Ugly Phil
Australia
02 February 2000
PHIL: On the phone I believe we have a Hanson.
ZAC: Hello.
PHIL: Hello.
ZAC: How are you?
PHIL: Which one is that?
ZAC: This is Zac.
PHIL: I can never tell with you guys anymore cos you all sound so different.
ZAC: Yeah I know. I don't think that I've gotten a single person in the last like month when I pick up the phone to say "Hey Zac."
PHIL: Is that right?
ZAC: "Hey Tay, how are you?"
PHIL: Right, cos I can never tell cos I've heard that you are a big bloke now. I heard you would be playing for the Steelers next season is that right?
ZAC: Exactly.
PHIL: Yeah.
ZAC: Yes, I've been working on my football.
PHIL: I want to talk to you about that in just a moment. Jacks got the Goss coming up next
*
PHIL: How long has it been since you've heard some stuff, some new stuff?
JACKIE: It's been years.
PHIL: Years?
JACKIE: Mmhm, since I've heard new stuff.
PHIL: The wait is over. The new singles are out "This Time Around" and "If Only" In fact, I had a listen to them today, while I was on the phone and actually in the car with the guys from the record company. Let's talk the talk right now with the guys from Hanson. Zac. How are ya doing dude?
ZAC: I'm doing good.
PHIL: Good. I'm not going to mention that other thing any more cos I know that it doesn't matter anymore.
ZAC: What was that, the rap act?
PHIL: Yep.
ZAC: Well you know, I think it just never quite materialized.
PHIL: I know. You destroyed my dream.
ZAC: : Uh. I'm sorry. Maybe, maybe we can uh. Well you know, now that we've gotten some… recording equipment in our house, you know, that we use for demoing the record.
PHIL: I'll be standing there knocking on the door for two days, I'll be there. Yeah sure "Zac", I'll be behind the door "Zaac Zaac can I come in and do some rapping" you know.
ZAC: And I'll be like "Nnnnoooooo! "
PHIL: "Nooo it's him, hahahaha.
ZAC: Seriously.
PHIL: I'm going to change the subject, I've moved on to Ice T man, I'm going to bigger waters now.
ZAC:Yeah.
PHIL: You'll be ringing me next.
ZAC: Exactly.
PHIL: Yeah sure, okay. So listen, you've gone back into the studio. You've got the album coming out. It's all going on.
ZAC: Yeah, we are. The album, I don't know exactly when it's coming out in Australia, but I believe it's coming out in the states on May 9th.
PHIL: April 17th. Your record company are here cos they are going to let me know everything that I need to know as we go along, so. April 17. Have you got a title for it yet?
ZAC: It's called This time Around.
PHIL: This Time Around. Which is the new single in America.
ZAC:Yeah, the single in the states, Canada, and I believe Germany also. Yeah, as far as the title of the album I think it was just kind of, that song represented the rest of the album pretty well. We thought the sound of that song was a good representation, so we decided to go with that.
PHIL: Well, and I like how Taylor's singing these days. He sounds like he is 28, you know what I mean?
ZAC: Exactly. That's nice.
PHIL: Has he been listening to Rammstein or something like that?
ZAC: Maybe. I don't know.
PHIL: Has he got like…
ZAC: Maybe he's been listening to that in a dark corner or somewhere.
PHIL: Ah, is that right? Does he still practice in front of the mirror? He's like you know. Singing stances and stuff?
ZAC: Uh, I guess. I don't think we've ever really done that.
PHIL: Don't lie. Come on Zac
ZAC: Okay, I sing in the shower.
PHIL: There You go! Don't you ever stand in front of the mirror with your tennis racquet, you know, jumping up and down from one bed to the other doing guitar solos?
PHIL: Okay then, drum solos?
ZAC: Yeah, maybe.
PHIL: There you go. Taking your shirt off and all that sort of thing.
ZAC: Exactly.
PHIL: So how's it been received by the people you've played it to?
ZAC: Well, so far we've gotten a great response. I mean the general first reaction has been "WOW."
PHIL: Yeah, well, it is different isn't it?
ZAC: Yeah, it's definitely gotten more rock & roll feel. Have you heard the stuff?
