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A quick history of Hanson -- image heavy! --
Ever since I recced ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
darenotlove's brilliant Tommy/Taylor Hanson fic to people I have been asked who Taylor actually is. And I promised to make a little mini history of Hanson but I kept getting distracted so... well, I finally made one! This is by no means a comprehensive primer, but hopefully it will give everyone and idea of who Hanson are!
So, the story starts in 1992 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when Taylor (age 8) and his brothers Isaac (11) and Zac (6) decided they wanted to start a band. Or well, back then they were really just an (adorable) a cappella group who did some local performances. They mostly sang old Motown hits. There's no video from this time that I know of, but some audio clips and pics survive.
And here is a performance on local TV in 1994 (Taylor is the lead singer).
Cute, right? xD
Anyway, after a couple of years they decide to pick up instruments (Taylor on keyboards, Isaac on guitar and Zac on drums) and they also write some of their own songs. They become a (still adorable!) garage band and release two independent records recorded in, well, their garage (duh!), Boomerang in 1995 and Mmmbop in 1996.
They still keep the (amusing but adorable?) dance moves on stage for a while longer though. Here's a performance of Boomerang from 1995:
And because it's absolutely ridiculous here they are auditioning for a Dr Pepper (their favourite soda) commercial around the same time.
Aaaaanyway, so, in 1996 they go perform at SXSW where they get themselves a manager who gets them signed to Mercury Records.
In 1997 they release their first single, Mmmbop (the title track of their second self released album, in a new and shinier format).
I'm pretty sure if you listened to the radio or watched MTV at any time during 97 or 98 you have heard this. Taylor was 14 at this time and ridiculously cute (if you were a pre-teen girl anyway, which I was *crushes*). Mmmbop went to the top of the charts in 27 countries and was nominated for two Grammys in 1998 (Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance, they were also nominated for Best New Artist).
Their first studio album, Middle of Nowhere, sold 10 million copies worldwide. They were young, they were cute, they were talented, and they cause hysteria among young girls. If you saw that recent quote about Hanson fans making Bieber's look like amateurs? Yeah, I think it's kinda true. ^^ (Also, they are "Fansons", tyvm.)
They are everywhere, they sing the national anthem, they go on tour, they release a record with some of the material from their old garage records (3 Car Garage) and a Christmas Album (Snowed In).
They release their 2nd studio album, This Time Around, in 2000.
Unfortunately, there was a lack of promotional funding (Mercury had just moved around their artists and they were now on Island Def Jam), which led to low album sales and eventually their label pulled funding for their tour, so they ended up touring for their own funds.
Oh, and Taylor made everyone wish they were a harmonica.
Seriously, Taylor was really hot in this era (and has sinful hips).
And just cause I love this song.
They then start writing and recording for their 3rd studio album, which ends up being a three year struggle during which they write more than 80 songs, all of which were refused by record company executives. They have released a documentary of footage recorded during this process. It's called Strong Enough to Break, it's worth watching if you'd like more insight into the band and the workings of the industry. It's all on their youtube account, here is part 1.
Frustrated with the lack of support from their label and wanting more creative freedom, they end up leaving their label and set up their own label, 3CG records. (So far, they are the only band signed to this label, but they have mentioned that they might sign other acts in the future.)
They go on an acoustic tour before they release their 3rd studio album, Underneath. The album debuts at #1 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums Chart and is one of the most successful independent albums of all time.
They tour again and they do this brilliant cover of Radiohead's Optimitic. I just sorta have to include it because I have so much love for it. (And Taylor's still so fucking hot!)
They tour again and release a best of album called The Best of Hanson: Live and Electric. The liner notes of the album contain this poem, which I think is beautiful and also sort of sums up what these guys are about pretty well. :)
For some, music is not just a pastime,
It's and undeniable fact of living,
A blissful slavery of mind, body and soul.
To rise above the ashes of mediocrity is rare,
Yet the gift of song is freely handed out to anyone who cares to recieve it,
Instantly shattering our daily drudgery.
The path to pursue more than usual,
More than what is safe and known,
Is wrought with time-sharpened jagged blades that cut deep,
Blocking many from the road to something greater,
Beyond the stunted imagination of their peers.
Within the veins of a few,
Passion fills every sinew with a sweet unquenchable purpose,
Calming the fear of those treacherous paths.
Though each slice burns and bleeds,
Still they take each cut,
And wear the scars with pride to signal their choice,
That undying pursuit of greater joy within every chord.
And so they say - Watch Me Bleed.
And here's a clip from Jimmy Kimmel from this era (Rock n Roll Razorblade was a new song contained on this album).
Their next album, The Walk, is still my favourite Hanson album. It is heavily influenced by a growing involvement in charity after they visit Africa. They team up with Tom's Shoes for their tour, during which they encourage fans to do a one mile walk with them before each show, and they donate 1 dollar to charity for each participant of the walks. This is something that they still do every tour, and they also encourage people to organize their own walks through their charity.
