Hanson hard put to explain songwriting

by Gemma Tarlach of the Journal Sentinel staff

The teenybopper supertrio Hanson: Do they write the songs that make the whole world "MMMBop"?

The three brothers from Oklahoma take pride in playing their own instruments and penning those infectious, bouncy tunes with only the slightest of adult help. (Liner notes on their latest release, "Three Car Garage: The Indie Recordings 95-96," state simply, 'All songs by HANSON.') Some cynics, burned by the Milli Vanilli scandal, scoffed at the idea the boys really were in the creative driver's seat.

But wouldn't it be nice if a trio of wholesome, home-schooled Midwesteners got to the top of Pop Mountain by talent alone?

Like Agent Fox Mulder, I want to believe.

So it was with honest enthusiasm that I asked them to talk about the songwriting process during a phone interview last week while they were waiting to tape "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" out in Hollywood.

It was a simple question posed to the Blond Trinity: Tell us how the three of you come up the words and music to your songs. Do you each work on your own parts first, or do you just sit down together and toss out ideas?

Zachary, 12, the group's drummer, begins his answer by making a gargling noise into the receiver. "Well, first we have a burping contest," he says, laughing wildly. "No, just kidding. We do it all together. I can't describe it."

The phone goes next to 15-year-old Taylor, whose keyboard skills have been largely ignored by legions of young girls enthralled instead with his ever-rosy cheecks and sleek golden hair. "Um, It's hard to describe. If you're a musician, you can't help but write songs. Whatever's in your head comes out. I can't describe it."

Now it's Isaac's turn. Ay 17, the guitarist has been writing songs for more than half his life, according to press releases. Surely he will be able to detail the process. "Well, it's very much a collaborative effort. Someone will start a song and be really excitied, because they think it's really good, and then everybody pitches in. But, sometimes songs just sit there for a while, too...and your music changes as time goes on in subtle and not-so-subtle ways."

OK, give us an example of a not-so-subtle way that Hanson's music has changed, Isaac.

Oh, I don't know. I can't describe it."

Give them some slack, you might argue. Few kids their age can articulate what they had for breakfast, let alone how they'd go about writing a song. That's just it. You'd expect that someone precocious enough to craft "Sometimes I miss your tender kiss/ and being the man to understand" would also be able to explain the thought process behind it.