April 7, 2000
If you don't have the "This Time Around" single yet, there's a song
included on it, from the album that, in my humble opinion, you will not want to wait
another month to hear. The mystery of the RTA "crescent moon" song is
revealed. The "new song" on the single is indeed the finished product of
the one we saw Isaac conceiving during the RTA video. So why not maximize the number
of days that you are able to enjoy this incredible track? Yes, I'm speaking of
"Love Song." And you thought "Stories" was as good as it got in
tributes to enduring love--probably inspired by the band's parents. Well, think again,
because this song is "Stories: Part II--and still to be continued." In the
lyrics and melody of this song, Isaac almost whispers the deepest secrets of "forever
and a day" (among the secrets no one knows . . . until now. (c;). At first, I
didn't think that I could enjoy something so generically titled, "Love Song."
However, the sweet surprise is that it isn't about love that always goes right . .
. necessarily. Okay . . . I just ruined the theme. Just listen and send your
letters of appreciation to Hanson, c/o Mr. and Mrs. Hanson. I just wish someone had
told me before . . . ::sigh:: April 2,
2000
I've begun to collect quotes about the mystery of music:
. . . music is about as physical as it
gets: your essential rhythm is your heartbeat; your essential sound, the breath.
We're walking temples of noise, and when you add tender hearts to this mix, it somehow
lets us meet in places we couldn't get to any other way.
-- Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies
At the risk of sounding like "And for only
$19.95," let me tell you about how worth it the Australian single, "If
Only" really is!! I mean, this country knows how to do
singles! It not only has 2 versions of this bright yellow song, but it's also
enhanced with studio interviews! Yes, you heard correctly. "And that's
not all!" For your listening pleasure, you also receive the concert versions of
"Sometimes" and "Soldier." Can you hear my heart melting? How
long have I been saying that "Sometimes" is among my favorite concert
arrangements?!! And the acoustic campfire-iness of "Soldier" will
make you weep. I promise you. I have the "red version" or what
appears to be Part I. The green CD or Part II, sold separately includes: "If
Only" (radio edit), "If Only (album version), "I Don't Know," "If
Only" (UK Radio Mix) and "If Only" video, enhanced. Check out http://www.hmv.com.au/ for more
information.
March 6, 2000
In 5-4-3-2 . . . [piano strains] . . . 1! Our first glimpse of the video
for This Time Around is a party invitation to a funky, retro celebration. At the
same time, my favorite moments are when the guys seem most haunted--pensive and thoughtful
on the curved, red bench. Zac, in a creepy attic setting (a reference to the true story
behind his first drum kit?) displays pure wonder at the discovery of an old set of
drums. Isaac's passionate strumming is what you'd imagine this musician-to-the-core
would actually be doing at a cool, deserted hotel. And my heart melts in the first 5
seconds of the video . . . Honestly, how many people can resist this same reaction when
Taylor Hanson is at the piano? (c; In that instance, I recall the provocative
meaning of the song, before entering into the goofiness of the rave . . .
February 12, 2000
Scenes of the guys bursting out of the cave from the MMMBop video are
exactly what clever producers will choose as the obligatory opening clip to introduce a
story on Hanson's return. It pays tribute to Hanson's smash hit and symbolically
transitions to their evolution.
January 23, 2000
Recently, I've been getting all nostalgic for "Hanson, Back in the
Day." I was remembering the sun spots and moon craters that provided background
to hansonline at one time, the Beacon poster of Hanson that accompanied the first issue of
MOE, and all those crazy days of the Summer of '97 when MMMBop and B****
competed for top spots on various countdowns. ::sigh::
January 19, 2000
I found this really cool quote that I had to scratch down immediately so now it's
barely legible, but I think you'll see why I wanted to share it with you:
For the common things of every day
God gave us speech in a common way,
For the deeper things we think and feel
God gave the poets words to reveal; but
For the heights and depths that have no reach
God gave us music, the soul's own speech.
January 1, 2000
Good-bye "Peanuts"! In the first issue of Newsweek for
2000, the following passage about cartoonist Charles Schulz's decision to retire gives
even deeper meaning to "Lucy" from MON:
Schulz, a devout Christian, imbues "Peanuts" with
gentle lessons in faith, hope and charity . . . the "Peanuts" gospel means
lessons in life. As cartoonist Bill Mauldin once put it, "Love thy neighbor
even when it hurts. Love Lucy."
—Sharon Begley
I can't think of a better reminder of the hope we celebrate
in the New Year than this. Happy 2000!!
May 9, 2000
Hanson will appear on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show."
The new album available.
May 8, 2000
Hanson will appear on "The Late Show with David Letterman"
March 6, 2000
The new Hanson video for "This Time Around" will be debuting on MTV's
"Making The Video."
HANSON will be performing 2 songs on MTV's "At Large" at 4:30pm EST.
scout@hanson.net |
