Oh my music makes you dance And gives you spirit to take a chance And I wrote some rock 'n' roll so you can move Music fills your heart Well, that's a real fine place to start It's from me it's for you It's from you, it's for me It's a worldwide symphony

I write the songs that make the whole world sing I write the songs of love and special things I write the songs that make the young girls cry I write the songs, I write the songs

~I Write The Songs, Barry Manilow

Q: Hello, Zac. You were going through puberty while making this record. What was that like?

Zac: I'm sure you went through the change and you know what it's like. It's just something strange and weird. It's harder to sing higher notes and stuff like that, but it's not like growing another arm out your back.

~San Francisco Chronicle, May 7, 2000

I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words How wonderful life is While you're in the world

~Your Song, Elton John

Q: But being in a band is a lot of hard work.

Isaac: Yeah, but I find I'm pinching myself, like I can't believe I am where I am. I'll be talking to friends and I tell them, "Ugh, I've got to go back to Europe again.'' And everyone else goes, "Europe again? Wow!'' Most the time you don't think of it that way because you're having to work. But it's an amazing opportunity.

~San Francisco Chronicle, May 7, 2000

But the album is equally a test of Hanson itself. In a pop world increasingly crammed with teen acts, the precocious Oklahoma trio, who kick-started this whole trend, are battling to maintain their musical niche. Unlike their carelessly labeled "peers" -- Backstreet, 'N Sync and countless other faux-soul dance acts -- the Hanson brothers play rock 'n' roll.

~May 9, 2000, Detroit Free Press

Q: Is there anything you hate about being in Hanson?

Taylor: In a perfect world, it would just be about the music, instead of the music business. I feel like business can get in the way.

~San Francisco Chronicle, May 7, 2000

Q: Are you bummed that your brothers make you work so hard?

Zac: No, I think it's definitely something we're excited about. Going back and making another record is a lot of fun. It's something we definitely enjoy and want to do.

~San Francisco Chronicle, May 7, 2000

Q: You're older, so it's probably a drag being around them all the time.

Isaac: I don't feel any particular distance between the three of us, and I never have. It's kind of weird, despite the fact that Zac is 14, it never has fazed me. I've always looked at him as my brother, and it never bothered me that he was five years younger than me. It's kind of unusual. Some people might think it's weird, like, "You don't hate your brother?''

Q: It is weird.

Isaac: I find it natural. I actually feel bad for the people who don't get along with their brothers, because I think they don't know what they're missing.

~San Francisco Chronicle, May 7, 2000

Q: Do you feel responsible for the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears?

Taylor: I'm sorry, I apologize if we did introduce all that. But look at the history. When "Middle of Nowhere'' was released, the stuff that was successful was Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the grunge thing. Now there has been a resurgence of the pop thing. I don't think one band could take credit for a whole style of music, good or bad.

~~San Francisco Chronicle, May 7, 2000

Isaac, meanwhile, describes the new music as "a little bit more dynamic" but says the sibling trio from Oklahoma hopes to "explore mellow" a bit more than on its previous releases. "You want people to be able to feel the different emotions. You want to make sure you've really got people hooked on that really mellow moment and that really exciting, no-holds-barred moment, and that 'this is a good driving song' moment."

~March 21, 2001

WallofSound.com

"I was amazed by them, watching them play and sing," he continues. "You always got the sense that they were actually talented but they really have that brothers thing. They have a sixth sense when they play together."

~Matthew Sweet, Rolling Stone Online, April 12, 2001

"There's more reckless abandon on this record," says Taylor. "A sense that we're not gonna over-think things. I wanna leave space for people to hear the parts, the grit of the guitar or the driving rhythms. Not to say it's not gonna be tight and that the songs won't be pop . . . I love writing songs with that hook, that's what I enjoy, like every Big Star song. But I want people to feel it. I want people to instantaneously be drawn in and go, 'I don't know why I like it. I don't care if it's Hanson or Black Sabbath, it's just good.'"

~Rolling Stone Online, April 12, 2001

Zac: I've been eating fertilizer for the last few months.

Isaac: We've been giving him Miracle-gro plant fertilizer. He just grew and grew.

~Teen Celebrity, April, 2001

Happy Happy Birthday Baby Although you're with somebody new Thought I'd drop a line to say That I wish this happy day would find me beside you

~Happy Happy Birthday Baby, Tune Weavers

TLS & TH wish Taylor a VERY Happy 20th Birthday! :) We love you!

