There are at least two artists which have used the name Hanson
1. A pop … Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists which have used the name Hanson
1. A pop rock group from Oklahoma, United States
2. A funk rock group from the United Kingdom active in the 1970's.

1. Hanson is an American pop rock band from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The band consists of guitarist and vocalist Isaac Hanson (born November 17, 1980) pianist and vocalist Taylor Hanson (born March 14, 1983), and drummer and vocalist Zac Hanson (born October 22, 1985). Their work has spanned many different genres, including rock, blues, folk, and pop. They are most noted for their Grammy-nominated 1997 hit single, “MMMBop.” Their 1997 album Middle of Nowhere (the band’s third recorded album and first major studio album, also nominated for a Grammy) was met with critical acclaim and went on to achieve multi-platinum status. The group’s subsequent major effort, This Time Around showcased the brothers’ considerable talent and artistic growth, receiving wide critical acclaim for its bluesy/classic-rock and soulful pop harmonies. The album failed to repeat the commercial success of Middle of Nowhere however, only achieving gold status. The album has since been considered a trend-setter and precursor for such acts as Michelle Branch, John Mayer, Avril Lavigne, Paramore, Vanessa Carlton and Eisley.

After many promotional and artistic conflicts with Island/Def Jam, Hanson split from the label in 2003 and started their own label, 3CG Records. In 2004, they released their third major studio album, Underneath, independently. The album reached #1 on Billboard’s Independent Album Chart and has since been noted as one of the biggest-selling independent albums of all time. The single “Penny & Me” reached #2 on Billboard’s Top 200. Like This Time Around, Underneath was well-received and well-reviewed for its more mature classic rock/pop sound.

The band continues to have a dedicated fan base and Internet presence, and recently completed a tour of college campuses, showing a documentary, Strong Enough to Break, made about their struggle to form their own label and release Underneath. The documentary http://www.last.fm/music/Hanson was also shown at the Hollywood Film Festival in October 2006.

A live album (The Best of Hanson; Live & Electric), recorded in Melbourne on the Australian leg of the “Underneath: Live & Electric” tour was released in October 2005.

The band released of their fourth major studio album, The Walk in North America on July 24th, 2007. They have released a second documentary, titled Taking The Walk as a continuation of their struggles and successes of writing, recording and producing their own album. After spending some time in Africa, Hanson released a single “Great Divide” for World AIDS Day, with 100% of the download proceeds going to the Perinatal HIV Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa.

During the making of The Walk, Hanson made a trip to Africa to record some tracks with the African Children's Choir. They were so inspired by their experiences there that they have since teamed up with TOMS Shoes--a california-based company who donates a pair of shoes for each pair sold to a child in poverty who does not have shoes.

In order to raise awareness for this charity and the daily things we take for granted, as well as small and impactful ways to help those in need, Hanson organizes one mile barefoot walks before each of their shows. As of 10/30/08 they have walked a total of 100 miles together with their fans. They are donating $1 for each person who walks with them to one of 5 causes to help children and monthers in Africa battling AIDS and poverty. The fans are invited to organize their own walks and Hanson will also donate a dollar to whatever cause they are walking for. The goal is to Walk around the World and as of 2/4/2009 have walked 19,236 miles and have 5,666 to go.

More information is available at www.takethewalk.net

Hanson released their 5th studio album entitled "Shout It Out" on June 8, 2010. Leading up to this release they performed all of their albums at 5 sold out shows at the Gramercy Theater in New York City.

2. Hanson is a funk rock band formed in 1973 by reggae musician Junior Marvin. The group released two albums - "Now Hear This" (1973) and "Magic Dragon" (1974) before disbanding in 1974.

Half As Bad As You
Hanson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Shot through the heart, and you're to blame, darling
You give love a bad name

An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me heaven then put me through hell
Chains of love, got a hold on me
When passion's a prison you can't break free

You're a loaded gun, yeah
There's nowhere to run
No-one can save me, the damage is done

Shot through the heart, and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name

You paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boys dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye

You're a loaded gun
There's nowhere to run
No-one can save me, the damage is done

Shot through the heart, and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love

Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name

Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name

You give love
You give love a bad name
You give love
You give love a bad name

You give love
You give love a bad name

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hanson's "Half As Bad As You" are actually from a Bon Jovi classic, "You Give Love A Bad Name." The song is about a love gone wrong, about a woman who promises the world to her lover and then turns out to be more than he bargained for. The opening line "Shot through the heart, and you're to blame, darling" is a reference to the idea that the singer feels wounded by this relationship, and that he believes this woman is responsible for his pain and heartbreak.

The second verse describes this woman in more detail, as being someone who is deceptive and manipulative, someone who uses her good looks and charm to get what she wants. The use of chains as a metaphor for love is a powerful one, suggesting that the singer is trapped and unable to escape this woman's grasp. The repeated chorus of "You give love a bad name" is a powerful indictment of this woman, suggesting that she is not just guilty of breaking the singer's heart, but that she is also responsible for the pain and suffering of others.

Overall, "Half As Bad As You" is a powerful and emotional song about love and heartbreak, and has become a classic of the rock genre. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the power of its message and its ability to resonate with people across generations.

Line by Line Meaning

Shot through the heart, and you're to blame, darling
You hurt me deeply and it's your fault, my love

You give love a bad name
Your actions tarnish the name of love

An angel's smile is what you sell
You pretend to be pure and innocent

You promise me heaven then put me through hell
You give false hope and make my life miserable

Chains of love, got a hold on me
My love for you has become a trap

When passion's a prison you can't break free
Being in love has become a burden that I cannot escape

You're a loaded gun, yeah
You're dangerous and unpredictable

There's nowhere to run
I'm trapped in this toxic relationship with you

No-one can save me, the damage is done
No one can rescue me from the harm you've caused

I play my part and you play your game
We're both playing different roles in this twisted relationship

You paint your smile on your lips
You pretend to be happy when you're not

Blood red nails on your fingertips
You're dangerous and violent

A school boys dream, you act so shy
You act innocent and inexperienced

Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye
You never had any real feelings for me

You give love
You claim to love, but you don't know how to do it right

You give love a bad name
Your actions make others think that love is a negative thing

You give love
You claim to love, but you don't know how to do it right

You give love a bad name
Your actions make others think that love is a negative thing

You give love
You claim to love, but you don't know how to do it right

You give love a bad name
Your actions make others think that love is a negative thing

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD SAMBORA, DESMOND CHILD, JON BON JOVI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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