I can die happy now. I have seen Hanson up close.
The beautiful-boys sighting came on Oct. 30 at the B96 Halloween Bash at Rosemont Horizon. KidNews contest winners Liza T., 12, Holly M., 13, and Anna V., 13, and I were scooped up in a white limo, whisked to the Horizon and plunked down in a sea of Hanson-crazed girls. Here’s a peek at the night:
More Top Picks Best Budget Microwave Ovens
Minutes before showtime, Liza and I scooted into our – check it OUT – front row seats, and Holly and Anna made their way to decent seats eight or so rows back at the side. Liza and I scanned the crowd, pointing out the scads of handmade Hanson posters. We loved the huge banner: “We (heart) U Taylor – Katie & Stacy & Sarah.” (Taylor was definitely the man.) Every time anyone walked on stage – at this point it was sound and light guys – the audience shrieked in anticipation. Liza promptly stuffed cotton in her ears.
First off, the audience was treated to Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” video. B96 DJs tossed candy and Ts into the crowd, and vendors wandered around selling cotton candy (cute!) and glow-in-the-dark necklaces. It was fun, loud and energetic – but the crowd was restless. The beginning of a night’s worth of “We want Hanson!” chants was buzzing in our ears.
The chants continued, at a low vibe, during bands Le Click and INOJ. Each female lead singer was way smooth, and the guy dancers at their sides were sweet – but those piped-in musical tracks were lame.
The crowd got way focused for the yummy Backstreet Boys. The whole choreographed act didn’t sit well with my alternative-music soul, but the boys’ voices were divine. (Every time blondie Nick appeared on the gigantic background screen, the screams from the crowd drowned out everything.) When they sang “I’ll Never Break Your Heart,” you could tell these dudes were true heartbreakers.
Still, the Hanson chants were growing…
Swedish singer Robyn showed talent in her set too. (“Show Me Love” was a hit.) And she looked funky and comfy in her baggy mechanics coveralls and black knit cap. (Her backup dancers wore coveralls, too, but their rags managed to, uh, keep coming undone as they moved.) But enough about Robyn…
Before the DJs called out the boys of the night, they announced a 10-minute break. Time for foolish people to go buy Cokes or stand in the eternal line to the bathroom. Liza and I weren’t budging from that front row! Finally, the lights dimmed… and from the dark, the words we had been waiting for: “Hanson!” As an ear-splitting chorus of screams filled the air, those three cutie-pies from Tulsa strolled onto the stage. Isaac looked cool and casual behind his guitar, Zac looked a little silly in blond dreadlocks and a motorcycle jacket, and Taylor looked sweet and excited with his bright eyes and flushed cheeks.
Right smack in front of our seats, Taylor settled behind the keyboards. Man, could he work it! He played and sang so intensely his face was coated in sweat. (Liza said a few of her friends had asked her to bring back some Hanson sweat. Here was her chance!)
The brothers chatted with the audience between songs. But with all the schreeching, and a not-so-great sound system, I couldn’t understand a word. And I envied Liza, who knew their lyrics by heart and sang along. Still, none of that mattered. By the time they closed with the mega-hit “MMMBop,” I was mmmad about ’em.
When Liza and I met up with Holly and Anna for the trip home, everybody was eager to gab about how much fun they had had. “I was like screaming!” Holly said. “We stood and sang the whole time.” All three girls agreed Hanson ruled. “They were awesome!” Liza said. And all three said, in chorus: “Taylor was the best!”
(Personally, I’m going after curly-haired Howie D. of Backstreet Boys. It’s an older-girl thing.)