Backstage
by Nyssa Jayne
1997, England
The tone of London was sombre when we went back to film the clip for 'I Will
Come to You', and to do some more media work. Lady Diana had just passed
away and although we hadn't really felt the effects back home, England was in
mourning for their Princess.
Not sure what to do, Taylor, Zachary and I (you can call us Hanson) offered the
only thing we could -- music.
We were in the "green room" of Radio One, ready to perform an on-air acoustic
set. Select fans were allowed in to watch us perform. These
performances always made me nervous because I could actually see the audience
and they could actually hear us. I tried not to let my nerves show.
Taylor and Zac had other worries.
"Iiiike! Tay stole my megaphone!"
"It's not fair! He gets all the cool instruments. I get stuck with
this crappy tambourine." He thwacked Zac with it.
"Ouch! Iiike, do something!"
"Going to air in two, time to enter the studio," called a technician, leaving
the door open for us.
"Both of you," I hissed as best as I could. "Just be good, or I'll
stick the megaphone and the tambourine where the sun don't shine." It
must've been a convincing threat, Taylor gave the megaphone back and Zac
stopping whining.
We entered the studio and the small group of fans giggled and squealed, which
made me laugh affectionately, albeit nervously. I counted the song in, and
like magic, the music fell together just right. The DJ and the
technicians, and most of all, the fans, enjoyed the melody, harmony and peace
our ten minutes of song allowed. Taylor and Zac even got along with each
other enough to last through the interview.
* * * * *
2003, America
Political unrest was in the air, as was a war on terrorism and a new found
prejudice against religion. Not being the kind of musicians who wanted to
run for senate and make controversial press statements, there really was only
one thing left to offer LA and the rest of the world tuning in to tonight's
episode of Jay Leno. Nothing had changed.
"Taylor, give back my tambourine!"
"It's not your tambourine, Zac. Technically, it's mine."
"Yeah, but you've got a guitar to play tonight."
"I only play it for half the song."
"Stage call, Hanson," called the producer, as we heard Jay Leno introduce us.
There was a brief moment of reminiscing about a similar incident six years ago.
Our music never changed the world, but the melody, the harmony and the peace
that ensured for a performance was always enough to put both audience and
performer at ease for the duration.
Taylor gave the tambourine back. Melody, harmony and peace awaited us.