Tim Minchin

Andy Chyba sings the praises of Tim Minchin

It was only about eighteen months ago that my wife suggested that we sit down together and watch a show by a new comedian. She had read a bit about him and thought I would like him. I was sceptical, as is my natural disposition on most things, as I had never heard of him and, with a shameful degree of prejudice, considered that an Australian playing a piano was unlikely to ‘float my boat’. It didn’t start that promisingly either. Thick eye make-up! No shoes! Wild hair! A dodgy band miming opening! I was almost reaching for the remote when he launched into his first song – Inflatable You.

From this point on he had me hooked. Inflatable You is a wonderfully crafted song and also an irresistibly naughty and hilarious piece of comedy. So okay, the man could hold my attention and entertain me, but blow up sex dolls are not really the stuff of any sort of hero, let alone a ‘Humanist Hero’. I did not have long to wait though. His stand-up piece (discourse) on evolution, featuring Tony – the first creature with feet, had me in awe. Dawkins is eloquent enough, but even he cannot get me laughing out loud at the sheer preposterousness of the religious fundamentalists Darwin denial. And all in a five minute segment that my teenage sons can understand, appreciate and enjoy!

It is this last point that is the real essence of why Tim is a true Humanist Hero. He uses the tools of music and comedy to communicate so wonderfully effectively to people who might otherwise never grapple with or reflect on all manner of humanist themes. I had the privilege of going to the Cardiff show of his last tour. It was the most (I am loathe to say) magical evening of theatre I have ever experienced. It would be true to say, I think, that the vast majority the audience were pretty familiar with his work, and in this sense he was preaching to the converted (if you will, again, excuse my wording). But his work has become an important evangelical tool to me – in two distinct ways.

I teach literacy and numeracy skills to adults with learning difficulties and we quite often have conversations about current affairs and the like where my clients ask for explanations and for my views on issues. Having a battery of Tim’s songs and youtube videos on my mobile phone has proven handy on numerous occasions – not only for my clients but also at dinner parties and the like (where Storm is a particularly big hit). The Middle East conflicts? Peace Anthem for Palestine. Christmas in a secular world? White Wine in the Sun. The God Channel on Sky? I Love Jesus. Alternative medicine and mysticism? Storm. Attitudes to anal sex? Ten Foot Cock & A Few Hundred Virgins. One true love? If I Didn’t Have You. The scourge of plastic bags? Canvass Bags. Should we arrest the Pope? The Pope Song. And I could go on and on. Discover more for yourself. He somehow manages to express the exact thoughts that go through my mind, on so many topics, in such concise, witty and memorable ways. His song Confessions is like a window on my mind!!

As I have been attempting to write a book on aspects of the crazy world we live, I inevitably found renewed inspiration in Tim’s work. I have been working on the book for much longer than I have been aware of Tim. In my original plan, I wanted to open each chapter with selected lyrics from selected  songs. I have long drawn inspiration from songwriters. I planned to use lyrics from John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Green Day, The Smiths, The Sex Pistols and George Michael, among others. There were chapters that were proving tricky to find suitable lyrics for. Tim to the rescue! I chose his words to open three chapters.

But then I came to trying to resolve copyright issues. It transpired that the vast majority of my chosen lyrics had their copyright managed by Warner/Chappell Music. Why is it that any dealings with big corporations are always expensive?! It was well beyond the means of my self-publishing budget. Tim to the rescue again! I emailed him via his website and received a delightful response, direct from the man himself, basically saying I could help myself so long as I acknowledged him properly. This is not quite what he meant, but I hope that this nomination goes someway to acknowledging him. He has become a personal hero of mine, but also a guy that is destined to become one of the most important standard bearers for rational perspectives and humanism for  years to come.

Hail the Humanist Hero that is Tim Minchin!

This post is part of  a series written by members, friends and Distinguished Supporters of the British Humanist Association about their own “humanist heroes”.

You can find out more at www.humanism.org.uk/humanism/humanist-tradition/heroes

Andy Chyba is proud to be a member of the British Humanist Association, The Rationalist Association, and the Tim Minchin Fan Club.