The Final Full Catastrophe – March 30th 2013

Hosted, posted & despatched by Andy Bell & Hikaru Freeman

After 252 programs the Full Catastrophe is leaving the airwaves.

Do not be sad, the boys would not want that.  They wanted presents !

TFC has covered the waterfront of emotions since it started in March 2008.  The last show was no different.

The program has been reinvented on a regular basis in terms of presentation, but its heart never changed.

This sometimes perplexing, never dull and not-as-strange-as-it-seemed program had integrity.

And so it goes.

A wonderful journey ends.

This blog will stick around and become a place for Andy to offer some genral observations of the human, musical  and Australian condition.  If you want to still hear him, give ABC 1 a shot at 7.30 on Friday nights! His Twittering moves to @obelloz.

Hikaru moves on to his very own show at 1800 on Saturdays on Joy 94.9, “The Affair” will be a very different brouhaha for Hikaru, give him your ears and much more.

Without the remarkable participation of the listeners, Tim Harrison and Hikaru Freeman, TFC’s caravan may not have got as far as this.

Andy did about 235 of the 252 shows and, in a 30+ year broadcasting career, says he hasn’t done anything better.

And the final closedown is from radio and involves clipped tones, a coughing fit and the end of what was far more important in a radio sense than little old TFC.

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Closing – Alan Bennett

Ring My Bell – Anita Ward

Overture – Momoe Yamaguchi

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do – Tom Jones

Lonely Weekends – Charlie Rich

I Only Want To Be With You – Dusty Springfield

I Came From Yokosuka – Momoe Yamaguchi

Macarthur Park – The Negro Problem

If It’s Magic – Stevie Wonder

The Longest Goodbye – Sandra Lawrence

One More Mile – Anita O’Day

Let’s Do It (Love Is Like I Thought It Would Be) – Minako Yoshida

What Can I Do For You? – Labelle

Eyes Without A Face – Paul Anka

Baby It’s Cold Outside – Johnny Mercer & Margaret Whiting

Carribean Clipper – NZ Army Band

Here You Come Again – Dolly Parton

Rebels Are We – Chic

The Best Is Yet To Come – Mabel Mercer

Als Het Om De Liefde Gaat – Sandra & Andres

Andy was 13 when this jaunty number had a big effect on him.  The fashion sense, the language, the sideburns – his life was never the same.

It’s Over – Squirrel Nut Zippers

The Case of Messrs. 1,2, & 3 Podcastrophe

We Are All Made of Stars. Or Are We?

How do you manage the coming out of a celebrity in this day and age?

Applying their background as long time journalists and media watchers, Andy & Hikaru examine three fictional cases of celebrities either coming out both in Australia and worldwide.

How are Australian attitudes towards openly gay celebrities different than those in other countries? And how would Australian celebrities manage coming out publicly compared to their overseas counterparts?

The Case of Messrs. 1, 2, & 3 Podcastrophe

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The Full “True Blue” Catastrophe – 26th January 2013

Hosted & posted Andy Bell & Hikaru Freeman

On Australia’s national day, did Hikaru eat a meat pie ? Did Andy perform an Esperanto version of C.J. Dennis’ “The Sentimental Bloke” ?

No such number, no such zone.

It was all being kept back for the right on the wrong day “The Australia Day Affair” with Hikaru on Joy on Monday January 28th between nine & noon.

Tonight’s TV closedown extra is from the ABC’s Channel 11, King Island.  It’s well worth a look as that night there had been much disruption across Bass Strait.

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Rebel, Rebel – David Bowie

The Rent Is Too Damn High Song – Jimmy McMillian & Songify The News

Green Up Time – Greta Keller

Paradiso Beach – Alan Sorrenti & Jenny B
This particular video is not the official one, but we think all you Catastrophettes would love it.

