Z100 Jingle Ball

The Z100 jingle ball was held on Tuesday, Dec. 9,1997 at Madison Square Garden
in NYC. It wasn't just a Hanson concert. The others performers included
Fiona Apple, Allure, Chumbawamba, Lisa Loeb, Aerosmith, Backstreet Boys,
Savage Garden, Wallflowers, Sarah McLaughlin (I have no clue how to spell
her name), and Celine Dion.

Me and my friend, Tracy were dropped off in the city an hour before it
started. When we got into the Garden, we kinda got lost- the place is so
goddamn huge and I have absolutely no sense of direction. Thankfully, we
spotted a group of nice, young, teentbopper Hanson fans. They were the type I
don't like. . .Hanson tee shirts, huge posters, writing on their faces and
arms. . . the whole shabang. (sorry if I offended anyone). Anyway, me and
Tracey decided to follow them.

After we got our tickets ripped, we realized our seats blew so we devised a
little plan-to get better seats. To make a long story short, we ended up down
in the orchestra section (great seats, like seventh row).

First, Celine Dion came out and sang two songs. It was very boring.

Then Fiona "I hate my life" Apple performed. I really like her music, but I
think her attitude sucks -remember the MTV music awards. Anyway, she sang
around five songs and did her bizarre dances and yelled out some
incomprehensable words, but all in all she was pretty cool.

Next, Allure sang. Let's just say , ONE HIT WONDER!!! They suck!!! They sang
around four or five songs and as they were performing, people were setting up
equiptment for the next band.(there were 2 stages, one in the middle of the
arena and one at the end.) So, I realized that Hanson was next because I saw
the insignia on Zac's drums. Well, me and my big mouth decided to announce
that Hanson was next. The next thing you know, the arena was filled with
shrills of pre-pubescent, teenybopper joy. I wanted to hurl.

After allure finished their very boring performance Hanson was going to come
out. (The people at Z100 had different celebrities announce each band) Well,
guess who announced Hanson. It was that snobby bitch, Ivanka Trump. It was
so great because everyone booed her ass and Daddy wasn't there to protect his
poor baby.

Okay, now for the good stuff. Hanson was amazing. They sang seven songs:
Thinking of You, Where's the love, A Minute Without You (Yes, Isaac even
enlightened us with that cheesy "we couldn't sell a record.....blah, blah,
blah without you" introduction. Then they sang two Christmas songs: Run
Rudolph Run and Here Comes Santa Claus. after that they sang I Will Come To
You. I love that song. It's my absolute favorite. Tay sounded amazing. His
voice is mesmorizing. The little twelve year old girls next to me started to
cry at this point. I was gonna say something, but I remember the days of New
Kids on the Block. I cried at one of their concerts. (God, I was retarded).
Lastly, Hanson sang MMMBop. It was great. Tay was bopping around-he can
never stand still. Ike sounded great on the guitar and Zac (he is adorable)
was amazing on the drums.

I'm sorry to say that none of the guys dressed all that great, but I really
don't "give a rip", as Ike would say.

Overall, it was a kick ass concert. Hanson was definately the highlight
(along with Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys. He's a hottie!) I was
singing and dancing along with twelve year olds (my friend Tracy thinks Hanson
should be shot) but I had a blast.

Oh yeah, if you by chance read a review of some girl who went to the Jingle
Ball and ran up on stage just as Hanson was ending and was escorted backstage
with Ike, SHE'S LYING!!! It never happened.


95.5 WPLG Ummbop ball (don't ask why the radio station spelled MMMbop that
way. I guess they're just stupid)

On December 19, me and my friend Nancy (who actually likes Hanson, yay!!) went
to a private Hanson concert called the Ummbop Ball. It was in the Meadowlands
at some theater (I don't remember what it's called). The only way you could
get tickets was if you won them off the radio or if you sent in a postcard and
were picked in a raffle type deal. Luckily, Nancy was drawn in the raffle.

We arrived at the place at around 4:00 and we had to wait outside in the
freezing cold until 6:30 because they weren't letting anyone in. Suprisingly,
me and Nancy were near the front of the line. As we were waiting the little
pain in the ass girls got very annoying. There was a hotel attached to the
theater and people were looking out of the windows. Well, the girls were
convinced it was Hanson looking out from the windows. The people looking out
were most likely wondering why there were 500 teenage girls going insane
outside their hotel. It wasn't Hanson.

Finally, 6:30 came. The guards let us all in gradually. We went into this
waiting area and then the guards let shifts of people make their way into the
theater towards the stage. One of the guard said repeatedly not to run
because the floor was slippery. Did me and Nanct listen? Hell No!!!! We
sprinted and actually made it to the front row, with a little pushing and
shoving, of course. We were right in front of Tay's keyboards. I was so
excited. Then , Nancy said that she wanted to go stand on the other side.
(She loves Ike and wanted to stand in front of him). I said no way, I am
staying right here. So, Nancy left me all by myself.

We had to wait another half hr. for Hanson to come out. The radio station men
were being real dick heads. One guy was like "Hanson isn't coming out if you
all don't stop pushing" I yelled, with my big mouth "If Hanson doesn't come
out, you will be killed by tonight". He looked at me and mouthed "That's
true".

After about five more minutes Hanson came out. They waved and talked to us
which was cool of them. Of course Tay said that the only rule at a Hanson
concert was that we couldn't stand still. That wasn't trouble for me at all.

The boys sang Where's the Love, Thinking of You, Minute Without You with Ike's
famous intro., Run Rudolph Run, Merry Christmas Baby, and of course MMMBop.
They were amazing.

I had so much fun despite the psycho scream squad. Those types of fans piss
me off. They don't go to these concerts for the music, they go because they
think that one of the Hansons will see them, fall in love with them, etc.
WAKE UP LADY'S! IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

One more thing, at the end they sang an a capella version of MMMBop. Then Zac
gave his drumsticks to some little girl. She literally started to
hyperventalate. Hmmm, maybe she saw the Man from Milwaukee. Okay, I know, bad
joke.

Overall, this concert was really cool. I can't wait 'till they come to New
York or New Jersey again. I will definately be there.

Note: I am really sorry if I offended anyone with my little comments towards
the younger fans. I don't hate them. It's just that they get a tad annoying
at times. Seriously, Hanson said to like them for their music and not their
looks. And when fans scream constantly, it's a pain in tha ass and its hard
to hear the music. Okay, so I'll shut up now. Thanks, for listening.

Peace, Love, and Hanson,
Jamie Falato

e-mail: [email protected]

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