MuzikMan: I remember when you guys were very young and the newest sensations and pop darlings. I have to say that after listening to your latest live release Best of Hanson Live and Electric, it certainly gives me a different impression of who you are, or who you have become as a band. Besides a great new album that has gained the respect and adulation of music lovers everywhere, what has changed since you first started?
Hanson: We have been a band for thirteen years as of May, and those years passing, that much more time playing and writing together, we are a stronger band then we ever have been. We still make music for the same reasons we started. I don’t think that will change. There is something about music that can change your day and on some occasions your life. Hearing James Taylor, or the Beatles, the Stones, a little Tom Petty, it does something to you. I would like to do the same thing for someone else.
MuzikMan: Your sound is a very defined, clean and energetic rock-pop, do you feel that there is a totally new audience unaware of your past out there just waiting to take you in their arms and embrace you or is there a mixture of old and new fans eager to hear what you have to offer now?
Hanson: The fans who have followed us for seven or eight years, we want to keep bringing them along on the Hanson musical journey, and at the same time with each album you hope to find new people who may be hearing you for the first time. In the same way our music has never stopped evolving, the fans of the music will change too.
MuzikMan: I love your new album, it crackles and snaps with energy. You sound incredibly good for a trio. Did you use any other musicians for this recording besides relying on yourself?
Hanson: For the live show we have a bass player and a rhythm guitar player. What can you do? We only have six arms. We are really proud of the way it came out.
MuzikMan: What is the difference in being tied to a major label and being an indie organization? I understand that you are visiting colleges to make students aware of the fact that the future of music is in their hands and not major corporations, can you elaborate on what this is all about and how people are reacting?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Minh Le
it's the interview i've been waiting for so long. i'm a big fan of the band. just a little bit disapointed with 'This time around'. but now, they are back, in the most energetic and artistic way. thanks MuzikMan.
i'd like to ask you a question. do you think the band want to show their maturity by not appearing so often on media? is it a good way?
Minh Le
2 - Bob A. Booey
The first time I saw them was when that "Mmbop" video first came on MTV. It was at 7 am in some hotel in Middle America and I woke up after 4 hours of sleep and turned on the TV. I saw the little midget kid drumming and I thought, "It's kind of cute that they have the cute lil girl sister singing."
I took notice of the catchy harmonies and started incorrectly singing the lyrics as "Mmbop doo bop scooby doo wop" and such nonsense while shuffling (it was too early to dance, mind you, after a late night) around my dingy hotel room. What a life I led. I had the song stuck in my head and hummed it for a couple of days after that.
Little did I know that the "cute," rosy-cheeked one was a boy. I later found that out and I still didn't believe it. Now, keep in mind, I was still a teenager myself when I saw this and that I'm all man. But damn, if he didn't look like a cute girl -- not HOT, because that would have made me gay. But cute.
I think I've heard a couple of their other songs on various TV talk show appearances and none of them have ever recaptured the Mmbop magic for me.
And I'm one of the funniest writers in America.
I think I'm officially going to quote these words for life. My guess is you got them from the tall, ugly, oldest brother -- he seems very self-serious and chatty:
"Hanson: Being “indie” is not a way to stick it to the man. [...] Young people today are being defined by what is played in the radio and seen on TV. [...] Know who you want to be. That [...] means every time you put out a CD or print a t-shirt you are showing and telling people what to think of YOU!"
Brilliantly idiotic words to live by. But I'll still always have Mmbop and that cute young man Zac Hanson.
Think I'm alone? See the following article excerpt from ItsIncredible Music News
'Lost in Translation star Scarlett Johansson became cautious about reading her own movie reviews as a child, after a journalist wrote that she resembled a member of 1990s boy band trio Hanson.
The blonde beauty was proud of her acting efforts as a youngster, but wasn't quite sure what to make of her comparison youngest "MMMBop" singer Zac Hanson.
She says, "When I was 12 and had just finished The Horse Whisperer, some writer said I looked like the youngest member of Hanson.
"My sixth grade teacher read it out loud to the class!"'
Now before you judge me for having thought Zac Hanson was a really cute girl (how did it now become REALLY cute?), think for yourself if you've ever thought Scarlett Johansson was cute and THEN judge me if you will, my darlings.
That is all.
3 - Maria
Muzikman: Thanks very much for the Hanson interview. I have been following the band for years, and I enjoyed it greatly.
And to Bob A. Booey: If you are indeed one of the funniest writers in America (as opposed to, say, a boor who laughs at his own jokes), why is your post so entirely lacking in anything amusing? Jokes about Zac Hanson being "a girl", and not knowing the lyrics of MMMBop, grew old and flat back in 1997.
4 - Funnygirl
I've been a fan of the band for years as well. They've certainly earned their street cred over the years, not just through the evolution of their music from "teen pop" to old school indie rock, but also from having to put up with inane comments such as the ones Bob A. Booey treated us to. If I'm not mistaken Bob,aka "one of the funniest writers in America" a lot of your material seems to have been borrowed from some of the other "funniest writers in America". A lot of old material that is. Get over it Bob. Come into the light. So you had a thing for the "cute" rosey-cheeked one (which apparently left you confused and dazed) and it left you with a little displaced anger. Admit it. You did. Didn't we all.
5 - Keith
Looks like you asked for Bob. I say good enough for ya! Thanks everyone for standing by the band, they are a great bunch of men that are making some quality music. Keep the comments coming!
6 - Bob A. Booey
Maria and Funnygirls, we got problems, chicas.
But that's nothing a little degrading threesome can't cure.
I'm not making fun of Hanson! I don't know if I'd use the phrase "street cred" to describe them, but I said I liked them! What? Why so sensitive, you dingy broads?
