TAYLOR: Also, with a lot of people, they didn't really think that we play the instruments, or that we wrote the songs, so this is kind of like, if you think we're young now, you listen to this and it was two and a half years ago, and it was our second album then. We were doing it on our own, so it's like, if you didn't believe it, there it is.

~ MTV News Feature, Hanson - Boys of Summer, 1998

"And get closer to the audience too," Taylor added, "because it's a lot more intimate and the lighting kind of goes down and it's a lot more raw. It makes it more interesting."

~Hanson Discusses Acoustic Sets And Screaming Fans, July 28, 1998

I'm too sexy for my shirt, Too sexy for my shirt , So sexy, it hurts

~"I'm Too Sexy", Right Said Fred

"We're not exactly into trashing apartments," reassures Taylor, looking spookily angelic as he pushes his hair from his eyes.

~"The Troublesome Trio" from TOP of the POPs, March 1998

For an instant, the situation was confusing, until Taylor poked fun at his younger sister: "This is Jessica and I'm Taylor, although sometimes Jessica is mistaken for a girl."

~"Hanson Visits Channel One News", by Peggy Li, 4/6/98

Haha! Gotta love his sense of humor. :o)

"The thing that blows me away is the sheer energy behind the fan power," says Taylor, 14, the soulful singer and anointed heartthrob. "It just boggles my mind."

~"Hanson unfazed by 'teen dream' year", by Edna Gunderson for USA TODAY, 2/25/98

"Part of doing music is being a fan yourself."

~Taylor, "GraMMMyBop?", by Elysa Gardner for the LA Times, 2/25/98

Grilled about leisure activities, Taylor deadpans, "We go to bars and get smashed."

~"Hanson unfazed by 'teen dream' year", by Edna Gunderson for USA Today, 2/25/98

Prophecy much? ;o)

"You can flip hamburgers, save money, go to college and then start a band. We skipped all the in-between."

~Taylor, "Hanson unfazed by 'teen dream' year", by Edna Gunderson for USA Today, 2/25/98

"What we had to do was, um, first we got trained with scuba, the scuba gear, and there were three divers that trained us how to do it. And we would go under water in front of the camera, and they would, they'd count us off and on the count of three, we'd take our masks out real quick and we'd do the take as long as we possibly could. And then they'd have to shove it back in our mouths so we wouldn't suffocate, 'cause wehad weights on our feet."

~Taylor, discussing the making of the "Weird" video

"We were all desperate for motorbikes last Christmas," says Tay, "and we all got them -- they're brilliant. Mine's a 200cc dirt bike and it goes 110km an hour! And there are loads of fields and hills near our house to ride around on!"

~"The Troublesome Trio" from TOP of the POPs, March 1998

Eek! Be careful, baby doll.

At 14, lead singer-keyboardist Taylor, Hanson's resident dreamboat, makes Leonardo DiCaprio look like a heartthrob for the Social Security set.

~"GraMMMyBop?", by Elysa Gardner for the LA Times, 2/25/98

"Guys just want to sit back and play football and hit each other," Taylor says. "We'll take as many fans as we can get. You never know when all this is going to go bye-bye."

~Taylor, "Hanson unfazed by 'teen dream' year", by Edna Gunderson for USA Today, 2/25/98

Taylor's voice on this is just wonderful. It's really moving -- you can see lot of girls playing this when they've split with their boyfriends.

~review of "Weird", from TOP of the POPs, March 1998

"The song 'Thinking of You,' the first song on the album, we were just jammin' together, and that song started flowing in, and in 30 minutes it was written."

~Taylor, "Hanson Talks About Getting Creative", MTV, May 5, 1997

"Everybody argues, everybody fights, everybody has stress. When you have fun or enjoy what you're doing, you have to run with it, because life is a pain most of the time."

~Taylor, "Hanson unfazed by 'teen dream' year", by Edna Gunderson for USA Today, 2/25/98

"Well Happy Holidays to everybody. Merry Christmas! Early Merry Christmas and a not early Happy Hanukkah to everyone celebrating Hanukkah right now."

~Taylor, Hanson Hotline, December 4, 2001

Q: If you had any wish for this holiday season what would it be?

Taylor: I'd like to have a white Christmas and maybe a little bit of relaxation and peace amongst the nation.

~Hanson.net chat, December 5, 2001

Now it is Christmas time But if you'd say you're mine It would be Christmas every day.

Baby I'm in love with you And if you loved me too It would be Christmas every day.

I wouldn't need a Christmas tree If you belonged to me It would be Christmas every day.

You could give me much cheer All through the year It would be Christmas every day.

It would be Christmas every day. Christmas in the wintertime When the snow was on the ground Baby it would be Christmas every day. Christmas in the summertime If I had you around And it would be Christmas every day. Christmas in the springtime And baby that ain't all If I had you to say you love me too I'd have Christmas in the fall.

I wrote and told Santa Claus I needed you because It would be Christmas every day.

I would have the Christmas spirit Baby with you here It would be Christmas every day.

