What makes us the enlightened ones?

I like to call Hanson fans the “enlightened”. That is because, not only are we rebels who listen to what we want to, rather than what is spoon fed to us by greedy corporate suits buying and selling music as if it were cheap,  sometrendy clothes, or un-nourishing junk food, but because we’ve foundone we can respect and admire who just happen to be extremely talented songwriters and musicians who are not for sale to the highest bidder. I know, that sentence deserves some sort of award for being the longest ever, but it is nothing but truth. Hanson is a band who got lucky or unlucky, depending on how you look at it, with a song called “MMMBop”. It was catchy, fun, infectious pop. But it was also something so much more. It was truth. I really loved that song—from the moment I heard it, I was hooked on it. But, when I read the lyrics, I was hooked on Hanson. What a wonderful world we would live in if everyone understood what those three young boys from Oklahoma know—that in an MMMBop they’re gone. It was a statement so simple, yet so deep. And boy did they know how to make us listen. Over and over.

Hanson got played so many times over the course of that summer, that it caused a huge backlash. Suddenly, it became so un-cool to be a Hanson fan, that girls were only wearing their t-shirts to bed at night for fear that someone might see them and find out they were…..egads, a Hanson fan. And boys, we won’t even go there. And so, thankfully, all the fans who were only interested when it was cool, are gone now. Good riddance. Those of us left know that Hanson is not about MMMBop, they are about music. And their music speaks to us. It can make us dance or laugh or cry. Their love of music has rubbed off on us as many of their fans have picked up guitars or drumsticks so that we can do the same thing and fall in love with music as they did. And if we are not musically inclined (raises her hand), we have been inspired in other ways. We write. We write songs, poetry, stories—whatever it is that comes into our heads. And we have made friends with other enlightened people along the way.

So, Hanson fans are enlightened, because we know that music is not about how many records you sell, or selling out concerts in huge arenas. It’s about inspiration and finding kindred spirits—something that makes you laugh or cry or feel so good you can’t stop smiling and wanting more. I’m a music addict and Hanson is my drug of choice. That doesn’t mean they are my only vice, but they certainly are my favorite. And I can’t wait for my next fix………oh please, oh please. Until the new album comes out, I will continue listening to my old CD’s and scour Lime Wire or Aimster (R.I.P. Napster) for every little snippet, demo, cover or whatever of the music of Hanson and on the day the new one comes out, I’ll be first in line and the guy at the counter can kiss my ass. If he wants to smirk, so be it. It doesn’t bother me a bit, because I know I am one of the enlightened.