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.
World's On Fire
Hanson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody's caught in the undertow
Have you ever felt desperation
Cause the salt water's filling your lungs
We're in regret of where we sleep
Promises never meant to keep
When all that the shadows need
Is a good man to hide in a dream
Do they know that the world's on fire
Time is a price you can't afford
An empty glass and an open door
You get what you pay for in sweat
And a voice says please don't forget
Do they know that the world's on fire
Do they know that the time is now
Do they know that you've got to stand up stand up
Let your voice speak out
Do they know that it's time
Caught in a maze you can't escape
The flickering lights and the colored lens
The walls that we build just close in
Until we decide to begin
Are we distracted by the sun
The glittering jewels and the beating drums
Is it going the distance we fear
Have you heard that we're already here
Do they know that the world's on fire
Do they know that the time is now
Do they know that you've got to stand up stand up
Use your voice speak out
Do they know that the world's on fire
Do they know that the time is here
Do they know that you've got to stand up stand up
Let your voice be clear
Do they know that it's time
Some will say we've gone to far
We're on the edge, we're in too deep
Some will say we're too far gone
You can't erase a tragedy
Do they know that the world's on fire
Do they know that the time is now
Do they know that you've got to stand up stand up
You've got to stand up stand up
Do they know that the world's on fire
Do they know that the time is here
Do they know that you've got to stand up stand up
Let your voice be clear
Do they know that it's time
Do they know, do they know
The lyrics of Hanson's song "World's On Fire" speak about the state of the world and the need for action. The song begins by describing the beauty of the world when seen from a distance, but then moves on to speak about the problems within it. The image of someone caught in the undertow of salt water is used to evoke a sense of danger and desperation. The lyrics then talk about regret and broken promises, asking whether the shadows of the world know that a good man is needed to bring them out of a dream state.
The song then moves on to urge people to take action. The chorus repeats the phrase "Do they know that the world's on fire?", driving home the idea that something needs to be done urgently. The lyrics suggest that time is running out and that action is needed now. The song speaks about the distractions that keep people from seeing the problems in the world: the sun, glittering jewels, and beating drums. But then the lyrics suggest that it's time to focus on what really matters and to start taking action.
Line by Line Meaning
Watched from a distance it's beautiful
Things may look beautiful from afar, but it's important to acknowledge the reality of a situation.
Somebody's caught in the undertow
Someone is struggling and in need of help.
Have you ever felt desperation, Cause the salt water's filling your lungs
Have you ever felt like you're drowning and suffocating under pressure or difficult circumstances?
We're in regret of where we sleep
We may regret the choices we've made that led us to where we are now.
Promises never meant to keep
Some promises are made without the intention of following through with them.
When all that the shadows need, Is a good man to hide in a dream
Sometimes people in tough situations just need someone to be there for them, even if it's just in their imagination.
Do they know that the world's on fire
Are people aware that the world is in a state of crisis?
Time is a price you can't afford
The urgency of the moment demands action, and there's no time to waste.
An empty glass and an open door, You get what you pay for in sweat
Opportunities may present themselves, but it takes hard work and effort to achieve success.
And a voice says please don't forget
There is a reminder to keep in mind what's truly important and not lose sight of it.
Caught in a maze you can't escape
Feeling trapped and unable to find a way out of a difficult situation.
The flickering lights and the colored lens, The walls that we build just close in
We can be distracted and blinded by superficial things that prevent us from seeing the bigger picture.
Until we decide to begin
Action is necessary to move forward and make progress in our lives.
Are we distracted by the sun, The glittering jewels and the beating drums
We can be distracted by the things that seem shiny and exciting but may not be what's truly important.
Is it going the distance we fear
We may be afraid of what it takes to achieve our goals or face difficult challenges.
Have you heard that we're already here
We're already in the midst of a crisis or difficult situation and need to take action now.
Some will say we've gone too far
Some people may believe that the situation is beyond repair or that it's too late to make a difference.
We're on the edge, we're in too deep
We may be at a point of no return or in a situation that's difficult to extract ourselves from.
Some will say we're too far gone
There may be a belief that we've already reached a point of damage that can't be undone.
You can't erase a tragedy
The effects of a crisis or tragedy may be long-lasting and difficult to reverse or forget.
Let your voice speak out
It's important to raise awareness and speak up about issues that matter.
Do they know, do they know
The need for action and awareness is emphasized and repeated to drive the point home.
Contributed by Hudson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.