Some say snide things about Hanson, but the brothers--and others--believe the youngsters have a chance to win the record of the year award tonight.

By ELYSA GARDNER, Special to The Times

NEW YORK--Of all the musicians hoping to win statuettes at tonight's Grammy Awards, none could be more excited than the three brothers in the pop group Hanson, whose deliriously catchy first single, "MMMBop," is a contender for record of the year. And none could be less likely to get liquor service at the after-show parties.

In fact, 17-year-old singer-guitarist Isaac Hanson--or Ike, as his siblings call their sweetly gangly big bro--is the only member of this band who is of age to legally drive, let alone drink. At 14, lead singer-keyboardist Taylor, Hanson's resident dreamboat, makes Leonardo DiCaprio look like a heartthrob for the Social Security set.

And 12-year-old drummer-singer Zachary, the mighty-lunged clown of the trio, is still at that pre-adolescent stage where he can't sit on a couch for longer than five minutes without fidgeting--not even for a pre-Grammy interview in a posh Manhattan hotel suite.

Which poses the question: Do three guys who still travel with a math tutor, and whose squeaky-clean image and peachy-keen pop sound have made them the butt of snide jokes by everyone from Denis Leary to Marilyn Manson, stand any real chance of taking home the prized record of the year honor during the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall?

Zachary, for one, can't see why not.

"If you're too young, they say you can't play. If you're too old, they say you can't get arrested," he quips, shrugging off any naysayers. "But I think the whole Grammy thing comes down to who has the best song."

Mercury Records Group Chairman Danny Goldberg, whose company signed Hanson in 1996, is a bit more practical in his optimism.

"It's always impossible to predict who's going to win these awards or why," Goldberg says. "I think just the fact that [Hanson] got these nominations is a recognition of their talents. There are other teen-oriented groups that didn't get nominated. It's a great milestone in their career."

Bill Flanagan, vice president and editorial director of the cable channel VH1, points out that Isaac and Taylor Hanson are around the same age as Steve Winwood was when he began making hit records, and not much younger than U2 guitarist the Edge and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. were when that super-group got started.

"If Hanson had come along in 1966, nobody would have questioned their credibility," Flanagan says. "It's funny that now the notion of teenagers writing and playing and singing rock songs is considered almost dubious. . . . When I first heard 'MMMBop,' I didn't know what age [Hanson] were or whether they were white or black.

"I just thought, 'That's the best single I've heard in months.' Their youth may be a distraction for some people, but in the long run [people are] gonna realize these guys are immensely talented."

Indeed, their boyish restlessness notwithstanding, these golden-haired young men clearly have the Midas touch when it comes to music.

Since its release last May, "Middle of Nowhere," Hanson's debut album for Mercury Records, has sold 10 million records, inspired hordes of screaming female fans and garnered generally good reviews for its bubbly but well-crafted tunes. And the songs were all written by the brothers (with occasional support from more experienced tunesmiths such as Desmond Child, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil) and are graced by their shimmering, infectious harmonies.

But as Rolling Stone music editor Joe Levy notes, "The Grammys have not built their reputation by taking the teenagers that make pop music seriously. The Grammys reward accomplishment in general; sometimes that means career accomplishment. I would say that the Hanson record is one with a high level of professional accomplishment."

In addition to being nominated for record of the year, "MMMBop," an R&B-laced confection that has evoked comparisons to the Jackson 5, is up for best pop vocal performance by a duo or group. And the Hanson lads received a third nod in the best new artist category.

Taylor and Isaac stress that in spite of their youth, the Hansons, who grew up in Tulsa, Okla., are actually veteran musicians.

"We did our first performance, a cappella, seven years ago," Taylor says. "Then we learned to play instruments . . . and started writing songs."

"Both our parents were musically inclined," Isaac adds. "We listened to a lot of '50s and '60s rock 'n' roll. Our mom was a music major in college, and she encouraged us to take piano lessons."

Diana Hanson also schooled her sons at home, and she and husband Walker--who have four younger children ranging in age from 9 years to 1 month old--frequently accompany them on the road. The couple will be present at the Grammys, rooting for their sons.

Whatever the outcome of tonight's ceremony, the brothers Hanson reassert that it's "really cool" simply to be acknowledged alongside such "amazing" artists as Paula Cole, Fiona Apple, Puff Daddy, the Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac.

"It's awesome to meet people like that," Isaac says, "and . . . "

"You're always approaching something like the Grammys as fans," Zachary interrupts, "because part of . . . "