yearbook

hope that you remember me next year . . .

Winter 2000

making the video
There's so much to say about this video and the making of it. But I'm going to be brief (for now). It's certainly NOT disingenuous. (At least the part where Zac discovers the drums. ::grin::) Taylor insisting that his brothers join him on the cool red bench? Classic Hanson! Isaac rocking out will be the signature of the new sound, I believe (At least, I just hope it's not his "shrimpy" comment. Yikes! hehe). My heart melts in the first 5 seconds of the video . . . Honestly, how many people can deny that this happens to them as well? (c; I can forget for an instant that the deeper meaning of the song gets buried in the rave . . .

hanson@MTV
Taylor on harmonica? Whoa! Is there anything he can't do? Honestly, I don't think world peace is out of his reach. (c; At the risk of sounding superficial, Isaac's haircut looks so dang flattering on him! How much do I love Dave and Ananda anyway, but how sweet was it for Isaac to offer to sing "Gimme Some Lovin" for Ananda in a private concert at Dave's suggestion? Doesn't Zac truly come alive on drums? I loved how he characterized the new album by the single, "This Time Around." The deeper meaning of the song and its profound message are perfect for Hanson . . . a striking contrast to MTV culture, in my opinion.

trl
The most entertaining part of the Mandy Moore interview was when Zac was teasing Ms. Moore and she didn't seem to find it amusing.

the fan factor
As we see more and more "The-e-ey're MMMBack" type reports as Hanson returns to public consciousness, I'm curious about how the fans are portrayed. Of course, the guys' BOP and Tiger Beat image will be most prevalent, but it's also interesting to note how Hanson themselves refer to their fanbase. Zac's comments, in an October 1999 Entertainment Weekly article may lead the public to believe that the fans are overly concerned about matters of the hair:

Zac relaying a sample hotline message: "Isaac...[sob]...we're...sup...porting..you..[choking sob]...and your haircut!"

Even more recently, Taylor jokingly made a similar reference in an Access Hollywood interview, complete with the "phone hand" gesture" and falsetto girlie voice, "It's okay, I understand . . . " To be fair, Taylor also said some people were cool with it and noted, "It's just hair." Of course, when "enquiring minds" want to know, the media has an obligation? ::cough cough:: (Oprah: What shampoo do you use?)

I have no problem with references to Hanson's new look—like an old aunt at a family reunion—it's only natural. However, and I'm going to say it publicly now, a definitive answer to this kind of attention would have been to go graphic with the album cover. By graphic, I mean This Time Around could have sported any number of cool artistic designs. The band themselves have proved over and over again how they love the graphic arts . . . Isaac in MOE, Taylor on TT&MON, Zac in RTA . . . And it didn't even have to be hand-drawn by a Hanson. What about Taylor's amazing photography on the cover of MOE 5? Wouldn't the cover of that issue have been fabulous for this album?!! To be sure, I love the beautiful sepia-toned photo that graces the cover of the album . . . photos like this and others like it could have become a scrapbook found inside the album jacket.

Okay, so with this having been said, I turn my attention to recent appearances by the band as they heat things up for the May 9th release of the new album:

mtv news 1515 (Valentine's Weekend 2000)
How much do I love John Norris interviews with Hanson? I really can't say, because I love them so much!!! ::grin:: Although the intro included phrases such as "freshly-coifed" and "unexpected guests such as Jonny Lang . . ." I stopped chuckling long enough to forgive MTV because this network has come, so obviously, to respect Hanson. The guys got to sing their praises of Jonny and John Popper, but we also had the opportunity once again, to see Isaac rocking out to This Time Around!! Like Taylor at the keyboard in the Dust Brothers' living room, will this head-banging image be the new signature clip for this round of Hanson interviews? The band also explained that their music was now in a different "spectrum" than the bands they are so unwittingly categorized with--MTV doesn't want anybody to MISS this point!!!

I envision the band, in weaker moments, mock dancing to 'NSync as a joke--so it was entertaining to watch the brothers mind their manners in speaking of this apostrophe-toting boy band. I thought there would be a revelation about Hanson's reaction to their loyal fan base since, in the beginning of the segment, John wondered aloud how fans would react to the new sound. Alas, the same assumptions about the fanbase were resurrected. The band said their sound wasn't so much rhythm-pop as they used to be. ::sigh:: I guess, the Hanson fan image has also fallen prey to the boy band curse.

