After a long break (almost six years), Paramore’s fanbase is still here to fawn over new singles in preparation for an album that will be released later this year. “This is Why” is going to be Paramore’s last album with Atlantic Records, whom they have been partnered with since 2004. The newest single, “C’est Comme Ça,” continues Paramore’s alternative-dance sound familiar to old listeners and easy to get into for new ones. 

“C’est Comme Ça” expresses anxieties about the future and the stress of instability in the face of a new world emerging with the move toward a post-pandemic world. This single follows similar themes as the last two, “This is Why” and “The News.” All are encouraged by the state of the world today, though feel more obvious in message than Paramore of the past. The singles are unabashedly political and more blatantly so than songs previous that offered more ingrained politicism than outright words of criticism. “C’est Comme Ça,” opposed to the other two singles, is more personal. The French title encases the song’s meaning, translating to “it’s like that” —or more colloquially spoken to mean “that’s just how it is.” The song looks at Williams’ state of mind as life shifts after a hard few years. It offers a desire for a clear path forward and a sense of anxiety despite the move toward stability, outright stating “It’s my dependence on friction/that really hinders my progression.” The feeling is familiar: wanting things to work out and going out of your mind to make them happen, so you don’t know what to do with yourself once they do. That particular sense of unrest when things finally fall together is encapsulated in this song. 

In terms of the actual sound of the song, “C’est Comme Ça” is a dance-y alternative-pop genre fairly consistent with their past work. Paramore’s previous “After Laughter” (2017) leaned into the more pop-like alternative to earlier albums like “Riot” (2007) that was considerably more “rock” though still solidly pop. In this newest single, Williams employs more spoken word. She talks about struggles with health, mental health and the like in a way that immediately sounded to me like an impression of the Talking Heads song “Once in a Lifetime.” Williams stated in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 that she took inspiration from Dry Cleaning and Yard Act, which use similar spoken word-like lyricism over indie rock beats. Along with a looping, repetitive chorus of na-na-na’s the song provides a catchy contrast to the spoken verses. The consistent rhythmic guitar and percussive beat that parallel the voice create an easy to listen to narrative that leads into a more individual instrumental break in just two and a half minutes. It’s a quick listen and enjoyable, though definitely not breaking any boundaries. 

Of the three singles, “C’est Comme Ça” comes out on top. The other two fall unfortunately short for me in terms of lyricism and experimentation in sound, though are not completely unenjoyable. I am still very much looking forward to the new album to be released later this year. I think the pieces can be put together and the album can come together to be a successful spin on their old sound.