|
"All We Know" | "Misery Business" | "Hallelujah" | 
|
"Misery Business" is the fourth track off of Paramore's second album Riot! and the first single. This is also their first mainstream hit on all genres that Paramore gets pushed toward. It reached number 26 on the US Hot 100, number 3 on US Alternative Songs, and number 12 on US Pop Songs.
Background[]
In an interview with the Manchester Evening News August 9, 2007, guitarist Josh Farro described how the background to this song concerned vocalist Hayley Williams enough to post a message on the band's Live Journal page, asking her fans to post what they were ashamed of: "The song is about a girl who ruined one of our friend's lives with sex, using her sexuality to get what she wanted. And it really affected us, watching him crumble. So, when Hayley wrote 'Misery Business,' she posted online how she wanted to encourage our fans not to be scared to say what you feel or what you're ashamed of, because once you do, you're setting yourself free. We had a huge response. There were some people that were embarrassed of using drugs, drinking, or sleeping around or having gay sex. Everything, really. There were a few parents who replied, ashamed of how they raised their kids."
The song was eventually retired on September 7, 2018, and last played in Nashville. The reason for the retirement of the song was because of the lyrics "Once a whore, you're nothing more, I'm sorry, that'll never change." and that Paramore had grown up. This decision has made many fans feel outraged and many of them want them to bring the song back. It's unknown if they took back their decision as September 7, 2018, Nashville concert is currently the last concert they performed at.
On an interview to Vulture, in 2020, Hayley confirmed that the song was about Josh's ex-girlfriend.
Music Video[]
The music video was filmed at Reseda High School in Reseda, California, on December 21, 2006, and features a school and a band performance. It is directed by Shane Drake who also directed the videos for "Pressure" and "Emergency". It stars Amy Paffrath as the bully.
The music video starts out with the band playing the song with an assortment of "RIOT!"s (a reference to the albums name) in the background. It switches from the band playing to a high school, where a girl in a blue dress and heavy makeup walks in. The girl pushes the school cheerleaders aside her as she walks into the hallway. She cuts off a girl's braid with scissors, grinning at the girl while showing it to her. Later, as she is walking down the hall, a boy comes out of the nurse's station with his arm in a sling. She proceeds to push him into the wall, further injuring him. The band plays more, and the girl walks up on a girl and a boy together, obviously in love. She pushes the girl's face out of the way, and goes into a passionate kiss with the boy, then leaves, smiling. It switches again to the band playing, then the band comes out of a classroom together. Hayley Williams (a student body president and in-charge of the high school) and the girl confront each other in the hall. Hayley reaches into the girl's bra and pulls out "false" pads, then uses a towel and wipes the girl's makeup off, exposing her for what she is. The video ends as the band finishes the song; and they walk away as Zac Farro turns around and laughs. A version which replaces all the high school clips with scenes from the television drama, "Men in Trees" was released to ABC.com alongside Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls" (which was used to promote "Desperate Housewives") and Boys Like Girls's "The Great Escape" (which was used to promote "Lost").
Audio[]
Misery Business
Lyrics[]
I'm in the business of misery,
Let's take it from the top.
She's got a body like an hourglass it's ticking like a clock.
It's a matter of time before we all run out,
When I thought he was mine she caught him by the mouth.
I waited eight long months,
She finally set him free.
I told him I couldn't lie he was the only one for me.
Two weeks and we caught on fire,
She's got it out for me,
But I wear the biggest smile.
Whoa, I never meant to brag
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
just steal it all away from you now.
But God does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him now.
And if you could then you know you would.
Cause God it just feels so,
It just feels so good.
Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change.
Once a whore you're nothing more, I'm sorry, that'll never change.
And about forgiveness, we're both supposed to have exchanged.
I'm sorry honey, but I'm passin' up, now look this way.
Well there's a million other girls who do it just like you.
Looking as innocent as possible to get to who,
They want and what they like it's easy if you do it right.
Well I refuse, I refuse, I refuse!
Whoa, I never meant to brag
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
just steal it all away from you now.
But God does it feel so good,
Cause I got him where I want him right now.
And if you could then you know you would.
Cause God it just feels so,
It just feels so good.
I watched his wildest dreams come true
Not one of them involving you
Just watch my wildest dreams come true
Not one of them involving.