Finally, Zac's bear hug as the final segue was old and new again. Isn't this why we love the guys? Because they love each other so much? I'm going to need a Kleenex in a minute . . . =o)

A few words about some of the other studio artists' featured on the show: I have to say I was intrigued as I heard Fred Durst say that he would like to feature a few fans on his next album . . . a good idea for Hanson? Hmmm, let me think about that while I contact an agent . . . As constant beeps were issuing from my set during Emminem's (sp?) interview, I had to shudder when I had a vision of a Hanson studio session at all similar to this Detroit artist's: "That's whacked, Zac!" "Ike, thanks for saying it's whacked and not just calling it dope!" "Tay, that's just *@#$%, baby!" (No, no, no!) Also, how endearing was Da Brat? Very, in my opinion.

access hollywood (2/10/00)
First of all, this program aired at 1 a.m. in my viewing area!! One freakin' A.M.?!!! And not only that, I was so sick, I could hardly breathe? So what did this mean? Yes, my body actually seemed to have a Hanson clock that went off at this ungodly hour as I wrapped myself in my down coat between feverish shivers to watch both early Thursday morning and Friday morning . . . since hansonline had said it would air Thursday, but at 1 a.m., it was actually Friday, as I found out. (c; ANYway, the best part about catching the preview for the actual show was that the announcer sounded dramatic and shocked while reading the following teaser:

You loved them as (dramatic pause) HANSON!
Now you'll love them all over again as (dramatic pause) HANSON!
And they sound just like (dramatic pause) HANSON!! Sort of.

The brief story on the band's studio experiences can be characterized by split screen pictures of "1997 lollipop Zac" and "2000 drumstick twirling Zac." My unsuspecting, yet non-Hanson friend commented that the show's comparison made Zac now look like "Conan the Barbarian" or something. My favorite comment was when, to Taylor's amusement, Zac observed, "I have a slight advantage [over my brothers] because I carry around two small wooden sticks."

Before too much focus settled on just one Hanson, 17-year-old Taylor (hmmm, I thought his birthday wasn't until March . . .) ever-humble, reminded us that any attention they receive isn't about them personally, it's just a slot they're filling for the time being. Well-said in 1997 and well-said again in 2000. What about Isaac? He was as confident and poised as ever sporting his attractive, and UNthinkable haircut . . . while rocking out on This Time Around. The guys revealed a snippet of Can't Stop that was just incredibly endearing. Perhaps hansonline will update soon?

Note: It seemed as though Access Hollywood was pretty jazzed about having been on the set of Hanson's first video shoot, MMMBop. They showed the guys in front of the green screen filming their moon sequence . . . What? I guess AH was taking a break that day from those hard-hitting news stories they normally cover in Bosnia and Croatia?

jay leno (2/9/00)
Does anyone need further evidence of Mackie's good taste in friends? It's as though Jay had the whole clan over because he heard they were in town filming the new video. He came up with the Crosby concept to scoop David Letterman with Hanson . . . we all know that David never interviews the band and so why should HIS show be the first to air "millennium Hanson?" Not only that, Jay's goofy grin was even more "crazy Uncle Jay" classic than usual . . . What would have been more perfect if he had casually tossed in, "Do you guys have girlfriends YET?" To which Taylor could respond, "Jay, you ask us that every time and it's always the same answer."

Note: This is a genuine tribute to Mr. Hanson's character as he apparently retained a sense of humor while his role in Hanson's parentage was questioned and his sons were connected to the children of lesbian lovers. Not that there's anything wrong with that . . .::grin::

MTV News (1/21/00)
If you ever feel, "Man, am I over the top? Would Hanson actually scoff at me if they knew how much I respect and appreciate their music?" Well, all you need to do is wander over to MTV and take a look at the clips of their online interview:

"The guy is an amazing guitarist. There's nothing you can say," Isaac told MTV News' John Norris this week of Lang.

"He's a better musician than all of us," Taylor added. "He puts us to shame."

"He puts us all to shame," Isaac echoed. "He's actually a really good keyboard player too."

Bravo (German television)

Why didn't I take German? Who do I know who speaks German?
Must those announcers speak so loudly?
There is an inverse relationship between Zac's size and the amount of time his brothers spend interrupting him in conversation . . . hmmm, coincidence? ::grin::
This Time Around, Zac is now Taylor's age when MON was released . . . and he's answering questions about voice changes ::gasp::!
Taylor still uses the most superlatives when referring to fans. (Right back at ya', Tay!! hehe)
Isaac's haircut? Do we need more evidence that accidents can sometimes lead to the most amazing discoveries? (c;