That is all.
7 - Funnygirl
But that's nothing a little degrading threesome can't cure.
BWAAAAHAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!! No thanks. I can't speak for Maria aka "chica" about her sensitivity, but you missed my point entirely. I just think you're a pompous idiot. And not a funny one at that.
That is all.
8 - Bob A. Booey
Funnygirl, who am I borrowing funny material from exactly? I'm curious to see who you think I'm influenced by and stealing from.
That is all.
9 - danascully
Bob, I think she's referring to your use of the very old, very tired jokes about the Hansons looking like girls. Apart from that, I am not sure what the point of your post was. Anyway, I'm a huge fan of Hanson's music, and I plan to go to one of the shows this fall. Thanks, Keith for doing this interview.
10 - Maria
Bob, you seem so bewildered by my reaction to your post, and by the reactions of the others here. Have you actually read your own post? Where did you say you liked Hanson? You gave numerous excuses for having once liked their song MMMBop (you were young, you hadn't slept well that night.) You repeat ad nauseum that you thought one brother was a girl. You make it clear that you're totally indifferent to all of their other music, to the point that you can't remember the name of a single song, or even if you really ever heard any other songs by them. You call one brother "ugly". You call their words "brilliantly idiotic". If this is the way you talk about those you like.... well, I'm not sure I want you to like me.
Here's a challenge: go to the website or the MySpace page linked in this interview. LISTEN to some of the band's music. Then, come back, and we can talk.
Deal? ;)
11 - Shark
Hanson has tons of talent. They had more talent as young kids than most contemporary adult bands currently trying too hard to be creative.
They'll be doing great things for years to come.
Anyway, I love these guys... but not like Booey does, if ya know what I mean.
HANSON ROCKS!
(there, I said it.)
12 - Shark
BTW: Booey, you're the one who sounds like a grumpy elderly person.
Who's yer granddaddy!
~Shark
13 - godoggo
When I was in COLLEGE there was a really cute blonde girl in my Alcoholism and Society class that I was a little shy about talking to. A friend who knew her told me she was a boy. Presumably I would have found out eventually.
Then there was this one girl with really small...oh, never mind.
14 - Bob A. Booey
Shark loves Hanson? :)
That is all.
15 - balbotta
thanks for your interview. i'm a big fan of the band and I was eager to read something like that.
I reckon the message Hanson will bring over to collges during this tour is one of the best things that's even happened in the music business.
Check out www.areyoulistening.com when you have a couple of minutes.
16 - Funnygirl
Shark loves Hanson? :)
Little did I know that the "cute,"
rosy-cheeked one was a boy. I later found that out and I still didn't believe it. Now, keep in mind, I was still a teenager myself when I saw this and that I'm all man. But damn, if he didn't look like a cute girl -- not HOT, because that would have made me gay. But cute.
Look who's talking! Come on Bob, admit it. You're all bent out of shape because someone caught you looking at Teen Pop magazine once and you've been forever traumatized by the fact that "the cute girl" made you question your sexuality. Let it go Bob. Don't blame Hanson.
By the way...I'm one of America's funniest therapists.
That is all.
That is all.
17 - Maria
... oh, and Bob? If you really want to see the prototype for your "funny" material, search Google and see if you can find any of those old "Anti-Hanson" sites ca. 1997. Some may still be available online. They all stated that Taylor and Zac are girls, MMMBop makes no sense, and Isaac is ugly. I thought the adolescent boys who started those sites way back then might have grown up and started doing something productive with their time in the intervening seven years, but I see that same old garbage is rearing its ugly head again in your post.....
18 - Bob A. Booey
Wow, you Hanson yentas are almost as vicious as the Mariah Carey "attack lambs."
How DARE you call the ugly one ugly?!!!
And that "BWAHAHAHAHAHA," girls? Not hot at all :) The 3some is OFF!
That is all.
19 - Keith
God! You people are just too funny!
I love this!
Give more controversy!!!
20 - Maria
Have you listened to any music, Bob? Or is the important thing here who's "ugly" and who "looks like a girl"?
21 - Bob A. Booey
These are all important things, Nancy.
I'll have to check out this "music" that you speak of for myself. You say you listen to it with your ears?
Keith: But I'm the funniest, right?
That is all.
22 - Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
Yeah right Bob, uhhh, you are the funniest...I think...Don't even know who you are man, just know you opened the door to a lot of people blasting you, now that was funny!
23 - Funnygirl
And that "BWAHAHAHAHAHA," girls? Not hot at all :) The 3some is OFF!
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH...twas I that told you that you could keep your goodies to yourself. I don't see why you'd need us yentas anyway. You seem to be getting off on your bad self just fine. Ewwwwwwwww. That's a disgusting visual.BWHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
That is all.
Wait, no it's not.
Why don't you post a link where we can take a look at your ugly puss. I mean, being "one of the funniest writers in America, you must be on some website somewhere! Come on bigmouth. We're waiting.
Now, that is all.
24 - Funnygirl
Oh, hey Keith! Loved the interview. This has all been very entertaining hasn't it?
25 - Maria
Bob:
Who you calling Nancy? Read the posts. There does seem to be a nancy here, but it sure ain't me!
You're "funny" all right. Like someone's "funny uncle".
Yes, I listen to music with my ears. I actually don't want to know what you listen to it with.
I haven't decided yet whether or not you're a boor, but I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that you are indeed a bore. If you can't find some way to make a comment on the music that reflects some amount of thought and intelligence, I'm outta here. This game is a bit too childish for me; I don't want to play. Sounds like some of the other "yentas" are losing interest as well. Soon, you may have nobody to play with but yourself.