For those of you who know me in ‘real life’ or happen to live in my building (or my neighbourhood I’ve been rocking out so hard), you know that I am COMPLETELY in love with the new Amanda Palmer album, Theatre is Evil. So this Monday post is clearly dedicated to music.
I was a fan of The Dresden Dolls before Amanda branched out on her own in 2008 with Who Killed Amanda Palmer. That album reached me like both a security blanket and a giant statement of flaunting your fuckedupness (yes, I’m making up words now):
My friend has problems with winter and autumn.
They give him prescriptions and shine bright lights on him.
They say it’s genetic, they say he can’t help it, they say you can catch it – but sometimes you’re born with it.
~ Runs in the Family
The track I sung along loudest to was The Point of it All:
She spends a few days at a time on the couch but she says
She wears shades, she wears shades…And just ’cause they call themselves experts
It doesn’t mean sweet fuck all…
And Another Year gave me comfort about the standstill my life was in. Amanda Palmer got it.
Gradually her lyrics became more positive until she grew into the fabulous flourishing star who I’m dying to be best friends with. Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under was my anthem ever since it was released in 2011. The track In My Mind is pure self-esteem boosting lyrics of love.
This past May, Amanda Palmer announced a Kickstarter project to offset the costs of her recently recorded album and upcoming world tour. The original goal of $100, 000 turned into a profit of $1.1 million dollars.
“I think kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms like this are the BEST way to put out music right now – no label, no rules, no fuss, no muss. Just us, the music, and the art,” Amanda writes on the Kickstarter page. WE ARE THE MEDIA is one of her sayings.
She’s giving away her new album for free, but I paid for mine to support her amazing self and her amazing cause. And oh yeah, she’s married to Neil Gaiman. Is there a better duo in the whole fucking world?
So before I share a bunch of her videos under the cut, read some of these lyrics from Lost:
No one’s ever lost forever
When they die they go away
But they will visit you occasionally
Do not be afraid
No one’s ever lost forever
They are caught inside your heart
If you garden them and water them
They make you what you are
We can do the same with mental illness. Integrate it into our lives until it makes us who we’ve grown to be in wellness. So click “more” to watch some Amanda Palmer videos. I’m off to go buy a ukulele now!
Sep 18, 2012 @ 00:38:32
Your blog is so awesome Erin!!!
Sep 20, 2012 @ 08:33:16
I feel exactly the same way about Amanda. She is amazing, which is not a strong enough word to describe who and what she is. She, and the bands she takes along with her for the amazing ride, keep me afloat in even the darkest times.
I feel so amazingly honored that she wrote a whole ALBUM about my country! The tour was AMAZING. Truly wonderful. The Dresden Dolls came out at the beginning of this year to tour, they haven’t been back since their last tour in 2006, which I went to. My sister and I always go to see Amanda’s shows. We have a little tradition, we get a slice of pizza, have a beer and listen to Amanda.
It is great when you find out someone else is a fan, especially that they have been a fan since the Dresden Dolls were an unknown brechtian cabaret duo. And when you find someone else who is a fan, it’s like we share some wonderful secret, something pure and lovely and beautiful. Which is what she is.