10 Perfect Singles By Terrible Rock Bands
6. Hanson: MMMBop (1997)
Hanson are what you get when you cross the Jackson 5 with Nirvana. When grunge blew up in the early '90s the whole bum-chic look became the new trend. Baggy clothes and long surfer hair was in. Hanson had the look of a bunch of pre-teen grunge kids, but they made pop music like Michael Jackson in his child-star days. They were one big paycheque, for any label savvy enough to sign them.
When the three brothers broke with their debut record, Middle of Nowhere, they became a pop sensation. This was long before the fanatical dedication with which fans applauded groups like the Jonas Brothers or One Direction. They had documentaries made about them, fan magazines, and even several biographies written only mere years after the release of their debut.
The Hanson phenomena was the precursor to everything we'd see in the 2000s and 2010s. It was the ultimate in celebrity obsessed teen-madness. To the wider world MMMBop is likely the only song you could name by this group, but to their cult-like army of fans, it was only the beginning. For anyone looking to join the devoted following, fans celebrate 'Hanson Day' on May 6, in honour of the realise of their debut, back in 1997.