~"Christmas Everyday", The Miracles

Well, it's Christmas time pretty baby And the snow is falling on the ground Well, it's Christmas time pretty baby And the snow is falling down

Oh, it's Christmas time pretty baby And the snow is falling on the ground Well you be a real good little baby Santa Claus is back in town

~"Santa Claus Is Back in Town", Elvis Presley

I am looking forward to a little holiday break soon. See family and all of that good stuff. You know, throw a few snow balls, chestnuts roasting on an open fire!!! Not that I have ever actually roasted a chestnut...this may be the year for that :o)

~Taylor, >From Us To You, Hanson.net, November 28, 2001

Everything's different But nothing has changed Are we going in circles It's Christmas again Can't you hear the sleigh bells ring All our voices unite And look up to the heavens See the stars shining bright

Everybody needs a little lovin' Around Christmas time Somehow you got to know you're going to be all right Do you really remember how it used to be Sitting under the christmas tree In your heart you'll Find the season

We've been blessed by the children Black, yellow, and white They believe in things We try to deny So throw down your weapons But continue the fight And let's love one another On this holy night

Everybody needs a little lovin' Around Christmas time Somehow you got to know you're going to be all right Do you really remember how it used to be Sitting under the christmas tree In your heart you'll Find the season

O reach down inside you heart And see all the love O in your heart you'll Find the reason

Everybody needs a little lovin' Around Christmas time Somehow you got to know you're going to be all right Do you really remember how it used to be Sitting under the christmas tree In your heart you'll Find the season

~Hanson, "Christmas Time"

(Christmas) The snow's coming down (Christmas) I'm watching it fall (Christmas) Lots of people around (Christmas) Baby please come home

(Christmas) The church bells in town (Christmas) All ringing in song (Christmas) Full of happy sounds (Christmas) Baby please come home

They're singing "Deck The Halls" But it's not like Christmas at all Cuz I remember when you were here And all the fun we had last year

(Christmas) Pretty lights on the tree (Christmas) I'm watching them shine (Christmas) You should be here with me (Christmas) Baby please come home

They're singing "Deck The Halls" But it's not like Christmas at all Cuz I remember when you were here And all the fun we had last year

(Christmas) If there was a way (Christmas) I'd hold back this tear (Christmas) But it's Christmas day (Please) Baby please come home

~Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Sure wish Taylor was MY baby and he was coming to MY house this Christmas....::sigh::

If I could only have you near To breathe a sigh or two I would be happy just to hold the hands I love Upon this winter night with you

~Sarah McLachlan, "Song for a Winter's Night"

Merry Christmas Baby Merry Christmas baby Merry Christmas baby Sure did treat me nice Merry Christmas baby Sure did treat me nice

Bought me diamond rings for Christmas I feel like I'm in paradise Be at my side I got music on my radio Feel my vibe I got music on my radio

I feel like I'm going to kiss you underneath the Mistletoe Santa's coming down the chimney, half past three All those pretty presents for my baby and for me

Merry Christmas baby Sure did treat me nice Treat me so nice Bought me pretty presents I feel like I'm in paradise

Merry Christmas girl Merry Chrismas baby Merry Chrismas baby Sure did treat me nice You know you do Merry Christmas baby Sure did treat me nice I got a lot of pretty presents I feel like I'm in paradise

Merry Christmas baby Merry Christmas baby I feel like I'm in paradise In paradise Merry Christmas baby Happy New Year Merry Christmas baby Merry Christmas baby Merry Christmas baby Merry Christmas baby Merry Christmas baby Happy New Year

~Hanson, Merry Christmas Baby

Merry Christmas you guys! Love, TLS, TC, and TH

"You can take my breath away"

~"Hero", Enrique Iglasias

NO: What's the coolest place you've ever played live?

T: There's a thing called Festival Bar in Italy. It's pretty phenomenal stand in the middle of this ancient square, looking out on 150,000 people screaming. It's pretty cool. Also, one of the first times we went to Australia, we did a little impromtu concert in a parking lot and 30,000 people showed up. And musically, I've really enjoyed playing at the theaters we've been doing on this tour, smaller arenas with really great sound and lots of history. Very cool.

~Taylor, Nick Interview, January 2001

"We recently had a discussion just for the fun of it about collaborating with some musician friends and doing an album of covers. You never know."

~Taylor, Yahoo Chat, 12/24/00

"Well, in a lot of ways I hope it never stays the same. We've always said we want to make each record just a little bit different and exciting. There are a lot of new influences on the record...we hope we surprise people, and we hope people enjoy this record the same as you have the others."

~Taylor, Yahoo Chat, 12/24/00

Photo credit to Hanson By the Bay. :)

All you have to do is touch my hand And something happens to me that's some kind of wonderful

Ev'ry time my little world seems blue I just have to look at you And everything seems to be some kind of wonderful

~"Some Kind of Wonderful", The Drifters

Thanks so much to Shirl for the pic!

amyraegowan: Do you ever like just sitting down and listening to a really raunchy rap song?

HANSON Tay: LOL! I have to say I don't make a habit of it. We all do plenty of things that might not expect, but that's not one of them.

~Taylor, Yahoo Chat, 12/24/00

Ring in the new year safely, you guys!