The first time I heard The Dresden Dolls, I was 12 years old. One of my friends showed me their video for “Girl Anachronism.” I was enchanted by their absolute oddness, their “bretchian punk cabaret,” and their powerful female singer, Amanda Palmer, who dressed in outrageous outfits, didn’t shave, said whatever she wanted, was loud and smart, and drew on elaborate curlicue eyebrows. I still kind of want to be Amanda Palmer.

This is my favorite Dresden Dolls song, “Sing.” It’s slower than their usual frantic and tight songs, but if it was just another loud and all over the place piano punk song, I probably would’t like it half as much.

My immediate attraction to this song was actually due to the lyrics. I feel solace with Amanda’s frustration at people who just won’t sing. “There is thing keeping everyone’s lungs and lips locked,” she sings. “It is called fear and it’s seeing a great renaissance/After the show you can not sing wherever you want/But for now lets all pretend that we’re gonna get bombed/So sing!”

But all in all, the most poweful moment is near the end, when Amada sings “Life is no cabaret/we don’t care what you say/we’re inviting you anyway/you motherfuckers, you’ll sing someday!” As Amanda sings this, gang vocals soar behind her, and the music all gets louder but entertiwnes perfectly. It has a sense of incredible invinciblity that makes my heart and vocal cords explode in a stream of happiness. I have yet to see The Dresden Dolls live, but when I do (because I do plan on it someday), I might just need some lavender smelling salts if they play this song.

In the mean time, I’m trying to find as many ways as possible to sprinkle “You motherfuckers, you’ll sing someday” into my everyday speech.