Paramore's Influence on 'Castles Crumbling'

"Castles Crumble" vs "Brick by Boring Brick"

Note: This is all just conjecture, and for fun but like both artists use metaphors for their livelihoods and this seems to be a pivotal moment in their careers and friendships converging.

Unlike Taylor Swifts's "Bad Blood" which appears to reference a falling out between friends, Paramore's 2009 "Brick by Boring Brick" seems to extend an earnest hand of guidance to a friend caught up in the glare of the spotlight using royalty and torn-down-castle metaphors (tinged with another tale, 3 little pigs).  In my mind, it’s no co-incidence that Taylor's alleged 2010 "Castles Crumble" paints herself as caught up in the glare of the spotlight, turning away the guidance of a friend, also using royalty and torn-down-castle metaphors.

Paramore's Hayley Williams, with her characteristic raw authenticity, takes an unflinching approach to hard conversations. The song appears to coax a friend, fretting over 'exposure and angles and camera lens', back to such authenticity. Hayley' lyrics convey the 'straight talk' true friends often provide. The metaphorical reference to buying a 'castle' is indicative of the effort put into setting aside the carefully crafted public image. This is followed by an invitation to help her build a 'brick house', symbolic of a sturdy, genuine self. Tay's career has spanned a similar trajectory - starting as the country girl next door, transforming into a pop princess, then returning to the girl next door in love, and then transitioning to everywoman/woman scorned.

In fact, Taylor is no stranger to the concept of an 'anti-fairytale', having penned the song "White Horse" back in 2008. Writing that first, has allotted her the artistic freedom to weave tales of enchantment and castles while maintaining an undercurrent of reality and authenticity in her music - the very essence of a 'brick house' that Hayley underscores in her song.

Hayley's empathy towards the metaphorical princess in "Brick by Boring Brick" is palpable, making it clear she wrote the song out of concern for a friend lost in a facade. This sentiment resonates with Taylor's journey, and her response in "Castles Crumbling" could be seen as an acknowledgment of Williams' tough love, even if Taylor didn't perceive it as directly written about their dear friendship.

All of us, no matter how successful or well-known, require a touchstone, a friend who can yank us back to reality when needed. The greater the height of our success, the stronger that gravitational force of truth becomes necessary. When you're that friend to a person of fame and stature, part of your value lies in being that grounding, authentic voice. "Brick", seems to echo this concept of 'tough love', emblematic of the advice only a real friend can give.

Brick speaks of shoveling, digging in with a friend, an act of mutual effort and hard work. The phrase “bury your castle" in the chorus according to Hayley, suggest putting in the work to dismantle a false image. Following this, Williams proposes constructing a "brick house", an enduring, genuine self and authentic friendship that can withstand the pressures of fame. A true friend is a friend to you even, at times in spite of you.

Moreover, Williams seems genuinely concerned about the 'princess' in "Brick" as a friend. As revealed in her published diary entries for the song, she aims to reach out to the young girl lost in the fantasy, ensnared in the struggle of maintaining a facade. This reflects the dynamics of those friendships that straddle to exist like those in the Taylor’s video of the realm of the ‘Anti-Hero’. Friends who persist even when one becomes 'too big to hang out', need a voice of reality against the enchanting but dangerous allure of fame.

Castles begins: "Once, I had an empire in a golden age/I was held up so high, I used to be great/They used to cheer when they saw my face/Now, I fear I have fallen from grace" – this is particularly revealing. These lines mirror the turbulence Taylor experienced around 2010 and beyond. As the darling of country music, Taylor was thrust into the limelight and celebrated for her talent and charm. However, this fame soon became a double-edged sword as she became the target of criticism and cynicism. At that time, she was the subject of tabloid scrutiny, her personal life a constant source of speculation and gossip. Simultaneously, she was transitioning from the familiar realm of country music to the broader, often unpredictable, world of pop—a shift that was met with skepticism and resistance.

Yet, 'Castles Crumbling' carries a deeper, more intimate layer of interpretation. When we consider the long-standing friendship between Taylor and Williams, a novel perspective emerges. The lyrics seem to reveal a narrative of a strained relationship, a friendship strained by fame, ego, and public scrutiny.

In the verse, "Power went to my head and I couldn't stop/Ones I loved tried to help, so I ran them off," Taylor seems to admit to the pitfalls of her success. The duality of power and alienation is explored, pointing to a potential disconnect she may have felt with her closest confidants, possibly including Hayley. It suggests a time where she, perhaps unknowingly, pushed away those who sought to ground her amidst her rapidly ascending fame.

Taylor continues, "And here I sit alone behind walls of regret/Falling down like promises that I never kept." These lines are infused with a palpable sense of remorse. The 'walls' she mentions can be interpreted as the barriers that her actions may have erected in her relationships. The lyrics reflect the pain of lost connections and hint at the singer's desire for reconciliation.

Finally, the recurring chorus, "And I feel like my castle's crumbling down," mirrors the narrative explored in 'Brick.' Hayley's lyrics urge her friend to set aside the illusions of her 'castle' and build a genuine, authentic 'brick house.' Taylor’s crumbling castle can be seen as an acceptance of Hayley's advice, a symbol of her dismantling her carefully constructed public image to reveal her true self beneath it.

These two songs, when viewed together, underscore the importance of authenticity in the world of fame and glamour. They provide a fresh perspective on friendship, reminding us of the significant role friends play in keeping us grounded, regardless of our stature. Maybe it's just a fantasy, or just a 'story' but possibly, through their music, they give us an intriguing peek into their shared understanding and evolving friendship.