Transcript of Disney.com Chat with HANSON

January 13, 1999

DModerator: Welcome everyone! Thanks for joining us today! As you've probably noticed, Radio Disney's caught Hanson Fever...and it's CON-TA-GIOUS! Not only has the Radio Disney website launched Hanson Headquarters...the COOLEST place online where you can read and hear the on-air interview Hanson did on Radio Disney, listen to a clip from Hanson's new album "Live from Albertane" and download photos of the guys! AND (if THAT weren't enough) Radio Disney is winding down their Jam With Hanson sweepstakes where one lucky kid will be whisked away for a private one hour music lesson with the guys themselves! How cool is THAT? Seriously cool, that's how cool. But I'm sure you're tired of my yakkin'! You're here to talk to Hanson so let's give 'em to ya! Please welcome Zachary, Taylor and Isaac! Thanks for joining us today!

Isaac: This is Hanson, everybody...are you ready to talk!

Taylor: Hey Everybody!

Zachary: Hey!!

[Zachary smiles]

guest-myvw says: Who writes most of the great songs you sing??

Taylor: All three of us write all the songs...sometimes one person starts one, and then the other finishes. Really, all three of us help out in the songs we write.

guest-brak_zorak_spaceg says: Do you guys ever look back at old tapes and think 'woah we've have gotton so far'?

Isaac: I think sometimes you laugh at the old stuff and even though that is old stuff you say that's where it all began so it's funny to look back.

tiftay4 asks: Do you like playing old cover tunes or your own songs best?

Taylor: This summer on tour we played all types of different things. We tried some old songs... like Gimme Some Lovin, Magic Carpet Ride...songs we really liked alot. Songs we were really into .

Isaac: We played a lot of old songs that we were really into like "Sunshine of Your Love" "Shake Your Tail Feather"

Taylor: It's definitely fun to play our own songs...and see the fans recognizing them ...that's definitely alot of fun

Isaac: We pretty much like to play our songs but we like to play the old ones too.

iluvhanson17 says: hanson im amanda 17yr old from tennessee i would like to know what inspired you to wright the song weird??

Isaac: We wrote the song with Desmond Child. We were just sitting in the house where we were staying in L.A. and we realized no one wrote a song called, "The Weird". So we wrote the chorus and went from there.

Zachary: We thought it's weird how no one has written a song about the word "weird" But it was definitely a song that was inspiritational... We finished the whole song in one night... and when things happen that fast...it's pretty cool.

[Zachary smiles]

guest-deviledangel007 says: We know your parents are talented musically as well, is there any possibility of either of them making a guest appearence on an album of yours, atleast on background vocals?

Taylor: Our parents are definitely musical and I guess they have to be for us to be this musical.

Zachary: Whoever gave us that question....

Taylor: I don't think they'll be involved, but they've been extremely supportive.

Zachary: I would like to congratulate you.. because it's the first time we've ever been asked that.

[Zachary smiles]

guest-louise1440 says: Will there be anyone apart from you guys appearing on the new album?

Isaac: We have relationships with several people along the way, it's possible, but I can't say for sure right now.

guest-molly4114 says: Are "Ever Lonely" and "More Than Anything" on "Live from Albertane" new songs or have they just not been recorded until now? -Molly 13 Atlanta

Taylor: More than anything was a song on our independent records....

Isaac: "Ever lonely" was a song that we had written a long time ago...

Taylor: ...we decided to put it on the tour because we kept playing it...

Isaac: ...that we played back in bars a long time ago and we demoed and almost put it on, "Middle of Nowhere".

ltjg_roundbop says: As a well known popgroup, young in age, what advise would you give to a group that's just starting out, with little equipment and no money to work with? We're all around you 3's age and were really interested in your music. In fact, u guys inspired us to let our talents show through!

Taylor: Almost everyone starts out exacty like that...so there is hope!

Zachary: Everyone... including us.

Isaac: Definite in our case too.