PHIL: Yeah, yeah, I've heard the two tracks. I mean I wasn't allowed to keep it. Cos you know, they knew that I'd go straight down to "Cash Converters."
ZAC: Exactly. But I think we've gotten a really good response from most of the people that have heard it, and we've just started actually putting songs out on the internet. So you can go to Hansonline.com, you can hear, I believe a minute of "This Time Around," and I believe like a minute of, of, "Dying to Be Alive" and "If Only" I believe, should be put up very soon.
PHIL: Yeah, that's going to be the single in Australia. Cos we are going the other way round over here.
ZAC: Yeah, you guys are getting "If Only" and we are going to be doing the video for that this weekend.
PHIL: Oh right. Tell me about that.
ZAC: Well, its you know, its just kinda out in the desert, kind of partying. It's cool.
PHIL: Okay, so you're not going to give anything away then?
ZAC: Not really.
PHIL: Okay.
ZAC: I'll let you see it and, and look at it.
PHIL: Cos here's the thing right. Last time we saw you guys was really, you know, "MMMBop" and all that sort of thing. And then, I mean we haven't seen you really for what? About three years now so.
ZAC: Yeah, I know, I believe that it was in 97.
PHIL: Yeah, so how much has the look changed now? I mean, have you shaved your head and got earring and stuff?
ZAC: Well, Ike and Tay both have shorter hair. Ike has really short, and Tay has medium. I mean I guess. Tay has an earring.
PHIL: And you've got that big snake tattoo on the back now that you don't want to talk about?
ZAC: That I actually tattooed a shirt on my body.
PHIL: Is that right? Cos you just hate washing. Your mum told me you hate washing. And like there's so many Hanson's that it's just easier.
ZAC: "Zac take of that shirt" Ahh!
PHIL: "IT DOESN'T COME OFF!" Hahaha!
ZAC: Yeah.
Phl: So who did the song writing?
ZAC: We did, we actually ended up writing all the songs by ourselves on this record, so I mean, it was good. The last record, we kinda, it was just kind of the first record so, it was, we went through the whole thing with writing songs with other people. Trying stuff out. And I guess the new thing this time was that we co-produced the record with Stephen Lironi again.
PHIL: So right, what happened? You had like three different producers I heard. Rick Ocasek at one stage.
ZAC: Well, what happened was, starting out we wanted to do something different and we looked at a bunch of producers and we settled on Ric, and we tried some songs with him, I believe we did three or four songs with him. And then we know, when we finished that, it was kind of missing the sound that we all were hearing. So we decided to work with Stephen Lironi again, which we did most of the last album with.
PHIL: All right, I want to talk to you about the last album. We just want to find out what's happening with Tay and Zac, with Isaac rather I should say. We'll get to that in a moment. In the meantime lets go back to the countdown with Live.
PHIL: Hey I think we've got Ike on the line now.
ISAAC: Helloo!
PHIL: Hey big fella, how are you?
ISAAC: I'm very good. You know we just did an ID for you actually.
PHIL: Oh, is that right?
ISAAC: Yeah, we did an ID. We were like, "Hey this is Hanson and you're listening to Australia's #1 interactive chart "Hot Hits" With Ugly Phil and Jackie O. And man is he ugly."
PHIL: But I mean, you know, what about the personal touch?
ISAAC: Ah, the personal touch.
PHIL: You know kind of.
ISAAC: You know, we, we tried, You know. We were just kind of… keeping it real.
PHIL: Ike, you've turned into Ice T man! Ike T! Keeping it real!
ISAAC: I'm just keeping it real. I'm talking to the peeps; you know what I'm saying!
PHIL: Now listen, I wanna tell you something. All the chicks in the record company, and they are here right now, have been raving about what a babe you are.
ISAAC: Oh, oh my.
PHIL: Yeah, I know.
ISAAC: That's, that's frightening.
PHIL: Cos you know, the braces are off now, the hair's short, you've been working out at the gym, you've got that Ferrari now.
ISAAC: Well okay, well, maybe the two of those things are hopefully true.
PHIL: Well, forget the gym.
ISAAC: I have no braces, I did cut my hair, but I don't know about the workout thing and the Ferrari.
PHIL: Yeah, that's right. You know, your dad has got to pay the rent, there are so many Hanson's. Where do you think the money has to go?
