Hanson

deefstes

I'm sure you guys remember those three brothers with "MMMbop" in the 90's? Well, I assumed their musical career lived it's short life and they all grew up to become fine lawyers and real estate agents.

So just the other day, they somehow popped up in a conversation and a friend pointed out to me that they are still going strong and that all three of them are full time musicians, not lawyers and real estate agents. Some of them have teamed up with other respectable musicians, the likes of James Iha and formed other bands as well. Even so, the three brothers have continued performing as "Hanson" throughout and they're due to release a new record some time this year.

Intrigued, I looked them up and saw that I was very ill informed. They have actually done pretty well for themselves and sold a fair number of records. I wasn't ever really all that mad about their songs when they first hit the scene and simply considered them a nice curiosity. But when I looked at two of their recent music videos I thought it was... dare I say it... not bad at all.

Maybe you guys knew this but I was rather pleasantly surprised to learn of their continued success. Good for them.

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AlanRatcliffe

I always thought they might develop into something worthwhile, but probably not as Hanson - too much of the teeny-bop stigma attached to the name and pressure from record companies would keep them on the pop path. Still, I know they are all multi-instrumentalists and they do present a tight vocal harmony:

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Bob-Dubery

I think it's quite difficult for teenage pop idols with an image aimed at the youth market to sustain a career - even if they are good musicians. So well done to them.

Good musicians? Can it be? Who remembers the Bay City Rollers? There were actually some good players in that band. They never made much money in the end because their manager ripped them off fairly comprehensively. A couple of them (Woody was one, can't recall the other) ended up playing with Neil Solomon, and I remember seeing them in a bar on the Durban beach front years and years ago. Good players.

And generally it's difficult. You don't get much credit early on when you're raking in all the kids pocket money, and it's hard to break free of that even if you do have some talent. So you end up doing variety shows on TV or going into show biz.

Not always: See Michael Jackson.

Steve Winwood had very sympathetic management who never tried to package him for the youth market and always let him do whatever he wanted to do with his image and music. But most are not so fortunate and get saddled with image problems early on.

studmissile

They've written some great songs. In fact the only one I didn't like was mmmbop.
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Attila

Hey.... I remember the Bay City Rollers .... mainly cause my sister has a huge crush on I think it was "Woody". :?

Hijack : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_City_Rollers notice in the Member column.. that our Duncan Faure was a member too

AlanRatcliffe

Another band I thought might go somewhere good, was Sugababes - their first CD showed some real promise. Then the three members left one by one until they became nothing but another manufactured girl band. Go back to their first single, Overdrive and it's got great melodies (a little bit of an Arabic influence) and harmonies.

Chocklit_Thunda

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Another band I thought might go somewhere good, was Sugababes - their first CD showed some real promise. Then the three members left one by one until they became nothing but another manufactured girl band. Go back to their first single, Overdrive and it's got great melodies (a little bit of an Arabic influence) and harmonies.

I quite enjoyed them. Even the more popstar albums had a few redeeming songs on them.

Explorerlover

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Another band I thought might go somewhere good, was Sugababes - their first CD showed some real promise. Then the three members left one by one until they became nothing but another manufactured girl band. Go back to their first single, Overdrive and it's got great melodies (a little bit of an Arabic influence) and harmonies.

That was one of my "guilty pleasures" bands.... ?