They made a documentary, Taking the Walk, about their journey while recording this album and during the tour. It's also available on their youtube, and again worth watching if you'd like to learn more about the band. Or if you're just interested in watching people's creative process.
Sales of first single from the album, Great Divide, benefits the fight against HIV in Africa.
I'm personally sort of in love with the title track of the album, the lyrics are gorgeous.
Their second single from the album, Go, is also gorgeous.
In 2007, marking their 10 year anniversary, they do an event for fanclub members during which their play songs from Middle of Nowhere acoustically. It's released a s a DVD and a CD (Middle of Nowhere Acoustic.)
In 2008 they release a 5 track EP (Take The Walk) which features what is, in my opinion, their most beautiful song ever. It's about a father burying his child and it never fails to make me cry...
They tour together with Hellogoodbye (The Use Your Sole Tour). Oh and they dress up as The Three Amigos for Halloween (seriously, they are silly and I love them).
In 2009 they release a live acoustic EP, Stand Up, Stand Up, which features 5 new songs from their next album.
Oh and Taylor teams up with James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), and Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) to form Tinted Windows. They release a self titled album.
Back to Hanson, in April 2010 they play 5 consecutive shows (5 of 5), playing one full studio album each night. On the last night, they played their new album, Shout it Out, which was eventually released on June 8th 2010. It debuted at #2 on the Indie Chart.
In 2011 they recreate this experience in London for their European fans.
For the lead single of the Shout it Out album, Thinking 'Bout Somethin', they made a video which is a recreation of a scene from the movie Blues Brothers and has a cameo appearance from Weird Al Yankovic.
There was also a deluxe versions of the album which contained a DVD called Tay's Music Exchange, featuring some acoustic performances in the set of the Thinking 'Bout Somethin' video.
They record a cover of Furry Walls from Get Him to the Greek for fun.
They make up songs about putting your balls in the water... >.>
For April Fool's 2011 they try to convince fans they are making an album of Slipknot covers...
And they keep on rocking!
And that's about it. Atm they are just completing an international tour (their first in years) to support the release of Shout it Out internationally.
If you'd like to hear more Hanson songs, someone made this cool Ultimate Hanson Song. Sadly made before the release of Shout it Out though so it doesn't feature that album.
Oh and by the way, this:
darenotlove's brilliant Tommy/Taylor Hanson fic to people I have been asked who Taylor actually is. And I promised to make a little mini history of Hanson but I kept getting distracted so... well, I finally made one! This is by no means a comprehensive primer, but hopefully it will give everyone and idea of who Hanson are! So, the story starts in 1992 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when Taylor (age 8) and his brothers Isaac (11) and Zac (6) decided they wanted to start a band. Or well, back then they were really just an (adorable) a cappella group who did some local performances. They mostly sang old Motown hits. There's no video from this time that I know of, but some audio clips and pics survive.
And here is a performance on local TV in 1994 (Taylor is the lead singer).
Cute, right? xD
Anyway, after a couple of years they decide to pick up instruments (Taylor on keyboards, Isaac on guitar and Zac on drums) and they also write some of their own songs. They become a (still adorable!) garage band and release two independent records recorded in, well, their garage (duh!), Boomerang in 1995 and Mmmbop in 1996.
They still keep the (amusing but adorable?) dance moves on stage for a while longer though. Here's a performance of Boomerang from 1995:
And because it's absolutely ridiculous here they are auditioning for a Dr Pepper (their favourite soda) commercial around the same time.
Aaaaanyway, so, in 1996 they go perform at SXSW where they get themselves a manager who gets them signed to Mercury Records.
In 1997 they release their first single, Mmmbop (the title track of their second self released album, in a new and shinier format).
I'm pretty sure if you listened to the radio or watched MTV at any time during 97 or 98 you have heard this. Taylor was 14 at this time and ridiculously cute (if you were a pre-teen girl anyway, which I was *crushes*). Mmmbop went to the top of the charts in 27 countries and was nominated for two Grammys in 1998 (Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance, they were also nominated for Best New Artist).
Their first studio album, Middle of Nowhere, sold 10 million copies worldwide. They were young, they were cute, they were talented, and they cause hysteria among young girls. If you saw that recent quote about Hanson fans making Bieber's look like amateurs? Yeah, I think it's kinda true. ^^ (Also, they are "Fansons", tyvm.)
They are everywhere, they sing the national anthem, they go on tour, they release a record with some of the material from their old garage records (3 Car Garage) and a Christmas Album (Snowed In).
They release their 2nd studio album, This Time Around, in 2000.
Unfortunately, there was a lack of promotional funding (Mercury had just moved around their artists and they were now on Island Def Jam), which led to low album sales and eventually their label pulled funding for their tour, so they ended up touring for their own funds.
