Hanson: how we made MMMBop
‘Taylor’s voice was breaking as we were recording. We got a vocal coach in and tried to catch him on a good day. But in the end, we cheated and slowed the tape down’
Isaac Hanson, songwriter
We were home-schooled and spent a lot of time reading poetry and listening to rock’n’roll. Although our dad was an accountant, he’d studied ballet at college and had wanted to be a poet. Both our parents were really supportive. They tolerated the drum-set in the living room of our house in Oklahoma – despite people in church circles saying things like: “Why would you form a band? It’s awfully dangerous.”
I was 14,. We were trying to write a part for another song and came up with this catchy hook, but it didn’t really fit. Much, much later, I said to the guys: “Remember that hook? It really sticks in your head. We need to find a way to use it.” Then, as we were getting ready for bed, we all sang it together in the bathroom.
