"Ignorance" is a song by the American rock band Paramore. "Ignorance" was released by Fueled by Ramen in July 2009, as the lead single from the bands 2009 studio album entitled, Brand New Eyes. The single was written by Paramore band members Hayley Williams and Josh Farro; Paramore is also credited
as being co-producers to the song. The track, recorded in Spring 2009, was the first song to be written for Brand New Eyes.
Musically, "Ignorance" is credited as being an alternative rock song. Williams' and Farros's inspiration for writing the song was from personal experiences. The track was generally well received by contemporary music critics. The song was commercially successful, charting within the top thirty in multiple territories, although the song performed better internationally. A music video for "Ignorance" was released in August 2009. In the video, the band is shown playing in a room with the only source of lighting being a hanging lightbulb.
Background
James Montgomery of MTV News viewed the song as lyrically being about the "destructive nature of gossip, about the ugly, tear-'em-down world in which Paramore exist." "Ignorance" was the first song written for Brand New Eyes. In an interview with Kerrang!, Williams, who co-wrote the song, discussed the song's meaning, and her and Farro's inspiration for writing the song, saying,"In my eyes, this song is a huge turning point for the band. The truth of it is, growing up is not easy. We’re five different people who have to work towards the same goal on a daily basis. There were a lot of times when I felt really alone or angry or insecure. I don’t always feel good at confronting people, especially people that I love, like these guys. Sometimes it takes songs to get the point across. The song is from one person’s perspective. It’s unfair that I’m the one who gets to talk about it but it helped me a lot. The line ‘ignorance is your new best friend’ is about how I felt I was losing people, and I think the band did too. But it’s okay, we’re growing up. I love that song."
Critical reception
"Ignorance" was generally well received by contemporary music critics. Leonie Cooper, a writer for NME, commented that "thankfully" Paramore’s "new-found rage hasn’t impinged on their talent for crafting a joyful pop song, as evidenced by the high octane" like "Ignorance", remarking that while the song "might be dark in tone" the song is still a "fairground-full of fun." A writer for HitFix gave the song a positive review, saying that while the single breaks no "new ground" for Paramore, it shows an "increased level of confidence" and "older Paramore fans will be happy to hear the Evanescence influence seems to be gone". Marc Hirsh, a writer from The Boston Globe, described the track as being a "thrilling little headlong rush."Emily Steves, a writer for Buffalo News, noted that while "Ignorance" is a "harsh song fueled by Williams’ passion to make her bandmates see and confront their problems" the song "proves to be one of their heaviest songs lyrically." Jon Canamanica, a writer for The New York Times, described the song as sounding more like a "muscular No Doubt song," with a "rhythmic shift" at the songs hook that "suggested a quick cough of ska." Ryan Wood, a writer for The Nebraska City News Press, strongly praised the track, commenting that the song "may go down" as the "best single ever." Scott Heisel, a writer for Alternative Press, viewed the single as being a "sort of a 'roided out" version of Paramore's 2007 studio album Riot!s song, "Misery Business" (2007). A writer for Saffron Walden News felt that the track displays Williams' "commendable and moody vocal range."
Chart performance
"Ignorance" had a good chart performance, generally charting within the top thirty. In the United States, the song performed worse than previous singles, peaking at number sixty seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It was more successful on other Billboard charts. The song's current peak position on the Hot Digital Songs Chart is number fifty eight; the song charted on the chart solely due to digital download sales. The track also charted on Billboard's Rock Songs Chart, peaking at number twenty, as well as charting within the top ten on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks Chart, peaking at number seven. "Ignorance" had a better chart performance internationally. The single was successful in the United Kingdom, entering the chart within the top twenty at number fourteen, where it peaked. The track remained within the top 100 for seven weeks.The song charted within the top twenty, peaking at number seventeen; the song remained on the chart for eight weeks. The single peaked at number thirty five in Australia; the song remained the on the countries chart for two weeks. The song had a similar chart performance in New Zealand, peaking at number thirty two and remained on the chart for five weeks. The track was less successful in Dutch, having entered the chart on October 18, 2009, at number eighty two, where it peaked, the following week the song fell out of the countries top 100. "Ignorance" was successful in Japan, charting within the top ten, peaking at number ten. The song also echoed similar chart success on Belgium's Singles Chart, peaking at number ten; it remained on the chart for four weeks. "Ignorance" is the first single by the band to chart on the Irish Top 50 Singles Chart, charting within the top fifty, peaking at number forty nine. It also charted at number forty two in Germany, as well as peaking at number ninety six on the Canadian Singles Top 100 chart.
Music video
The music video was released on August 13, 2009. The video begins with a door opening, showing Williams being singled out and ignored by other members of the band. She shines a light bulb that is hanging by a wire, directly in their faces, whilst describing how they ignore her and treat her like just another stranger in the lyrics. The cramped and bare setting emphasizes the inescapable, rising tensions between the band members. The video is intercut with clips of the band performing in a cramped small room, that appears to be a closet. Other clips show a larger performance area and a different personality of Williams being laid bare in white clothes, hair pulled back in the style like Björk's hair from her music video "Big Time Sensuality". It ends with the other members of the band being able to wrap the light bulb wire around Williams. James Montgomery of MTV News wrote that the video is "a claustrophobic, hard-charging thing that showcases Paramore: The Band. There is rumor that the Playing God is the sequel music video, showcasing Hayley getting back at her band mates."Track listing
| CD single | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Ignorance" | 3:38 | |||||||
| 7" picture disc vinyl (Hot Topic exclusive release) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | |||||||
| 1. | "Ignorance" | 3:38 | |||||||
| 2. | "Ignorance (Acoustic)" | 3:40 | |||||||
Charts
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 35 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 17 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 96 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 40) | 10 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 Singles | 34 |
| Japan (Japan Hot 100) | 10 |
| Germany (Media Control Charts) | 42 |
| Switzerland (Swiss Music Charts) | 82 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 49 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 32 |
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company) | 14 |
| UK Rock (The Official Charts Company) | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 67 |
| U.S. Alternative Songs (Billboard) | 7 |
| U.S. Rock Songs (Billboard) | 20 |
Chart procession and succession
| Preceded by "If Today Was Your Last Day" by Nickelback |
UK Rock Chart number-one single September 20, 2009- October 11, 2009 |
Succeeded by "It's Not the End of the World, But I Can See It from Here" by Lostprophets |
Personnel
The following personnel contributed to "Ignorance":
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