For a very special 20th birthday tribute for Taylor, please go here: http://www.oocities.org/SunsetStrip/Garage/7493/

What about acting? Every pop band seems to want to get into that.

Taylor: Not really.

Zac: We're more interested in being on the otherside of the camera.

Taylor: Directing and writing.

Isaac: Doing scores of music. Maybe a little acting, but right now...

Taylor: We'd be better at being comedians than serious actors and if we were trying to be serious, we'd be funny without even knowing.

~~Teen Celebrity, April, 2001

"You want to be able to sell records," Taylor says. "You want to go out and play to a lot of fans. But the natural process of writing songs and feeling good about them has to outweigh that. The character, the heart, the credibility -- those things have to be there first. But I think everybody -- the band, the label -- is looking towards the goal of having that song that makes people go out and buy your record."

~Rolling Stone Online, April 12,2001

erika-guest says: Isaac: Hi, Hanson brothers. What's keeping you three together as brothers and as a band?

Blood I guess! LOL I don't know, that is a good as an answer that I can give you. I think probably also that we all just love music and because of it, it is just a big part of our lives. That helps our relationship with each other.

~Isaac, Cosmogirl Chat, August 2000

We always appreciate the response to the music. Always find ourselves reflecting. We don't always reflect after the show, but just in general and are amazed by the response. I think more after a concert, you are reflecting on your performance and how you can improve.

~Isaac, Cosmogirl Chat, August 2000

I'm fallin', deeper and deeper and deeper in love I'm feelin' more and more and more and more and more in love

~Deeper, Hanson

Yay, yes! New Hanson music excites us to NO end!!!!!!

I think in the end good music will prevail. Its really cool that music can continue to change and can be put in the listeners' hands.

~Hanson Chat, March 2001

I think a HUGE part of our fan base and ability to communicate with you has been through the Internet As long as you guys stay fans, we'll give you info over the net. Stay logged on to HANSON.NET!

~Hanson chat, March 2001

There is no amount of control we don't have. We put on what we want and we sweat a lot, so it's pretty messy at the end of the show!

~Isaac, Cosmogirl Chat, August 2000

Dying2BTayz says: What would you do if you weren't musicians? Dana, IL

Taylor: Well I would have to be doing something creative. Music is merely a way to express things you're thinking, things that go through your head. It has shaped my perspective on life in a certain way. It is really hard to say.

~Taylor, Cosmogirl Chat, August 2000

SmithSisters-guest says: What's your best advice to give 3 sisters who want to start out in a band similar to yours? --SmithSisters in SoCali

Isaac: Well first of all, you have to want it more than anyone else. You have to be willing to get out there and for lack of a better phrase, make a fool of yourself! You have to be willing to make it happen. You really got to want it. I think another, there is also that music comes first. I think if your goal is to be famous, you probably have the wrong goal in mind.

~Isaac, Cosmogirl Chat, August 2000

When the day comes that I don't love you Every star will fall out of the sky And every mountain will tumble down And every river run dry

~Every River, Brooks and Dunn

It (1998) was a perfect time for 'NSync to come back to America because of songs like 'MMMBop' by Hanson -the radio was much more friendly."

~VH1's Driven

Hopefully we'll have an album out real soon.

~Taylor, Hanson Chat, March 2001

"In Hollywood parlance, the pop band Hanson is a child actor making a bid for adult credibility."

~Starnews.com, October 6,2000

Thanks to Krayzee for today's quote!

"Growing older can be blown out of proportion. Despite the fact that we're young guys, I think we're at a point in our life where getting older doesn't really make much of a difference. Our minds have always been in the same place where they are now, with the focus on the music and just making the best records that we can."

~Isaac, Starnews.com

Today's quote sent in by Krayzee. Thanks!

Writer's block is impossible thing to predict or to get over really. Every songwriter has moments where they don't write as much and it goes in spurts. I don't know how to explain it, but I think it definitely helps with three songwriters in the band.

~Isaac, Cosmogirl Chat, August 2000

Best part is playing night after night for a lot of excited people, just getting to do music. It is always incredibly fun to just get out there and just rock. Come see a show and find out. I have a really good time! You are pretty busy playing and singing.

~Isaac, Cosmogirl Chat, August 2000