Taylor: The one thing I can say is work your butt off. You're definitely headed in the right direction.

[Taylor smiles]

Isaac: Just keep working at it, if you really love it you need to keep at it because you never know what could happen.

alin4hitz asks: Is Ever Lonely in it's original form on the Live From Albertane album or was it changed for the Albertane Tour?

Isaac: This is the very first version ever recorded.

Taylor: That was the first version that had ever been recorded. It is new. We had always played it in local gigs, but the first time it was recorded.

guest-mmmbopn_babe says: Hey! this is Patti from Haliburton Ontario and I was wondering if it's true that Taylor's learning how to play the harmonica?? If it is, then cool! Are you going to do solos on the next tour? ;)

Taylor: I'm still learning to do new things on the keyboard... but no plans to learn the harmonica.

Isaac: The thing about the harmonica is that you can just...

Zachary: The thing I like about the harmonica is the fact that you can just pick it up and play it...but...

Taylor: Playing well is definitely the key.

Zachary: It's very hard to pick it up and play it WELL.

Isaac: ...pick it up and play it, but the key is playing it WELL.

[Zachary grins]

guest-tayzchic says: Which tour did you like best, the Albertane tour, or the first one?

Taylor: The Albertane tour was the first concert tour we had done with the band.

Isaac: You do gigs in Tulsa and surrounding areas in Kansas and Texas but doing it across the country it really, really cool. So that tour was great.

jessica1084 says: Do you ever get nervous while performing on stage?

Zachary: I'm sorry... that doesn't happen.

[Zachary grins]

Taylor: Definitely when you first start out, you have a few butterflies when you're going on stage. When you go onstage, that's all you're thinking about. Nervous doesn't really come into the picture

guest-khristin7 says: did you change the style of your new music?

Isaac: Definitely.

Taylor: I think definitely that if you heard one song on a record and then heard it live. When you hear those two records, there's definitley a transition. When you get older, voices change...and there is that difference. Hopefully it's hasn't gotten that different.

guest-chrisl says: How did Zac decide to play the drums?

Zachary: Well, there wasn't really much left to play! I could play.. the harmonica, the piano or drums. There was no choice as far as I am concerned. Not like I wanted to play the kazoo! :)

Isaac: We thought a kazoo solo would be perfect in the middle of a song!

Taylor: -)

[Isaac laughs]

[Zachary laughs]

guest-itzgirlie says: Hey guyz! What is your most memorable moment from a performance?

[Zachary ponders]

Taylor: I don't think there is one single moment... there are different shows you remember. Some of the early shows... like from The Blue Rose Cafe...we were standing out by the dumpster...because we couldn't get into the bar. Memorable shows included Red Rock...shows like that.

Isaac: But being on tour and seeing people everyday from places you had never been before was one of the most memorable moments for me.

guest-steph_moegirl says: Have you guys ever gone back to play at The Blue Rose Cafe? (After becoming famous?)

Isaac: We thought about it, but I don't know but if we did decide to do it we wouldn't tell anybody beforehand.

Taylor: It would probably be one of those show up and see what happens for memory's sake type of things. We might try it one of these days.

DModerator: Nat_wow asked at the Hanson Headquarters: "Is it true Isaac is writing a sci-fi story?"

Isaac: No, actually I've run in to that question quite a lot, but it's not true. In an old interview I said something about writing a story and it got translated into that I was writing a science fiction novel.

Taylor: If you guys want to check out the Hanson site...go to hansonline.com and everything that is Hanson should be there.

Isaac: If you want to find out more about Hanson.

DModerator: And don't forget to swing by Hanson Headquarters at the Radio Disney website!!! It's amazing!

Isaac: Hey, guys listen to Radio Disney for a chance to win a private music lesson with us.

[Zachary smiles]

DModerator: ...and speaking of music lessons...

guest-wacforzac says: Hey how are you guys? Anyway, I got a drum set for Christmas, and I have no lessons what so ever, I just really thought the drums were awesome. So Zac, I heard you self taught yourself because you are left handed, is this true? And do you have any advice for me so I can get better?

