My Hanson Story: By Paul
I'm too am not your typical hanson fan, I am a 21 year old male college student, and THIS is my story.
It all started when I caught the premiere of the video for MMMBop on MTV. I had never heard of Hanson before, and I was just walking around in my dorm room. I don't know what it was then, and I still don't know what it is now, but those first chords of just hooked me... I stopped dead in my tracks and turned back towards the TV where my friend Mike was sitting. "Who's that?" I asked, half interested now. "Dunno" was all I got. After persuading him not to change the channel countless times and hearing the song, I just had to tap my foot every time I heard those first 4 or 5 chords from then on. There was something different, something upbeat and...happy about the song. It just seemed to be a rebellion against all the depressing alternative video's and songs that seem to have dominated the music industry for so long. I went on the net right away looking for information on Hanson, and the song I still didn't know the name to. I found out the name of the song, as well as a 15 second clip of the opening chords up until about the first MMMBop. After awhile I thought Mike was going to drug me and leave me for dead I played that damn clip so much. After countless times watching the video, deciphering the words, the song replayed in my head for weeks. Anyway, it didn't take much to buy the whole album.
The rest is history I guess. The album was great, and I've played it so many times that I think you can see grooves in the CD. Hanson and their music as a whole represent many things to me I guess. They represent a respect for the individual in all of us and also made me take a look back at my own childhood and realized that I missed something. A dream. They represent following those dreams, a hope that everyone can have if they work hard enough. Finally, and most importantly, they represent themselves, which may not seem like much, but in today's age of gimmicks and fabricated bands, Hanson says a lot to me about their love for music that is not dependent on an image that is not their own. I have a great deal of respect for Hanson and their ability to write and perform such a good album at such a young age. Hanson has charisma and personality as well as good heads on their shoulders and will strive to inform people of a band who loves the music more than the publicity or monetary gain that it may provide. Because if a 11 year old, a 14 year old and a 16 year old got me to tap my foot and nod my head to something as silly as the word MMMBop, then God only knows what things are in store for this talented band in the future.
Because of Hanson, my career plans have been vastly altered as well as my outlook on life. My life can honestly be divided up into Pre-Hanson and Post-Hanson eras. Pre-Hanson was filled with confusion and uncertainty. A world of pleasing others and unrealized goals. A life of forced notions of Medical school, monetary wealth, and social status. Post-Hanson is now filled with a goal and plan only realized after being influenced by the three brothers from Tulsa. I now am following a dream of a career in the music business as a personal manager. I will be attending law school in a year and already have landed an internship with a major international concert promoter/producer. My entire attitude toward life is now positive and filled with anticipation for the future. I love what I'm doing and my goals I am striving to achieve. I know by keeping faith in myself, that those goals will be achieved. Mmmbop = Life and friends should be cherished always.
To end I'd like to describe a potent anecdote that happened about a month after Mmmbop premiered.
It was May 19, 1997, at the end of my sophomore year at Creighton. School was over and a friend and I were heading to Kansas City from Omaha to drop me off at home for the summer. For the past month, I had gone through more changes than ever before in my life. I had completely changed my career plans and had told my parents that I wanted to go into the music business instead of being a doctor. To my disbelief, they were very accepting of this change. I was still completely confused about how this song called Mmmbop could change my life. I had bought the album and took a heap of crap from other people in my residence hall for liking Hanson. I didn't really care, there was something deeper driving this obsession, I just couldn't ignore it. After packing the Bronco with all my worldly possessions, I went up to a friend's room to say goodbye for the summer. As I walked in the room, the Mmmbop video was playing once again on MTV. I thought to myself, God, how many times can I be haunted by this song. I had to stay and listen. While others in the room rolled their eyes in disbelief that I ate this stuff up, I listened intently. The video ended and I said my good-byes.
Coincidentally, the radio didn't work in Mikes Bronco, so no music was available for the 3 hour car ride. About an hour from my house in Kansas City, I was pushed off the road by another car and I flipped across the highway twice going 70 miles an hour. The car was completely totaled and all my possessions were strewn across the highway.
