PARAMORE

Paramore is a rock band from Tennessee, USA. Founded in 2004 in the height of the 'Emo' era, their music has always dealt with themes of heartbreak, betrayal and sadness as was common in Emo music. Their female lead singer Hayley Williams has a soulful voice which makes them stand out from a crowd of men. Their 2017 album 'After Laughter' has them experimenting with a new sound. There are several songs on the album that accurately reflect the Happiness Paradox I've been researching. Especially the song Fake Happy - it is in a major key with an upbeat and happy backing track. However the lyrics are all about pretending to be happy when you're actually miserable. I have highlighted some lyrics that sum this up perfectly. The video sees Williams in a crowd of happy faces with painted on glitter tears.

Fake Happy

2017, After Laughter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8vsuOXZBXc

I love making you believe

What you get is what you see

But I'm so fake happy

I feel so fake happy

And I bet everybody here

Is just as insincere

We're all so fake happy

And I know fake happy

I been doing a good job of makin' 'em think

I'm quite alright

But I hope I don't blink

You see its easy when I'm stomping on a beat

But no one sees me when I crawl back underneath

If I smile with my teeth

Bet you believe me

If I smile with my teeth

I think I believe me

Oh please don't ask me how I've been

Don't make me play pretend

Oh no, oh what's the use?

Oh please, I bet everybody here is fake happy too

And if I go out tonight, dress up my fears

You think I'll look alright with these mascara tears?

See I'm gonna draw my lipstick wider than my mouth

And if the lights are low they'll never see me frown

If I smile with my teeth

Bet you believe me

If I smile with my teeth

I think I believe me

Oh please don't ask me how I've been

Don't make me play pretend

Oh no, oh oh what's the use?

Oh please, I bet everybody here is fake happy too

I know I said that I was doing good and that I'm happy now

Oh oh

I should've known that when things are going good

That's when I get knocked down

Oh please, just don't ask me how I've been

Don't make me play pretend

Oh no, oh no

Oh what's the use?

Oh please, I bet everybody here is fake happy too

Oh please, I bet everybody here is fake happy too

WRITERS

Hayley Nichole Williams, Taylor York

PUBLISHERS

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

ROCK BOTTOM

My sign all painted and primed ready to be sanded. In all white it has a ghost-like feeling, which is quite thought provoking itself. White = pure.

I still wanted to ahead and paint it as bright and colourful as possible, to make sure my theme of duality was obvious. I believe bright contrasting colours will make it appealing to the eye, cutting through the somewhat harsh reality of the message it conveys.

LASER - PLYWOOD

Lasering my final piece to scale from plywood -

Following on from the foam board debacle, I decided to try plywood on the laser. I also chose to make this at the largest width possible to get a feel for the smaller elements, to see if they would cut correctly and have enough structural integrity. The cut was almost perfect, except for 2 letters 'E+L' that overlapped (possible file error) so we re-cut those using some leftover material.

This plywood sign has a much more professional appearance, in my opinion, as I'm striving for a perfect and emaculate finish that you would see in a fabricated shop sign.

Once layered I started to get excited as I feel like I'm finally getting to a place with my work that I have been visualising in my head!

I like the thickness of the sign and the size in general. I'm not sure it would be so successful at a bigger depth, but I will experiment with this once painted.

Although I really love the wood grain and colour, my intention is to paint it so I primed the wood with an emulsion and PVA mix. This will need extensive sanding!