Whoa, I never meant to brag,
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, I never meant to brag
But I got him where I want him now.
Whoa, it was never my intention to brag
just steal it all away from you now.
But God does it feel so good,
Cause I got what I wanted now
And if you could then you know you would.
Cause God it just feels so,
It just feels so good.
Personnel[]
Paramore
- Hayley Williams - Lead Vocals
- Josh Farro - Guitars, Backing Vocals
- Jeremy Davis - Bass
- Zac Farro - Drums
Additional Musicians
- John Freund - Hammond Organ
Chart Performance[]
| Chart (2007) |
Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 65 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 67 |
| German Singles Chart | 79 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 28 |
| UK Singles | 17 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 26 |
| US Billboard Pop Songs | 12 |
| US Billboard Alternative Songs | 3 |
| US Billboard Adult Pop Songs | 31 |
Trivia[]
- Misery Business is often shortened to 'Miz Biz'.
- An acoustic version of the song is available on the deluxe edition of Riot!.
- This song is playable on Guitar Hero World Tour, in which Hayley is a playable character having "video game texture."
- This song is featured on the in-game radio in the video game Saints Row 2.
- This song is featured on Rock Band 3 and can be transferred over to Rock Band 4.
- This song is featured on EA Sports NHL 08.
- The working title for Misery Business was "Mexico"
- Misery Business is Paramore's most played live song being on 630 setlists.
- An alternate version of the song was created that only featured the band however it has been removed.
- On September 7th, 2018, Hayley announced that Misery Business would be retired indefinitely for reasons relating to the internalized misogyny displayed in the lyrics. However, on April 24th, 2022, Hayley performed the song as a guest appearance with Billie Eilish during Billie's 2022 Coachella set, making it the first time it had been performed live by a Paramore member since September 2018. Paramore officially brought Miz Biz back during their 2022 mini-tour of NA.
Streaming[]
Riot!
|
|
"Hallelujah" | "Misery Business" | "When It Rains" |
|
Live in the UK 2008
|
|
"Decoy" | "Misery Business" | - |
|
The Final Riot!
|
|
"Hallelujah" | "Misery Business" | - |
|
Paramore MTV Unplugged
|
|
"That's What You Get" | "Misery Business" | "Brick By Boring Brick" |
|
Alive in Europe
|
|
"Pressure" | "Misery Business" | "Still Into You" |
|
Riot! (iTunes Deluxe Edition)
|
|
"Pressure (Live)" | "(Live)Misery Business" | - |
|
  |
Riot! |
|---|---|
| Songs | For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic • That's What You Get • Hallelujah • Misery Business • When It Rains • Let the Flames Begin • Miracle • Crushcrushcrush • We Are Broken • Fences • Born for This |
| Bonus Tracks | When It Rains (Demo Version) • Misery Business (Acoustic) • Temporary • Decoy • My Hero • Stop This Song (Lovesick Melody) • Rewind |
| Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |
  |
Live in the UK 2008 |
|---|---|
| Songs | For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic • Born for This • Emergency • Never Let This Go • Fences • Let the Flames Begin • When It Rains • Crushcrushcrush • Pressure • Here We Go Again • That's What You Get • My Heart • Decoy • Misery Business |
| Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |
  |
The Final Riot! |
|---|---|
| Songs | Born for This • That's What You Get • Here We Go Again • Fences • Crushcrushcrush • Let the Flames Begin • When It Rains • My Heart • Decoy • Pressure • For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic • We Are Broken • Emergency • Hallelujah • Misery Business |
| Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |
  |
Paramore MTV Unplugged |
|---|---|
| Songs | Ignorance • That's What You Get • Misery Business • Brick By Boring Brick • Decode |
| Members | Hayley Williams • Josh Farro • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis • Zac Farro |
  |
Alive In Europe |
|---|---|
| Songs | Fast In My Car • That's What You Get • Decode • Ignorance • Now • Daydreaming • When It Rains • Last Hope • Interlude: Holiday • Crushcrushcrush • Ain't It Fun • The Only Exception • In the Mourning • Pressure • Misery Business • Still Into You |
| Members | Hayley Williams • Taylor York • Jeremy Davis |
.png){kind=link}