ISAAC: Ha well…
PHIL: Hey, so listen I was talking to Zac about the new sound. I mean it's completely different to the previous stuff that we knew.
ISAAC: Well, yeah I mean it's kind of interesting. It'll be cool to see how people respond. So far we've had a very positive response. I'm not sure, how the fans will respond to it. I mean I imagine some will be really into and some may be less into. It's going to be cool to see what happens. We are very excited about how the record turned out. We feel very good about, you know, the new sound of the record and just the songs and everything like that. It's going to be a positive thing.
PHIL: Well, This Time Around, I wouldn't have picked as being you guys to be honest with you, and when I heard it in the car a moment ago I though, you know it's such a different, much more mature sound. It's obviously the sound that you were looking for, but yeah, your fans are going to be really surprised aren't they?
ISAAC: Yeah, I, it was very fun because we actually, there was some kind of call in show done, I'm trying to remember what radio station it was, it was somewhere in the states. They said, you know, "Tell us what you think of this song, and this is an anonymous artist and maybe you can let us know who you think it is!" And so, people called in and it was a really high approval rating. People liked it. And only about 1/3 of the people knew that it was us.
PHIL: Right, and what were they saying? Like which bands did they think it was?
ISAAC I don't remember what they said, but I imagined they definitely didn't think that it was us.
PHIL: It sounds like a bit "Extreme" Do you remember the band Extreme?
ISAAC: Oh yeah, I remember that band yeah.
PHIL : Yeah, but better than them, of course.
ISAAC: Ah hahahaha. Well okay I really don't know.
PHIL: It reminded me of something off an album of the Beatles.
ISAAC: Oh yeah?
PHIL: Is that getting better?
ISAAC: Yeah, that's a good compliment to have.
PHIL: Good, cos I thought I was in trouble there for a second.
ISAAC: Yeah well no, hey, if we can sound like the Beatles, man!
PHIL Yeah, that's right. Beatles who man? Hanson, whole different story you know what I mean? You're not even in the same league.
ISAAC: I think your stretching it there!
PHIL: Beatles what? Get outta here. So how do you think people are going to perceive you now? Cos you had the teeny bop thing last time round, and this time round and you are obviously looking for an older sound, do you think there'd be that sort of old Hanson stigma going on there at all
ISAAC: I guess. You never know what going to happen. We really love the fans that we have, that we have had. We look forward to you know, what the new response for the record is going to be. Yeah I mean, honestly, we'd love for everybody who bought the last album to buy this one! Because that's really, you really want the opportunity to take everybody on a journey in a sense... you want these people, your fans, to be able to experience new things. And, you know as you evolve and change and things, that they can appreciate everything for what it its. Hopefully they gravitate towards the new record.
PHIL: What I mean is, last time you were out here, you were a lot younger.
ISAAC: Yeah.
PHIL: Now you're older, and the sound is so much older as well. In what way have you changed to appeal to an older audience? I mean, I'm 21 and I'm really into it!
ISAAC: Yeah, you're not 21, Liar!
PHIL: Come on, just gloss over that bit. The chicks wouldn't have heard that.
ISAAC: Well okay, yeah, okay. No, I just had to call you on that!
PHIL: Thanks a lot, did I mention anything about last time you were here with that stuffed bear, eh? No, Nothing!
ISAAC: Uh, like. You know what? I thought that was between us man!
PHIL: Well you know, you wanted to bring up my age.
ISAAC: Okay, fine! You know what. You know what? If we are going to be cutting here, you know, I've got some stories man. I've got some stories.
PHIL: No hey, listen let's just keep it between us. Hang on a sec I'll have to hold it there for a sec. I can't believe that guy Jack.
JACKIE: What?
PHIL: Nothings sacred. He just can't stop. You don't see me getting on the air talking about people's private lives.
JACKIE: Oh what's that about the bear?
PHIL: Hanson, more of them coming up!
PHIL: Hey listen, you know how you were thinking about before Jack? You and Mark Anthony? And you were thinking to yourself "I get the same thing with Taylor Hanson, you know, when I hear him sing."
JACKIE: You do?
PHIL: No, no, no, that's what the listeners are thinking
JACKIE: Oh yeah, see they can relate!