Zachary: Hm... the only advice really would be is to take a few lessons and just play. The only real way to get better is to play often. If you work at it... you'll get better.

guest-fruitydudi says: You guys did quite a few covers on your tour this summer. Any songs you would love to do that you didn't get around to?

Taylor: There are lots of great songs out there that we would still enjoy playing. Once you're on tour, you'll enjoy playing new and old songs. When we're on tour, you never know what we'll be playing exactly

Isaac: Like we said, being on tour gives you the opportunity to play songs that you didn't put on the album lots of cover songs...that you really like.

guest-stargirl11 says: What did you learn from being on tour?

Zachary: One thing that I learned is that. Sleeping in a bus bed... you wake up with your face stuck to the wall! It's pretty scary!

Taylor: Just from traveling, you get used to having room service, being in a hotel changing cities...

Isaac: It takes you a little to get used to being in one place.

Taylor: When you get a chance to go home...you think .. "wait...shouldn't we be leaving?" It's strange to get used to just one place.

hansonhead asks: Are you going to release any singles from Live At Albertane?

Taylor: We don't have any plans to release singles from that. Right now we're working on songs and getting ready for the new album.

guest-taysasweetie says: Hi Hanson, will you be doing a world tour after the new album is finished?

Isaac: Yes, we will be doing a tour definitely more extensive than the last tour. We would like to go to Europe and to all of you online from Australia.

Taylor: There are a lot of non confirmed dates...but looking forward to playing a lot more shows.

Isaac: We would like to get there too!

[Taylor smiles]

guest-_caz_nosnah_ says: What is your new cd going to be like?? What songs are going to be on it?

Zachary: It will be very likeable. :)

Isaac: It's really hard to describe music over the internet.

Taylor: I think it's hard to predict how an album is going to turn out. We've been looking forward to getting to the studio again...for all you fans out there.

Isaac: We can't wait to hear your feedback when it does come out!

guest-jb-1 says: how do u put so much energy in to your concerts?

Taylor: I think the only way to do a concert is to put every part of you into it.

Isaac: I agree with that!

Taylor: Sometimes you can wear yourself out on the show... if you haven't worn yourself out...you've done something wrong.

Isaac: Definitely!

guest-nadia says: Hi! I'm from Argentina, there' a rumor here that says that you'e coming here the 14 of February, is that true?

Isaac: NOT TRUE, we are not on tour at the moment. We're working on the new record...the new tour will come after the record is done.

Taylor: Argentina and all through South America has been so supportive. We're looking forward to going there once the album comes out.

guest-itzpam says: What does it feel like to have so many fans look up to you and idol you?

Taylor: Of course the only way you can continue to do music and go out there and play it.

Zachary: We love you guys!

Taylor: I don't think it's about fans idolizing you...but it's about fans being enthusiastic about it.

guest-itz says: How do you think of your songs?

[Zachary ponders]

Zachary: Usually a song is named by a chorus... or a word in the song. There's no real answer for writing a song. You could write a whole song in thirty minutes. And it may take you an entire year to come with one. Each of us is envolved in writing a song...but there's no real way to predict how it's going to happen.

Isaac: You could look at something as weird as stained glass...

Zachary: Songs can be inspired from just about anything.

Isaac: ...and come up with a song about something comepletely different.

guest-itzjamie says: Where were you swimming at in Road to Albertane? (what city)

Zachary: I believe they are in Cincinatti.

Taylor: I believe we're in Cincinatti at a water park...an awesome water park!

Zachary: There was this awesome water park! Had a really big pool. Once in a while, we would hop into golf carts.. and ride around in em...And then we would hit the water park after hours... it was a blast.

[Zachary grins]

guest-tay14 says: Hi guys I was wondering how do u like your music better, on the cd, live or in the studio? thanks Heather, 15, Canton, Ohio.