My Banjo & I – Hanggai

Ti A Dy Ddoniau – Ryan a Ronnie

Ryan Davis a Ronnie Williams

Let’s Go – David Campbell

Venus – Yoko Nagayama

Jonkara Onna Bushi – Yoko Nagayama

Ms. Nagayama is in the second phase of her career, having given up singing covers in favour of the Shamisen

What’s Buzzin’ Cousin – Cab Calloway

Mr C has been in these part, that is TFC, from day one.  He is one of the performers that simply must be considered an original.

Back On Base – Suzi Pattinson

Le Nougat – Brigitte Fontaine

Copernicus – Basia

Sort Of Dance – Ian Pearce Sextet

Autumn 1944 – David Huang

I Want To Be Single Again – Brenda [Fassie] & The Big Dudes

Sail Away – Mabel Mercer

Coming soon:

• A handy-dandy podcast edition of this edition of The Full Catastrophe (NOW AVAILABLE)
• The Australia Day Affair with Hikaru on JOY from 9-12 Noon AEDT

• The final Full Hi-Katastrophe 
• The return of Tim!
• The return of Must Watch Radio.

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The Full “Yo Ho Ho” Catastrophe – 22nd December 2012

Hosted & posted by Andy Bell & Hikaru Freeman

Deck the halls, hide the obligate hemi-parasitic plant AKA mistletoe and avoid the mince pies. 

This was TFC’s fifth and final Christmas show.

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Christmas Is Coming – Vince Guaraldi

I Yost Go Nuts At Christmas – Yogi Yorgesson

Leaving – Captain Funk

Bir Zamanlar Deli Gönlüm – Sezen Aksu

Sexen Aksu is one of the most well-known artists in Turkey well known since at least 1976, this is the video for her 1995 hit Onu Alma Beni Al.

Christmas Waltz – The Carpenters

Mississippi – Pussycat

Sure Thing Baby – Peter Allen

Christmas Time – Nona Reeves

Were it not Holiday season, Hikaru would’ve introduced Nona Reeves with this song, LOVE TOGETHER, which became the opening to the Parappa the Rapper anime.

Hallelujah Christmas AKA “Who Cares If It’s Christmas, I Hate It”  – Crazy Ken Band

Lupita – Guillermo Gonzalalez Y Su Orchestra

Adrenaline – Full Tote Odds

Beedi – Sundhi Chauhan, Sukhvinder Singh & Nachiketa Chakra

#1 Crush – Paul Capsis

Drape Those Caring Arms Around Me – The Bon Scotts

Fim De Estacao – Bric-A-Brac

Com Uma Arma, Com Uma Flor  – Paulo de Carvalho

Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis – Tom Waits

Go Right Ahead – Sondre Lerche

Lots – Dan Deacon

This edition’s Must Watch Radio

About Festival da Canção 1975

Available Now : A handy-dandy ultra portable podcast version of this edition.

Don’t forget, you can spend your Christmas morning (0630 AEDT) or Christmas eve night (1930 GMT) or Christmas Eve afternoon (1330 CST) on JOY 94.9 with Andy, Hikaru, and Johno from Froth on JOY.

And on Boxing Day, Hikaru presents The Boxing Day Affair on JOY 94.9 from 0900 AEDST

 

The Full “Bunting & Frolics” Catastrophe – 15th December 2012

Hosted & posted by Andy Bell & Hikaru Freeman

The tree is up, the decorations have been hung from every possible point and the egg nog is boiling away on the camping stove.

But in spite of all that, it was a really bizarre piece of boosterism that got us talking.

