The idea of performing the closer of Paramore’s 2009 album Brand New Eyes used to terrify Hayley Williams. For a long time, the band never played it live, and only in the past couple of years has Williams started to integrate it into their setlists. During a livestream in 2013, Williams explained that she held back for fear of messing up the emotionally and vocally demanding track.

“It would be easier to sing ‘All I Wanted’ if it was just at one show,” she said at the time. “Because then I wouldn’t have to worry about doing it every night on stage and being consistent. It can be tiring for my voice. I try to take care of it. And ‘All I Wanted’ is the one that, I can’t mess that up. Like if I mess that up, I’ll never forgive myself.”

Beyond being vocally taxing, “All I Wanted” is emotiona

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