·Editorial·

What Happened To The 297th Row?

For anyone who has taken interest in, or mistakenly read about, the release of Hanson’s new album “This Time Around”, they would have to be aware of the emphasis on the groups development in maturity and musical style. It has even been noted by Hanson themselves that as they have grown, so have their fans, and apparently, this will help the fans welcome the new developed rock  sound. Isn’t this slightly idealistic of Hanson? I mean, sure Hanson has grown up a bit, and so have the fans, but what evidence does Hanson retain that shows that both groups have matured in the same direction?

In 1997 on Hanson promotional tour of Australia, 25 000 screaming girls flocked to a Melbourne shopping centre carpark to hear the boys play. In my opinion, that is true dedication. I’d be surprised in any of the girls in the seventh row could see anything (with the obstruction of banners and whatnot), let alone the poor girls way back in the 297th.

It has been well established (even by Taylor himself) that Australia is one of the largest (if not the largest) fan bases in the world for Hanson. Even so, the band did not return to Australia until March of this year where another free concert was scheduled. This time it was at the Riverstage in Brisbane’s Royal Botanic Gardens. The verdict? 4000 screaming girls. It didn’t matter what the girls in the 297th row couldn’t see this time because they didn’t exist. And the seventh row girls? They could see the poppy seeds caught in Isaac’s teeth they were that close.

My, how 3 years can age us. Zac’s voice breaks, Isaac chops off his hair, Taylor gets an earring and 84% of the fan base disappears. Admittedly, the venues were different, but if everyone could travel to Melbourne in ’97, what held them back coming to Brisbane this year? Maybe it’s just because 3 years ago the average fan (14 years) would have been charged a child rate for air travel, where now they would be charged an adult rate, and hell, we’re not all millionaires are we?

Or maybe it’s simply that the majority of us have grown out of Hanson and moved on. (Whether the boys have realised this yet or not is not my place to say.) Truthfully, I don’t care about the meaning of Taylor’s name, or about Zac’s creation of bulletproof marshmallows. (I mean, what the hell are they anyway?)

In all simplicity I am buying “This Time Around” after April 18 because I enjoy the music. I do not wish to imply that others buy the album(s) for other reasons, but I am implying that others buy the album(s) for enjoyment as well as other factors. (Yes, I mean all you idiots who are pre-empting your marriage to Taylor Hanson.) But the point is that there are a lot of fans that have gone and moved onto other things. They have disregarded Hanson and as a result, the mania surrounding “This Time Around” will not come close to that of “Middle of Nowhere”. Sure, there’ll always be some screaming girls, but it seems (perhaps) their prevalence is diminishing.

And God, that would have to be the most refreshing change to have come in a long time.

Guest editorial by Cassidy

(Editor's note: If Only debuted at #8 on the Australian charts, and has been falling ever since.)