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The Roach – Gene & Wendell

Un Click D’ironia – Anna Oxa

Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Of The Sucker) – Parliament

Rock Steady – All Saints

Seven Nation Army – Ben L’Oncle Soul

Der Wind Hat Mir Ein Lied Erzählt – Nina Hagen

Answers On A Postcard – Pugwash

Alles Is Liefde – Bløf

Bungee Jumping – Estranea

Bi-Coastal – Peter Allen

Shuffle Off To Buffalo – Jim Davidson & His New Palais Royal Orchestra

Stand Up For Your Rights – International Gay Society

Menina de Luto – Mini-Pop

Apenas Ao Meu Povo – Simone de Oliveira

Loving You Has Made Me Bananas – Guy Marks

Night & Day – BLUEW

The City of Silver Grey – Hiroyuki Namba

The Mummy – Bob McFadden & Dor

The Band’s Broken Up – Modern Giant

For more on the Festival RTP in the 1960s and pre-revolutionary 1970s, visit JOYEurovision.com

This edition’s Must-Watch Radio:

About Anna Oxa

About All Saints

Now available: A Handy-dandy mais portable podcast version!

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The Divided States of America Podcastrophes

Posted by Hikaru “Soda forever” Freeman

There’s been a cold war in modern America for as long as many Americans can remember. It’s an ideological war that pits not just state against state but county against county. It will likely never be won, and in many ways, most Americans don’t want it ever resolved.

It’s the Pop vs. Soda vs. coke War, and it’s a bit of insight into how the United States is not quite as united as it might appear to outsiders.

In The Carbonated Podcastrophe, the first part of this two-part Podcastrophe, Hikaru introduces Andy to the debate and how deep it runs in regional identity, particularly in his hometown of Milwaukee.

In the second part, The American East-West Podcastrophe, Hikaru and World Wide Wave’ Tom, a fellow American (from California), illustrate just how strongly held regional views of the different parts of the US are., and how despite all this, there is a true binding of the nation that all the electoral maps don’t show.

If you thought you had a grip on American culture, prepare to have your tab opened!

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Hikaru Meets the World of Tokyo Catastropheland

Posted by Hikaru “Meeting the world with love” Freeman

Meet The World entry sign

It’s another time travelin’ wacky journey to everyone’s favourite theme park, Catastropheland, where “rested” attractions from other theme parks are open forever.

This time around, Andy escapes the whimsy of time travel, but Hikaru finds himself 12 years younger and 12 times more…opinionated as he takes a ride through an interesting take on Japanese history.

Blame Prince Shotoku!

Hikaru in Tokyo Catastropheland

For the real story behind Meet the World, visit this tribute site, and also take a look at the Wikipedia entry for the Japan pavilion at Epcot, which would’ve hosted an English language version of Meet the World, save for some creative choices.

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The Signature Tune/Theme Song Podcastrophe

Posted by Hikaru “Fukatsu no” Freeman

Andy grew up calling it a signature tune. Hikaru grew up calling it a theme song. The “It” being the piece of music that signified the beginning or ending of a part of media.

Spider-Man (theme song) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

These days there is a rather lack of this music on television.

Andy & Hikaru delve into the history of the signature tune/theme song and show why it still should be preserved.

Plus, an example of how the signature tune/theme song can reach across the linguistic divide to communicate what a show is about.

The Signature Tune/Theme Song Podcastrophe…Let’s All Be There!

If you want to play along with the theme song Hikaru played for Andy, take a look at this video:

And yes, it is true, “Alone Again (Naturally)” was the opening theme song for a Japanese show about a widow.

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The USA Podcastrophe

The United States was founded not on the basis of ethnic or linguistic commonality, but on an idea that everyone is equal.

In the 18th Century that was quite the radical thought.

It remains a radical thought to this day as the American story is about making the disenfranchised feel worthwhile.

A week before Americans go to the polls, Andy & Hikaru discuss the USA and its mystique as well as its reality.

The USA Podcastrophe

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The Full Podcastrophe presents: Adge’s Aussie Celeb Gossip

Being an erstwhile and ever-evolving organism, TFC has looked deep into itself and decided to see what it needs is a gossip segment.

Australia Perth (Photo credit: Kenny Teo (zoompict))

Being our nature Catastrophic selves, we have found our gossip needs would be best served from a syndicated gossip reporter covering the Australian market for the Midwestern US.

Catastrophettes, meet Adge’s Aussie Celeb Gossip.

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