Tim Freedman’s never struck me as having a great sense of humour. Sure he’s a brilliant songwriter and performer, but after seeing numerous Whitlams shows I’ve always thought he took himself a bit too seriously.
So I was surprised to read how well he took the news that Andrew Hansen lampooned him on last week’s episode of The Chaser’s War on Everything. For those of you who didn’t see it, I’ve attached the video below.
So now we’re all up to speed. This week, Tim detailed his feelings on The Chaser’s efforts on The Whitlam’s site.
“I love The Chaser,” he enthused. “Most of it is usually great. Sometimes there are parts that are a little lame. As I pressed play, I was hoping that the bit on me would fit into the latter category. The piece came on and I must say I really enjoyed it. ‘Who is this guy,? I’d buy his album,’ I thought. Hansen had my rather basic piano style down well, and the vowel sounds and melody were eerily similar to what I hear in my head.”
However, Tim was a little more critical about the send-up’s lyrical content.
“The point of the song was that I only write about Newtown and continually name-check its streets and landmarks. I was a little bemused. I have only mentioned Newtown once in over 80 songs, on our sixth album last year. Before that you have to go back 8 years where I named 2 local pubs in a song about the pokies. And the first 3 albums? Not a single reference.”
Tim wonders why he become a target for The Chaser team in the first place. Perhaps it was payback for a love affair gone wrong. Apparently Tim was involved with ex-Chaser Anna Skellern, who had also dated Chris Taylor. Tim and Anna are apparently still friends, but Tim claimed the same can’t be said for Chris.
“Bachelors of Australia be warned,” Tim warned. “When dining with a woman make sure she has not been involved with any presently famous satirists. You may find yourself the butt of a spurious nationally broadcast joke.”
Point well taken Tim. It sounds like good advice to me!