Hanson Is Cool. . . Seriously
Published on June 8th, 2010 in: Current Faves, Music, Over the Gadfly's Nest |
Those who’ve dismissed Hanson as just another passing fad from the ’90s are under-informed. The band has earned three Grammy nominations, making Zac the youngest songwriter in history to receive such an accolade. They’ve sold over ten million albums, singles, EPs, and videos to date and continue to chart significantly with each independent release. Hanson is a model for how to survive and thrive in the dying, post-millennial music industry.
Of course, Hanson’s music will never be for everyone. As long as they remain a band, they will make catchy, radio-friendly songs, and they will always have that recognizable three-part-harmony sound, regardless of the general public opinion or cultural trends. The majority of their audience will always be screaming females (though a percentage of smart male Hanson fans does exist). The guys in Hanson are far from perfect songwriters or musicians. But they’re genuine and good at what they do—making pop music— and they are forever evolving.
Each album has been an unmistakable step forward, each clearly defined in its own tone and chapter within the band’s career, especially since they’ve taken to writing and producing more on their own. They recorded with two choirs in Africa and incorporated the sound bytes into their 2007 release The Walk—a far cry from the over processed drum machine loops on their multiplatinum debut ten years earlier. Their latest effort, Shout It Out, hearkens back to the band’s early rock & roll, soul, and R&B roots. They’ve even added a horn section to their live shows (featuring original Blues Brothers band members Tom “Bones” Malone and Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin) to enhance the retro vibe of their new melodies. It’s these details that infuse what would otherwise be conventional pop songs with energy and passion and sincerity.
I love Hanson, but as someone who’s observed them for so long I also can’t help but point out their limitations and laugh at their trying-so-hard dorkiness. After attending all the “5 For 5” concerts and witnessing their artistic progression from their first release all the way up to the latest album, I’ll also be the first to admit that it’s come to the point where it’s getting harder to make fun of them (I didn’t say it’s impossible, but it is more of a challenge). They’re sharpening their pop sensibilities and business savvy, and the combination of both is pretty damn powerful.
Isaac, Taylor, and Zac have now been a band together for 18 years, and none of them have yet turned 30. The Gibb brothers sang together for over 20 years before they hit megastardom with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. It may seem absurd to predict that Hanson may have a huge hit in the future, let alone compare them to the Bee Gees, but this is math, people! If they stay together on the creative path they’ve been on for the past two decades, Hanson has time yet to produce their ultimate masterpiece.
They will most likely never outsell Middle of Nowhere, but they will surpass themselves creatively with every new release, no matter how many people are listening. “If you don’t get it, you don’t get the band,” Isaac affirms with exasperation in Strong Enough To Break. This comment serves as the definitive motto for Hanson in any year: there will never be a point when everyone fully gets or likes Hanson, but there will always be enough people who DO and who WILL.
They’ve figured out how to thrive and they don’t appear to be letting up anytime soon, constantly pushing forward and taking their fans with them, and they’re always learning as they go. Their inspiration is becoming more focused as they get older. They put on a damn good live show, too. Now, whether you’ll admit it or not, Hanson is cooler than you.
Hanson’s latest, Shout It Out, is out today, June 8. You can order it directly from the band’s website, Hanson.net. Be sure to look for upcoming Hanson shows and appearances there, too!
14 Responses to “Hanson Is Cool. . . Seriously”
June 8th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Very extensive and an interesting read.
June 8th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Awh I really liked reading this. I feel just like you, being a Hanson fan is something special, Hanson are special, but they are hardly the best musicians out there (as a lot of fans believe!) – they are however the most giving musicians I know and certainly among the most passionate about their music.
I have to admit parts of this almost gave me goosebumps. Having followed Hanson from the start reading their career all chronicled like this is kinda like reading about part of my life for want of a better way to put it!
Anyway great article!
June 8th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Very impressive and extensive article. As a fan of 15 years, I full appreciate your commentary and honesty about the band and their music.
Fantastic! 😀
June 8th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
I don’t usually leave comments, but this was a great read, especially after some other article that mentions nothing about the new album.
Found this article quite humorous & informative for non Hanson fans to get up to speed with what the band’s been up to since 1997. Well done!
June 9th, 2010 at 2:07 am
this article was amazing. thank you for writing this, it made my whole day =]
June 9th, 2010 at 3:27 am
I’m a fan and a psychologist. You could be a Hanson fan whatever profession you have.
I read the 5 pages and I enjoyed your article so much I will recommend it to my close friends -who are not fansons. I’m not from the United States, so the band hasn’t been mentioned here many times.
June 9th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Thanks for writing a very fair and honest perspective from a fan. I agree with Nikki up there that having followed this band since 87 has been like reading about a part of my life. My son was born in 87, his name is Taylor and I have taken him and my older son to Hanson concerts to introduce them to music since they were little and now they are older, playing guitar, listening to Hanson and The Beatles and other bands like Weezer and Red Hot Chili Peppers etc. and I feel like Hanson was a great start for them.
The Hanson guys ARE special. And it’s true that if you don’t “get it” you won’t get the music. I think it takes a special sort of mind/heart connection to get it entirely. It’s like these boys are my long lost sons or something…. the family I had in another life. They write of things that matter to me, sing like soulful angels and have a great fun/funny but yet endearingly sweet nature. And that is COOL. Very happy for them that things are going so well for them and I hope it continues, as I will be watching and listening and cheering them on!
June 9th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
What an incredible, in-depth analysis! I never knew Hanson was so interesting and respectable! Top notch work.
June 9th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Ashley, thank you for reposting links to this article all over Facebook!
It is much appreciated.
Thanks everyone for your positive comments on this article.
LLM
June 22nd, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Incredible writing and fascinating story.
October 19th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Would it have killed you to post a more recent pic? It’s not like they’ve been in hiding for 13 years. THere are thousands of post-bop pics to choose from, and plenty from each album. Dig a little deeper, won’t you?
October 19th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Hi Jessie, thanks for commenting.
If you click through the rest of the article, you’ll see that there are several more recent photos of Hanson, not just the one of them on the first page.
Happy reading!
LLM
October 20th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Hey Jessie, dig a little deeper, won’t you?
January 8th, 2013 at 7:08 am
[…] Source: PopShifter […]
Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA.