aimless conversations: like an intermission where the band keeps playing

Comparing Hanson to Others

freshspringroll:
can any of you think of a band to compare hanson with? and a current one, at that.

my friend (a h fan) was talking to some non-h fans about the release of underneath etc. and the non fans asked her to suggest a band here in the uk that was 'like hanson are in the states'. both musically and popularity wise. neither of us could think of an example. not that this surprises me, hanson's music has always been pretty much like nothing else i have ever heard. but it left me wondering why this is.... what makes hanson different in the music industry?

in the uk, there is a band called Busted, who i just know hanson will get lumped with when/if they come over here. although busted do play their own instruments, they're hardly original, very poppy, and argh, just not 'real' music. [with the exception of one song that is, which i must say, can say quite hanson-ish...]

you know the band the corrs? talented irish group with a brother and 3 sisters? this will probably sound stupid to those who know their music, but they do sometimes remind me of hanson. i think it's a mixture of the harmonies, their lyrics, and ah, something in the music i can't quite put my finger on. also, whenever i hear them being interviewed, they discuss their music in a really similar way to hanson, q freaky!!

anyway... sorry for the ramble. with the exception of the corrs (in my crazy opinion), is there music that you hear remnant of hanson?
and if not, why not? what makes hanson's sound so unique?
more piano than most other 'bands'? taylor's voice? their melodies/lyrics? or something else?!

Sincerity:
I have absolutely no idea what makes Hanson's sound unique, but I can never mistake them for anything else, nor can I think of a band to compare them with...Except, like you said, possibly The Corrs.

zeus22:
Taylor's voice is very distinct in my opinion. The first couple of times I heard "Harder to Breathe" by Maroon 5 on the radio that Adam's voice sounded a little like Taylor's, but I don't really hear it anymore.

faerieclaire:
what makes hanson's sound so unique?

the harmonies.

iwc2ufan99
what makes hanson's sound so unique?

i think it's the whole thing really, the whole package.
there isn't one thing
i mean, tay's voice is a big thing
having harmonies that good is another
but it's just that mix of those 3 voice and that perfect harmony with an original mix of many different musical styles and influences and some pretty kick @ss lyrics...
and that passion...
i'm not going to say no other band has that much passion - but with hanson, it just translates so well when they perform and that's rare i think.

RhythmicVenus:
Def. the harmonies...

fangirl:
being such the in depth fan that i am, i had to have this explained to me by someone who is not involved, but it's the harmonies. brothers do it like no other (see: the beach boys, the bee gees...). it's the reason why we like them, and it's the reason why others don't -- the girl who explained it to me said just the harmonies grated on her ears, they could write the world's best song, and she still wouldn't like it because the harmonies don't agree with her.

GOOZIE:
hanson is so different than any other band out there so i can't really compare them.

SomethingGrey:
I get what u mean about The Corrs.. I don't think they sound at all like Hanson (what was the song you think sounds quite Hanson-ish?) but I'd say it was because their music is kind of..original - it's a mixture of a lot of different styles - like Hanson's music is. And also, the way they were vaguely big around the same time as Hanson (5 years ago me and my friend fell out with my sister and her friend over an argument about who was better Hanson or The Corrs, which ended up in neither of us speaking for 2 weeks on holiday) but anyway, and then I've heard a little about them lately trying to make a come-back?

And I think Hanson are unique because of the brotherly harmonies, as everyones saying and I think it'd mostly the STYLE of music they play.. I couldn't imagine anyone else diong anything that sounded remotely like Hanson really.. I mean Hanson just don't really fit conventional ideas, because they have so many influences that they can merge into one song.

freshspringroll:
get what u mean about The Corrs.. I don't think they sound at all like Hanson (what was the song you think sounds quite Hanson-ish?)

no, i was still talking about busted there, lol. ['sleeping with the light on' > don't hit me!]

i think it must be the whole package with hanson. i know the harmonies are a big part of it, but as i was saying, the corrs' music is based around a lot of harmonising too [and they're siblings] :)
it's amazing how there is no band that sounds even remotely like hanson though, for the most part. their style (as well as their harmonies) is so unlike anything else.

MegRH33:
There is so much that sets Hanson apart. Yes it's their harmonies but I think it's also the songs they write and their attitude all together. They write songs like no one else. It's hard to explain deffinately. But their attitude about the music buisness sets them apart also. They're so much wiser than they should be for their ages. LOL Their uniqueness (sp? LOL) is one of the reasons I'm such a HUGE fan!!!

uzma:
its really hard to compare hanson to any other band, i listening to underneath and my brother came in my room, he managed to hear at least 5 songs without slating them, and thought what makes them appeal?

its interesting youve asked this question laura as i wanted to post something about Mcfly, the god awful band that is out in the UK, i was watching early saturday morning tv when i saw them perform, and the camera had panned to the drummer, who looked as if he'd been practicing for like a week, with NO enthusiasm, no rythum, just lacked the feel of a real drummer and the background beat of a song, its backbone. i immediatly thought of Zac, who is such an incredible professional.

the main attraction to Hanson's music to me, is that their music is clean, absolutly no profanity, volience or disgust when listening to the song, unlike most hip hop that is out nowadays, or whatever my brother downloads on a daily basis and listens to.

With Hanson, its poetic, touching, emotional, hidden with meaning that is up to you to decide, how to take it. And for those who have been fortunate to see them perform live, its a treat, there's no dubbing, there is no double take, its Hanson, raw, in talent. One thing i wont forget from Islington, is after a song Tay finished off exhausted, it he had given everything into that one song (i cant remember which one though! LOL!!), it goes to show how passionate they are with performing and singing their OWN songs.

to think that there are self proclaimed "bands", a few people on mics and singing with guitars, Hanson are involved with every single aspect of their music, whether its a tinkle of the drums, to the harmonies of their voices, they are involved.

thats why you cant compare Hanson to any mainstream musicians of right now. the future maybe, the past yes, but now, no way, Hanson are way out of everyones league, and its the critics and the ignorant ones who are missing out, BIG TIME

lostwithoutike:
WOW! WowOWOWOW! Uzma!! Where did that come from!? Thats so just - wow!! Breathtakingly true! Gotta post that in my LJ just so I can keep it lol

uzma:
oh thank you! it came straight from the heart, he he he...

Lena:
Hey guys
really like this post...but I don't think I can answere it in a good way...cause it's too difficult.
But the thing is that they are pretty different from other artists that I have heard. They do their things so well, which make them so talented!
One thing thats important for me is the vocal of a song (the music also), but it doesent matter how great a melody is if not the voice singing touthces me. Taylor has that voice...thats just gives me....I don't know, But he is awsome!!!

I totally agree with a lot that has been said here in this forum too, but I can't express it my self.

freshspringroll:
its interesting youve asked this question laura as i wanted to post something about Mcfly, the god awful band that is out in the UK

omg mcfly, i knowjust when you thought there wasn't anything worse than busted... i've only seen the drummer in the video, but i know what you mean about him looking like a fairy with sticks.

and yeah, i liked what you said about hanson's music being touching etc. the way their music makes you feel is amazing... and that's no doubt, down in part, due to their 100% involvement in every aspect of what they do...

*violins* ;)

dfs915:
I can't think of a single other band that reminds me of Hanson. To me, what makes Hanson's music so unique is: their harmonies, their melodies (So few songs released today have really compelling melodies, and some very popular songs seem to have no melody at all, but Hanson's songs almost always have beautiful melodies), and the passion and sincerity that they bring to their music. I don't know of any other current band that can come close to Hanson in those departments.

SomethingGrey:
ah sorry, my mistake lol, read ur post wrong.. i was rather confused by it all!

And I'm no help on this post, but it's interesting what people can come up with to make Hanson unique..they really are rather :D

fangirl:
about the "are there any bands out there like hanson?" thing... i'm no help, but these ponderings may get us in the right direction...

i don't know if there's so many out there now, but i'm not in a position to say, because i'm not getting a lot of exposure to new music right now. but in 1998, there was a truckload of "soundalikes" being peddled to us by record companies, like the moffatts and next of kin. except, like hanson, the moffatts went on to persue their own direction (and then fell apart, and i have no idea what their new bands sound like), and i have absolutely no idea what happened to next of kin... *LOL*

JENGA:
Well back in the day, Hanson were compared to Next of Kin a fair bit.. You may remember their single "24 Hours From You"..

Anyway, I looked @ their Website and it was quite interesting to see that they have recently signed to an Independent label as well.. they've also added another member because I it was only the 3 brothers before

SomethingGrey:
I'm quite worried..I think I rather have an obsession for bands with 3 brothers with or without an extra person.. Hanson..Next of Kin..The Living Things.. strange thing is, they all look rather alike too, in a weird kind of way.. but yeh.. am I the only one who thought Next of Kin were pretty good?!.. I have their single 24 Hours from You, and I listened to it loads last summer.. it was my answerphone for about a year..but with added bits cuz they go mmm..bop bop bop in the background!!..so great..sorry, il shush again now, but yeh.. I'd love to hear what they're like these days.

itzaimster:
always find myself comparing them to the Bee Gees, most likely because I was a big Bee Gees fan before Hanson. But there are a heck of a lot of similarities between them and those are just continuing to grow as Hanson get older.

Whoever has read up on the Bee Gees could think history is almost repeating itself :)

freshspringroll:
sorry bry, i never could get into next of kin. i thought the moffatts were better than them, if anything... i just didn't like how they were totally manufactured to be like a british hanson, with even the youngest one being all 'wacky and hyper'.. and i never saw anything special in their music.. :x but still, hopefully they've got more of a say in their stuff now if they're indie...

mamajive:
I can't compare Hanson to any other band in the many ways they are the most special to me. There Passion for their music and how they sing it and the way they live for creating the music they want to make are something special. They will always be compared to other bands that are siblings and because of the harmony that it creates,but I find Hanson's voices stand out differently then the others. Each family of singers has their own style like that.

If someone wants to know bands that have a simular music style I usually say Matchbox Twenty, or The Goo Goo dolls.

BrokenAngel04:
i cant compare Hanson to not just any other band but any other people they are different in everything they do, but in such a great way! when someone ask you to desribe them think you cant classify them with other musicians b/c the words you use to describe other people doesnt give Hanson the credit they deserve!

uzma:
oh yeah, next of kheh as i used to call them, as i recall, the older brother played the drums, he looked like a giant on a small toy drum kit, anyone remember their song? i remember they were TOTALLY trying to imitate hanson, long brown locks, wacky talks, but hanson did one better, did all that, with goood music!!!

fangirl:
i had NO IDEA next of kin were still around!!! i thought that they just had that one song!

oh dear god, now i know how so many people who are hanson fans feel... "but i thought that they just sang 'mmmbop'..." wow. we didn't hear a peep out of them in australia after that song (which i enjoyed, i have to add).

as for the matchbox twenty idea... that's a good one, because i can totally see it.