February 4, 2014. A 12-inch vinyl record of the single was released for Record Store Day 2014, designed by Williams to look like a broken vinyl, containing the original version and a Dutch Uncles-produced remix. In Italy, the song was serviced to contemporary hit radio on March 30, 2014 by Atlantic. On June 24, 2014, Atlantic released an EP featuring the song's radio edit as well as three remixes. Written in the key of E major, the song paces at a moderate tempo of 104 beats per minute, featuring instrumentation from a "happy" xylophone and a "rubbery" bass guitar. The gospel choir first appears during its bridge. The vocal ranges of Williams and the gospel choir span from B3 to C♯5. Critics hailed its musical diversity: Scott Heisel of Alternative Press called it a "blast of new jack swing," while Cameron Adams from News.com.au described it as a funk rock song. Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone characterized it as "soul-powered." The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song at the 57th ceremony.

Did You Know?

• The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song at the 57th ceremony, making Hayley Williams the first woman to win that honor since Alanis Morissette in 1999.
• The 12-inch vinyl single for Record Store Day 2014 was designed by Williams to look like a broken vinyl.
• The original music video directed by Jonathan Desbiens was canceled; a second video directed by Sophia Peer shows the band attempting to break a series of world records.
• The gospel choir featured six individuals: Brandon Hampton, Joslyn James, Katherine and Sean Dancy, Talitha Manor and Yolanda Harris-Dancy.
• The song became Paramore's highest-peaking single on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10 and receiving 'triple platinum' certification from the RIAA.

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