Oh, and Taylor made everyone wish they were a harmonica.
Seriously, Taylor was really hot in this era (and has sinful hips).
And just cause I love this song.
They then start writing and recording for their 3rd studio album, which ends up being a three year struggle during which they write more than 80 songs, all of which were refused by record company executives. They have released a documentary of footage recorded during this process. It's called Strong Enough to Break, it's worth watching if you'd like more insight into the band and the workings of the industry. It's all on their youtube account, here is part 1.
Frustrated with the lack of support from their label and wanting more creative freedom, they end up leaving their label and set up their own label, 3CG records. (So far, they are the only band signed to this label, but they have mentioned that they might sign other acts in the future.)
They go on an acoustic tour before they release their 3rd studio album, Underneath. The album debuts at #1 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums Chart and is one of the most successful independent albums of all time.
They tour again and they do this brilliant cover of Radiohead's Optimitic. I just sorta have to include it because I have so much love for it. (And Taylor's still so fucking hot!)
They tour again and release a best of album called The Best of Hanson: Live and Electric. The liner notes of the album contain this poem, which I think is beautiful and also sort of sums up what these guys are about pretty well. :)
For some, music is not just a pastime,
It's and undeniable fact of living,
A blissful slavery of mind, body and soul.
To rise above the ashes of mediocrity is rare,
Yet the gift of song is freely handed out to anyone who cares to recieve it,
Instantly shattering our daily drudgery.
The path to pursue more than usual,
More than what is safe and known,
Is wrought with time-sharpened jagged blades that cut deep,
Blocking many from the road to something greater,
Beyond the stunted imagination of their peers.
Within the veins of a few,
Passion fills every sinew with a sweet unquenchable purpose,
Calming the fear of those treacherous paths.
Though each slice burns and bleeds,
Still they take each cut,
And wear the scars with pride to signal their choice,
That undying pursuit of greater joy within every chord.
And so they say - Watch Me Bleed.
And here's a clip from Jimmy Kimmel from this era (Rock n Roll Razorblade was a new song contained on this album).
Their next album, The Walk, is still my favourite Hanson album. It is heavily influenced by a growing involvement in charity after they visit Africa. They team up with Tom's Shoes for their tour, during which they encourage fans to do a one mile walk with them before each show, and they donate 1 dollar to charity for each participant of the walks. This is something that they still do every tour, and they also encourage people to organize their own walks through their charity.
They made a documentary, Taking the Walk, about their journey while recording this album and during the tour. It's also available on their youtube, and again worth watching if you'd like to learn more about the band. Or if you're just interested in watching people's creative process.
Sales of first single from the album, Great Divide, benefits the fight against HIV in Africa.
I'm personally sort of in love with the title track of the album, the lyrics are gorgeous.
Their second single from the album, Go, is also gorgeous.
In 2007, marking their 10 year anniversary, they do an event for fanclub members during which their play songs from Middle of Nowhere acoustically. It's released a s a DVD and a CD (Middle of Nowhere Acoustic.)
In 2008 they release a 5 track EP (Take The Walk) which features what is, in my opinion, their most beautiful song ever. It's about a father burying his child and it never fails to make me cry...
They tour together with Hellogoodbye (The Use Your Sole Tour). Oh and they dress up as The Three Amigos for Halloween (seriously, they are silly and I love them).
In 2009 they release a live acoustic EP, Stand Up, Stand Up, which features 5 new songs from their next album.
Oh and Taylor teams up with James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), and Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) to form Tinted Windows. They release a self titled album.
Back to Hanson, in April 2010 they play 5 consecutive shows (5 of 5), playing one full studio album each night. On the last night, they played their new album, Shout it Out, which was eventually released on June 8th 2010. It debuted at #2 on the Indie Chart.
In 2011 they recreate this experience in London for their European fans.
For the lead single of the Shout it Out album, Thinking 'Bout Somethin', they made a video which is a recreation of a scene from the movie Blues Brothers and has a cameo appearance from Weird Al Yankovic.
There was also a deluxe versions of the album which contained a DVD called Tay's Music Exchange, featuring some acoustic performances in the set of the Thinking 'Bout Somethin' video.
They record a cover of Furry Walls from Get Him to the Greek for fun.
They make up songs about putting your balls in the water... >.>
For April Fool's 2011 they try to convince fans they are making an album of Slipknot covers...
And they keep on rocking!
And that's about it. Atm they are just completing an international tour (their first in years) to support the release of Shout it Out internationally.
If you'd like to hear more Hanson songs, someone made this cool Ultimate Hanson Song. Sadly made before the release of Shout it Out though so it doesn't feature that album.
Oh and by the way, this:
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I had no idea how hot these boys grew up to be!!!
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Taylor Hanson History Lesson (for non-Hanson fan SNAFU readers)
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