Taylor: It depends if we're talking about writing it, playing it, or just listening. Playing live is really, really fun because of the fans.

Isaac: You're coming up with a song because...

Taylor: Recording is fun...creative ...

Isaac: ...first you write it and when you record it's an extension of the writing.

Taylor: It's all in pulling it together.

Isaac: You pull it together adding as you go...they're totally different things you bring it all together and you're excited as the end.

Taylor: You're very excited about it...but then stop listening to your own records...it feels kind of strange to do that. Those are all key parts of being a band...the playing, writing ... listening : -)

guest-amigo says: What would you guys say is your biggest acheivement, as far as following your dreams goes, in the last year?

Isaac: Just being the band it wouldn't necessarily call it a dream...well...I guess we have been following our dream!

DModerator: Remember gang, you can follow YOUR dreams by tuning in to Radio Disney and finding out about the Jam With Hanson sweepstakes where a lucky listener will be scooped up and deposited with Hanson for a private one hour music lesson with Los Bros Hanson! And calling all New Yorkers! You can now hear radio Disney at AM 1560! So tell mom and dad to set the car stereo tunings now! And now back to the brothers!

guest-godzilata says: How much time do you spend singing and playing music per day, approximately?

Zachary: You know... you never know...a lot of times.. when we were playing for the tour...we were playing four or five hours a day.

Taylor: Most of the time there isn't a real normal day...so it's hard to say how much you get to play...as Zac was saying ...right now we're recording ..so we spend a lot of time with our music.

guest-bubbles1440 says: I know it's hard to predict the future but do you guys think you're gonna be more into pop, or more into rock in the future?

Taylor: Pop originally meant just popular music...it's hard to label what it will sound like...it's up to the fans.

Aaron T. asks: If a superstar like Barbara Streisand asked you to do a duet, would you go for it?

Taylor: I think there are so many awesome artists like Barbara and people we're fans of ...that we get to work with ...to throw out ideas with ... hopefully we'll get to work with many in the future.

guest-chels_1440 says: I was just wondering, why didn't you guys include any songs from Boomerang on Three Car Garage? -- Chelsea, 16, WA

Taylor: When we were deciding to let the fans hear a lot of the older music...we had to decide whether or not to go back to Boomerang. What's happening.... is that we have a fan club called MOE ... You can find out more about that at hansonline.com

Isaac: Right now there's an issue coming out that says what the CD is all about if you're a member of MOE.

Taylor: Get this special CD ... it will have songs from Boomerang ...

Isaac: Check out FANCLUB on our website for the details...

guest-sheridanpayne says: have you three ever thought of doing a remix of a certain song?

Taylor: We've had all types of different remixes ... the singles we've released off The Middle Of Nowhere ... it's always cool to do that to a song ...to give it a different vibe...usually you do that for a radio or new release. Hopefully there will be many of those coming in the future : -)

guest-heatherizinmoe says: How long did it take you guys to put the Albertane Tour together?- Heather, 13 Pittsburgh, PA

[Zachary ponders]

Zachary: As far as just preparing for anything...it takes a long time. We have to design the set.... we have to make the set. There are a lot of factors. It takes a while... I think several months. But with any project... there's always a lot of time and thought that goes into it.

taysalbertanechic asks: What the weirdest rumor you guys have ever heard about yourselves?

Taylor: There are so many rumours that get circulated about dating people ...about buying extravagant cars...etc... all kinds of rumours have come up.

Zachary: Well... a couple months ago... I heard a rumor about me... I heard that I was dead. That was wild!

[Zachary grins]

DModerator_2: Guys, it looks we've run out of time for today's chat. :-(

Taylor: Thanks everybody for coming to the chat ...we really appreciate everybody coming. We loved answering your questions. Be sure to visit our website at hansonline.com. You Guys Rock!!!!

[Zachary smiles at you]

Taylor: See you next time!!

Copyright © 1999 The Disney Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Transcript edited for clarity.