It’s been a while, but guess what – Mondays still suck.
And if you’re also still like me and in need of some inspiration to get through the day, I’ve got just the thing for you. THE thing, to be fair. It’s been four days, and I’m still absolutely floored by how powerful this performance was.
The very essence of punk may not be what you usually expect from Jimmy Fallon’s guests, yet that’s exactly what we got last week. Sure, piano and orchestra might not sound very punk, but damn, it sure felt like it. Hayley Williams might be only 3 apples tall, but she’s one fierce woman who will always stand up for what she believes in. And that’s exactly what she did here.
She used national TV as a platform to remind us all that art will always be an act of resistance. You can fight back with soothing melodies that carry important messages, and sometimes, the most beautiful fuck-offs are simply delivered through beauty.
Music can be, and should be, disturbing. If it doesn’t challenge you, what will? In the right hands and with true intent, it can be a thousand times more powerful than any lukewarm statement.
I’m not here to give you a lesson on the US political climate (and global) – spoiler alert: everything is fucked up – but I’ll let you check the lyrics of True Believer, which Hayley specifically chose to “promote” her new album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.
I say “promote” sarcastically because, while it’ll likely resonate with the right crowd, it felt more like a mission than a PR move. Those lyrics carry the weight of an entire nation, but her vocals – absolutely insane vocals, by the way – remind us that it’s not insurmountable. But that’s not all.
Let’s talk about the full Black women’s orchestra positioned right in front of her. Remember that Mississippi Goddam is not just a cheeky jab, but a nod to the powerful Nina Simone anthem for civil rights. And if that still doesn’t convince you that this was THE ultimate fuck-off of the year, just wait for the queen of outros to do her thing. Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit will hit you hard if you’ve made it this far into oblivion.
Now you get it, don’t you?
Even if most conservatives – the ones with actual culture beyond their safe little bubbles – are probably still fuming, I’ll focus on how satisfying their discomfort is as a side effect of the message delivered here.
We’re not fucking done yet.
We’ll keep fighting back.
And we won’t stand down.
All the chills. All the pride. And while I’m not usually into Idle Worship, Hayley, you make it hard not to become a believer ourselves.
And though I can’t help but see a bit of Kurt at MTV Unplugged in that vibe, it’s not why this performance will go down as iconic.
It will be because that’s Hayley Williams for you. Fearless, 3 apples tall, and ready to make the world a better place, one song at a time.
Told you.
Punk as fuck.
