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.
I AM
Hanson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right on the edge of falling apart
Don't you see it's in our ways
When something's done wrong, we just go along
It lights a fire inside of me
Just show me when this living stops
I am father and son
I can choose to give up
We could tear the world apart
Tear the world apart
We could tear the world apart
Cut the cord, start to breathe
We're living life at frantic speed
Don the suit and ride the steed
With these shackles on, you won't come to harm
I could be the worst of these
A sinking ship on the open seas
I am father and son
I am all that i fear
I can choose to give up
We could tear the world apart
Tear the world apart
We could tear the world apart
All on my own I'm trying
To change how you see and what you believe
To fight fire with fire and live eye for eye
We'll all end up blind and burning
Burning, burning
Tear the world apart
We could tear the world apart
We could tear the world apart
We could tear the world apart
In the song "I Am" by Hanson, the band is reflecting on the struggles of life and the consequences of our actions. The lyrics describe feeling lost and on the brink of collapse, acknowledging that when something is done wrong, we often just go along with it instead of taking action. However, this behavior also lights a fire inside the singer, and they question when this kind of living will stop. The chorus has a sense of duality as the singer describes being both a father and son, as well as all that they fear. They acknowledge that they have the power to give up or tear the world apart, illustrating the weight of their choices.
The second verse speaks to the pressures of society and living life at a frantic pace. The imagery of a suit and steed illustrate the need to keep up appearances and conventions. However, the shackles of societal expectations won't necessarily keep you out of harm's way. The singer admits that they could be the "worst of these," painting a picture of a sinking ship on the open seas, seemingly beyond salvation.
The last section of the song describes the struggle to change someone's perspective and beliefs. However, the singer realizes that fighting fire with fire will only lead to everyone being blind and burning. The repetition of "tear the world apart" in the chorus underscores the weight and significance of their choices.
Overall, "I Am" speaks to the internal struggles we all face and the power of our choices, both for ourselves and for the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Gone astray, we find ourselves
We have lost our way and are struggling to find our path.
Right on the edge of falling apart
We are very close to reaching a breaking point, where everything could fall apart.
Don't you see it's in our ways
The problems we face are a result of our behaviors and actions.
When something's done wrong, we just go along
We often ignore issues and wrongdoing instead of taking action to correct them.
It lights a fire inside of me
Seeing injustice or problems can motivate me to take action and make a change.
Just show me when this living stops
I am not sure what happens when we die, and I am curious to learn more about it.
I am father and son
I am a part of my family and carry traits of my ancestors within me.
I am all that I fear
I often struggle with my fears and they can consume me at times.
I can choose to give up
I have the option to quit or give up when faced with challenges, but it is not the only choice available to me.
We could tear the world apart
If we continue down a destructive path, we could cause significant damage to our environment and society.
Cut the cord, start to breathe
It is time to break free from things holding us back and start living life to our fullest potential.
We're living life at frantic speed
Life can often feel overwhelming and chaotic, with little time for rest and reflection.
Don the suit and ride the steed
We are expected to conform to societal norms and expectations, even if they do not align with our true selves.
With these shackles on, you won't come to harm
We may feel safe and secure in our routine and comfort zones, but we are also limiting ourselves and missing out on new experiences.
I could be the worst of these
I am capable of doing harm and making mistakes, even if I do not intend to.
A sinking ship on the open seas
I may feel like I am drowning and struggling to stay afloat in life.
All on my own I'm trying
I am attempting to make a change and improve my life, even if I do not have much support.
To change how you see and what you believe
I want to challenge your perspective and beliefs in hopes of creating a more open and understanding dialogue.
To fight fire with fire and live eye for eye
Responding to conflict or negativity with more of the same will only escalate the situation and cause more harm.
We'll all end up blind and burning
If we continue down a path of destruction and retaliation, we will all suffer the consequences and cause irreparable damage.
Contributed by Xavier O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.