Thankfully, Mike and I both walked away from the accident unharmed; A true miracle in itself. As we were gathering my stuff, the first thing I noticed was that all my CD's were everywhere, some broken, some not. The only one remaining in the car was my 4 day old copy of Middle of Nowhere. I thought it a bit ironic at the time, but not much thought beyond that. As the ambulance came and took Mike and I to the local hospital for X-rays, I was thinking, wow, we should be dead. The car looked like it had been crushed by a compactor. Arriving at the hospital, I was immediately taken the X-ray room. As I was sitting on the table, the first thing I heard was something familiar, it was faint and distant but definitely present. It was Mmmbop playing on the hospital speakers. I suddenly put my hands on my mouth in awe for I had just realized that through Mmmbop, God himself was telling me that he had saved my life. For the last thing I heard before the accident was Mmmbop, and the first thing I heard after the accident was Mmmbop. From this day on I have never forgotten this and will always have a place in my heart for the deeper meaning that this song personally holds for me. Truly God has spoken to me through Hanson, not only saving my life physically, but also through making me realize my goals in life.
Bethany B's thoughts...
Dear Kim and Michelle,
Um, hi. I was just writing in to give my thoughts on 'Blessings From Above'. Yes, they are blessings from above. Here's why I think why:
I'm a 13-year-old girl, who's had, let's say, an interesting life. In about May of '96, my parents got a divorce. That didn't bother me much, because, I knew it was bound to happen, what with their constant arguments about the smallest of things. I went to live with my dad, not too far away from my mother who had custody of my older sister. My mother had me weekends, and some holidays. Anyway, that's getting off track. Months after the divorce, about December of '96, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Skip a few months, you get to May '97, a year after the divorce, my mother passed away. I was 10 when they were divorced, and 11 when my mother died. I was, to say the least, torn. I shut off everybody from my life, and concentrated on my mother. I barely talked, and I barely went out of the house, other than for school. But, only a month later, did a new band hit the scene, called Hanson. Three happy blonde boys who had the ability to make me smile during the worst times of my life. I bought their CD, and found the track 'With You In Your Dreams'. I'm guessing you already know the lyrics to this song, so I won't quote them. It made me feel better, and helped me get over my mother. No, not get over her, just, move on. The song 'I Will Come To You' taught me that there really was somebody out there that could help me, and would always be there for me. That was my sister, Carla. Yes, Hanson are really blessings from above, if not, they are angels from above. Without them, I don't think I'd be here typing this right now. Now, I've returned to 'normal' and live with my dad and Carla. I thank Hanson for everything.
I'm sorry if I got off the track a bit. But, that's why I think Hanson are blessings from above. You don't have to post this on your page or anything, but, I thought that being adult Hanson fans, you might understand why I wrote in to you. None of my friends really understand why I like Hanson so much, or why I 'devote' some part of me to the three boys, but I think you guys might, after reading my e-mail.
If you are reading this, thank you for taking time out to read this e-mail from a little 13-year-old Australian Hanson fan.
hi. im a 13-year old fan...kat from the philippines. this is going to be quite long, sorry! i can truly say that hanson's music is a blessing from above for me. im not saying this because im an obsessed fan [which i probably am], but because hanson music IS a blessing to me. over-dramatic as this may sound, hanson has saved my life. when i first heard mmmbop, it was 2 1/2 years ago when i was around eleven in cananda. at first, i couldn't understand the words [since tay sang a bit fast] but when i finally found the lyrics, it just made me smile. buying the album was probably the best decision i probably ever made. they quickly became my favorite band, and i developed a liking towards zac [liking...or more!]. after a year or so, i was slipping into the terrifying world of depression...problems just started piling up, my friends and i constantly fought and it seemed as if nobody ever udnerstood me. but no matter how much tears i've cried, "i will come to you" seemed to dry them away. the music was a lifesaver i hung on to during the most painful experiences.
the songs made me so happy, and before long i was smiling. and i still am. and i always will be...because of Hanson.
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was that too long? i hope not! sorry if it is! you can edit it if you want to. hope Hansonology will live forever! thank you! take care!
alwayz,
Kat