I may have caught a lot of flack for it in the 90’s, but I was an avid fan of the boy band, Hanson. They weren’t what you would consider a traditional “boy band” like New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, or NSync. Hanson wasn’t a group of guys put together by a studio to fill certain requirements — they were brothers who performed together and ended up being very successful.
Even though the song they are most known for, “MmmBop,” wasn’t even close to my taste in music at that time, I couldn’t resist the catchy tune and infectious energy. Everything about that song is fun. At the time it was released, that song and the boys behind it were absolutely everywhere.
Though they were once at the top of the charts and their signature song was played everywhere, they are not as visible. However, over the years they have continued to make music.
Hanson is a group of brothers from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Isaac plays guitar, bass, and piano, Taylor plays keyboards, piano, guitar, and drums, and Zac plays drums, piano, and guitar. All three guys share vocal responsibilities.
Their first commercial album, “Middle of Nowhere,” which features the unforgettable “Mmmbop” was released on Mercury Records and sold more than 10 million copies. When the label was eliminated in a music business merger, they ended up with Island Def Jam Music Group, which wasn’t a good fit for the band. When the label refused to record the majority of the band’s original music, claiming they had no commercial potential, Hanson and Island Def Jam eventually split.
Years passed and the band had a few notable moments, including a documentary that chronicled their difficulties in the music industry and the split with their label. Their latest album, titled “Anthem” released back in 2013 and made it all the way to 22 on the Billboard Top 200 music chart.
Whatever your opinion on the band and their music, Hanson has been around the industry for a long time. The cute kids have grown into adults and it’s clear that they still have an undeniable passion and talent for music. Whether or not we see them at the top of the charts, they are still out there, making music and performing for their fans.
While they are known for their original songs, their musical style lends itself perfectly to acoustic performances and their version of “Ain’t No Sunshine” shows of their amazing talent and musicality.
Watch the amazing performance in the video below and please like and share if you’re a Hanson fan!
