Hanson, the three-man, three-brother (Isaac, Taylor and Zac) group from that musical hotbed city of Tulsa, OK has just released a catchy video/song called “Get The Girl Back” (no, it’s not about Lindsay Lohan escaping from rehab). And, on June 13th, they will release “Anthem;” their fourth album on their own label; after previously fighting for three years to leave Island Def Jam. It seems that the execs at Def Jam had dismissed over 80 songs from the band; believing the tunes lacked marketability. The Def Jam powers to be (who most likely aren’t even with the company today while Hanson lives) no doubt wanted something that sounded a lot like MMMBop…perhaps Hanson gave them “BopMMM” instead.
One word can sum up why the boys, huh, now men in their 30’s are still in the public eye (and ears) sixteen years after their “MMMMbop” hit and 18 million record sales later: Talent.
Yes, they were a novelty band and still are. That is, they are a novelty because they don’t steal music; they make music. Of course, these days, it’s not called “stealing;” it’s called “sampling” or “paying tribute to past musicians;” who (like Hanson) actually learned to play an instrument. Hanson’s soulful music may not be respected in musical quarters, but guess what will happen if a piece of one of their songs is stolen…huh…sampled by the latest “a-star-today,-out-of-the-public’s-mind-tomorrow-rapper?”
Hanson becomes respected.
By now, Hanson shouldn’t be fighting for respect. And unlike countless other rock star siblings, they aren’t famous for fighting each other.
Three fighting cases in point:
1. The infamous Gallagher brothers, Liam and Noel, of “Oasis.” These blokes have done battle with each other and the bottle. Noel scathingly said of his bro: “He is rude, arrogant, intimidating and lazy. He’s the angriest man you’ll ever meet. He’s like a man with a fork in a world of soup.”
2. The Everly Brothers (Don and Phil): During one Hollywood show in 1973, Don was drunk and forgot lyrics. This slightly riled Phil; who smashed his guitar and left the building, promising he would “never get on stage with that man again”.
3. The Kinks – Dave and Ray Davies. Over 35 years of playing hot guitar for his big brother hasn’t left Dave with warm feelings towards Ray:
“You’ve heard of vampires. Well, Ray sucks me dry of ideas, emotions and creativity. It’s toxic for me to be with him.”
It is extremely doubtful that Hanson will be the “fourth fighting case in point.”
CLICK HERE for HANSON’s official website.
WATCH: Hanson: “Get The Girl Back” – music video