Highlights
- Hayley Williams reflects on her close friendship with Taylor Swift, calling her the "first friend I made in the industry" and expressing her love for Taylor's album "Speak Now."
- Hayley shares a special moment with Taylor during The Eras Tour and hints at a collaboration, which is later confirmed with their song "Castles Crumbling."
- Fans speculate that Taylor's song "Speak Now" was inspired by Hayley's experience attending her ex-boyfriend's wedding, and Taylor asked Hayley if she would "speak now" at the wedding.
Hayley Williams and Taylor Swift have been close friends in the music industry for many years. Hayley shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, reminiscing about her friendship with Taylor, who released her own version of the album "Speak Now". In the post, Hayley posted a throwback photo of Taylor and referred to her as the "first friend I made in the industry."
Hayley also talked about the time when the original "Speak Now" album came out in 2010. She shared that she bought Taylor's album and listened to it in her car. It's actually her favorite album by Taylor for several reasons.
Hayley had a special moment with Taylor during The Eras Tour in Arizona in May 2023. She felt like things had come full circle, as Taylor reimagined her hit song. Hayley wrote, "Taylor was the first friend I made outside of work stuff." Many of Taylor Swift's most dedicated fans known as "Swifties" believe that Taylor's hit song "Speak Now" was inspired by her close friendship with Hayley Williams, but is there any truth to their claims?
Paramore's Hayley Williams Gushed About Her Close Friendship With Taylor Swift
Hayley Williams couldn't help but share her excitement about her friendship with the superstar pop star, Taylor Swift. "I vividly remember the day Speak Now was released. I got my hands on my friend's record and sat in my first car, parked in the driveway, soaking in every note. It's hands down my favorite Taylor Swift album, and it holds a special place in my heart for countless reasons," she warmly shared.
Reflecting on the past, Hayley added, "I sometimes wish I could turn back time to that special moment on my 21st birthday. I'd tell her that one day, she'd truly own Speak Now, and our voices would harmonize in a beautiful song." Hayley playfully dropped a major hint prior to her long-awaited collaboration with Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift thrilled her fans by revealing her re-recorded "Speak Now" album during her Nashville concert at Nissan Stadium on May 5. Later, on June 5, she unveiled the titles of the six vault tracks, including a remarkable collaboration with her longtime friend Hayley Williams, titled "Castles Crumbling." Hayley has always been candid about her bond with Taylor.
During Paramore's performances on Swift's Eras Tour in March, Hayley reminisced about their friendship's early days, even recalling a moment when she reached out to Taylor after Kanye West interrupted her 2009 MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech.
The story of their connection took a twist when Hayley met Taylor's mother, Andrea. Hayley recounted Andrea's words, "'My daughter. She just performed, and she's starting out. She doesn't really know many people in the industry. I hope she can connect with others her age who are on the same journey.'" This chance encounter eventually led to the exchange of phone numbers.
Hayley shared a fascinating memory from when they were 19, highlighting Taylor's aspirations to be like Carole King. "Back then, Taylor was known for her country music, and she confided in me about wanting to be like Carole King.
It was quite astonishing to hear, especially at that young age. Now, seeing her cross genres and leaving a mark on pop culture, it's truly remarkable," Hayley mused.
In an exclusive clip from an interview with Paramore on Apple Music 1, Hayley fondly recalled a visit to Taylor's Nashville home, a moment that prompted her to reflect on her own life. "I remember being 19 and spending time with Taylor when we were both finding our paths in the music industry. I went over to her place, and I must say, she's an amazing cook. She tried teaching me some cooking skills, although I didn't retain much," Hayley chuckled.
"That day made me realize how scattered my life was. I struggled to remember simple things like sending cards or gifts. There are even Christmas presents sitting untouched in my closet," Hayley confessed with a smile.
Closing on a reflective note, she added, "I longed to be that person who effortlessly has their life together, dropping by with flowers just because. It's an ideal version of myself I aspire to be."
This meaningful episode provided the inspiration for Paramore's new track, "Running Out of Time." Reflecting on their significant achievements, Hayley fondly noted that Paramore opened the first night of Swift's The Eras tour, a pivotal moment for the band.
Are The Lyrics Of Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now' Inspired By Friend Hayley Williams?
"Speak Now" is the fourth track on Taylor Swift's third studio album, Speak Now (2010). In this title track, Taylor whisks listeners into a daydream of her creation. In the daydream, a young woman disrupts her ex-boyfriend's wedding, determined to save him from marrying the wrong girl. The meaningful song has trended again after the re-recorded version, "Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)," released on July 7, 2023.
The song is speculated to be inspired by a friend's journey through love and heartbreak. Many fans speculate that the friend the song is based on is none other than Hayley Williams of Paramore. Hayley Williams attended the wedding of her ex-boyfriend and former bandmate Josh Farro in April of 2010, the song is said to be based on this event. Josh Farro would then go on to withdraw from Paramore and many fans of the band speculate that his marriage played a big part in this.
It is speculated that after speaking with her Hayley, Taylor became deeply fixated on the idea of how tragic it would be for the person one loved to wed someone else. That night, she experienced a dream where one of her own ex-boyfriends married another girl. To her, this was all the motivation she needed to write this song.
Before the wedding, it is rumored that Taylor posed a question to her Hayley: "Would you 'speak now'?" and implied that Hayley should speak her true thoughts at the wedding instead of being silent.
“He had met this girl who’s just this horrible, mean person who made him completely stop talking to all of his friends, cut off his family. She had him so completely isolated,” said Taylor. She asked Hayley Williams if she would “speak now or forever hold your peace.”
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