#the funniest part is that one of my friends (who later ask reccomended me the hbomb video) had sent me one of his videos at some point

[schrodingers-hoarding-problem]

shoutout to whatever deity it was that managed to keep me, a chronically online young queer with a love of video essays, from ever seeing james somerton’s face before that hbomberguy video

genuinely no idea how i managed that

[lemonjamblog-blog]

Why I love Amanda Palmer

“Necks are cracking sideways, hit me from the back side, I am on the white side, you are on the black side”

One of my earliest memories- and one of the most random memories I have- is dancing around to Gravity by The Dresden Dolls, mumbling the words until the whole white side/black side part, because that was really the only thing my 3 year old mind could comprehend at the time. All I knew back then was that I liked the way it sounded, and I loved to dance to this song. 13 years later, I’m still jamming to that song, and dancing with the same skill level my younger self had.

Amanda Palmer has been a very constant voice in my household. My parents love her music, my dad introducing my mom to the Dresden Dolls. When Palmer broke off into her own solo music, we stuck around and have been enjoying her music since.

I started listening to her on my own when Theatre is Evil was relatively new. I remember listening to Olly Olly Oxen Free on my little Disney MP3 player every single day on the bus. As much as my 10 year old self overplayed that song, it still remains my favorite off the record. Coming in a close second is Trout Heart Replica, and third would be The Killing Type. This time of my life was really when I started listening to music on my own, rather than in my parent’s car, and I’m glad Theatre is Evil is one of the first albums I indulged in.

2014. Her song Ukulele Anthem inspired my mom to buy her own little 20 dollar purple ukulele, one which I was not supposed to touch. I still did though, and eventually showed my mom I learned how to play the song that started it all. Since she, in her own words, has no musical talent, gave me the ukulele. I learned so many songs on that little thing. When I was 13 I got another uke, which got broken when some kid with the IQ of the end piece in a loaf of bread pushed me. My parents were angry, but they got me another one. I’m forever grateful for that, because now it’s my main ukulele. A mint green Makala named Collin Johnny, after the Greenwood brothers from Radiohead. My purple one is named Amanda Dorothy, after Amanda Palmer and Dodie Clarke. I learned all of Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under, and still know most of those songs.

Then, 2019 came. There Will be no Intermission dropped. The first song I heard was Voicemail for Jill, and I sat and cried. I cried a LOT for someone who hasn’t had to experience an abortion, which was what the song is about. The raw emotion and heart put into that song is truly amazing. Then, I finally listened to the whole album. I listened to Machete over and over and over again. It’s a beautiful and powerful song about Amanda and her late best friend, Anthony. The song reminds me of my belated friend, who committed suicide in January of 2017. Though it’s a different situation, it still makes me think of her, and gives me some hope and helps me keep our memories alive through music.

On March 21st I was lucky enough to get to see Palmer perform live on her solo tour. She started off the show with her song Judy Blume, and immediately tears were pouring out of my eyes. I was seeing my role model play live. It was crazy. She told us stories of being a teenager, abortions, visiting a prison, and about her kid. We got a really emotional story about her first abortion and all that, then she played her really fun song Oasis. The subject of the song definitely isn’t fun, but it’s totally a rockin song. That concert made me experience a range of emotions, and it was beautiful.

Then, she played Machete. I cried every last tear out of my body. It was amazing. When the song ended, it was silent except for my mom thanking her and me completely breaking down sobbing. I still cannot believe that moment was real. She stood up when she was playing, she got so into it, and I was just completely awe-struck.

She told us a story about how she had a miscarriage in her hotel room in a freezing cold night. It was very sad, but she followed this up by playing Let it Go from Frozen. It was the funniest thing that I’ve ever seen. My parents were cracking up, and people were looking at them like psychos, but they didn’t seem to care. It was HILARIOUS, especially given I have a younger sister who would literally play that movie 3 times a day for a solid year once we got it on DVD.

That concert also gave me a chance to meet a very sweet lady from Planned Parenthood, as they had a booth set up there. Emily, if you’re reading this, thank you for existing. You rock. I got some cool PP gear and proudly wear my pins on my backpack walking around my high school in my relatively conservative hometown.

So basically, Amanda Palmer changed my life. She’s super open, emotional, and quite frankly does not care what people think of her, and that’s very admirable to me. She’s one of the reasons I’m able to fight for what I care about, because that’s what she does and she makes me feel like I can do the same.

Here are some songs I’d reccomend by her

Machete

Drowning in the Sound

Another Year

Olly Olly Oxen Free

Trout Heart Replica

The Killing Type

Strength Through Music

In My Mind

Bad Wine and Lemon Cake

Also, if you can, I highly reccomend reading her book The Art of Asking and checking out her TED talk, which can be found on YouTube.