PHIL: Yeah, I get that with that girl, what's her name? Jessica Simpson.
TAYLOR: Hey Phil. How's it going?
PHIL: Hey buddy! How are you doing?
TAYLOR: Very good! How about yourself?
PHIL: Good, good.
TAYLOR: How is Australia?
PHIL: Excellent man! Listen, well done on the new stuff too. I was just saying how much different your voices sound these days!
TAYLOR: Yeah, well, it happens! One of those things. We tried, there just wasn't anything we could do about it.
PHIL: No, no, you've got that new Kurt Cobain thing going there you know what I mean?
TAYLOR: I don't know! I hadn't thought that!
PHIL: No, no, it's a much different sound, and well done on that! I heard "This Time Around", which is the one you are releasing in America. And of course "If Only" is the single that people are going to hear here. I mean, but I can't play it cause its in embargo. How would you describe it to your fans?
TAYLOR: What, "This Time Around"?
PHIL: Yeah, no actually…
TAYLOR: "If Only?"
PHIL: Yeah, "If Only" initially.
TAYLOR: Well... I dunno if it's, as far as the music goes I think it has moved along and evolved a bit. It pretty hard to pin point it. It probably has gotten a little bit more rock & roll than the last stuff, but we are excited about what people think. "If Only" is definitely very upbeat, driving rhythm kinda song. And John Popper played a solo in that. In the middle of that. That was very cool
PHIL: Yeah.
TAYLOR: He's an amazing player. You know, you kinda have to hear it!
PHIL: Well, Isaac was saying that, well that, they did a bit of a poll on an American radio station and no one could pick it as Hanson. And it got a really good approval rate. That's the new single in America, "This Time Around." So, that's really good for you guys, you know what I mean?
TAYLOR: Yeah well, it is kinda cool in some ways. We are kind of excited about the fact that there's, that is a little bit different cos you can kind of... In some ways its kind of like you can reinvent yourself. You're able to come and say " well here's this new sound" it's that you know, a little bit different. Kind of approach it from a different perspective. Like Hanson with people who weren't necessarily into the last album can go "oh" you know, "I like this stuff". They may not maybe...
PHIL: I was saying that to Ike.
TAYLOR: Oh, sorry?
PHIL: I was saying to Ike that, you know, you've got that old Hanson sound, you've got the New Hanson sound. It's going to be completely different. I mean, it's not the mmmbopping sort of thing anymore.
TAYLOR: Well, I mean, it's hard to say for me you know. For us it's just like a gradual evolution, as far as the sound goes. I think it does definitely has a different vibe to it, but I would say that it does has a lot of the elements that the other did. It's still heavily vocal. I would say the big different thing is the song writing style, you know. You grow, you change, you try different things. And then the voice thing too. But you know, it will be cool to see what people think. I think you can still listen to it and say, "Oh that's Hanson. I connect with that" as you listen through the album
PHIL: Sure! Well I mean you're coming down here. You and I are going to celebrate out 18th birthdays. March 14!
TAYLOR: Oh yeah!
PHIL: Which is going to be great!
TAYLOR: You're turning 18? You are only 17?
PHIL: Yeah.
TAYLOR: That, that's wild!
PHIL: Who's older?
TAYLOR: You are only a year older than me! That, that's interesting!
PHIL: Oh, I thought you were older than I was!
TAYLOR: Yeah well…
PHIL: Noo.
TAYLOR: That, that's crazy!
PHIL:Yeah well, anyway, that's going to be happening March 14. And Ike called me a liar too. Thanks for that!
TAYLOR: Hahahaa
PHIL: So, what can we expect? You're going to come down promote the new stuff. You are going to do a whole lot of in stores? And that's happening in four weeks time!
TAYLOR: Yeah! That's coming up very soon! And we are just, we are really, really excited to be going to Australia, we really can't wait to come!
PHIL: That's exactly right! Like last time.
TAYLOR: There has been a way too long of a wait, and we can't wait to be down there! And be talking to you in person!
PHIL: Well of course! And, and, I've heard a big tour or a rumor, a big rumor of a tour rather, at the end of this year as well for Australia!
TAYLOR: Yeah well that's. That's, the plan at the beginning of the summer, once we've been down to Australia, we are then going to go back, and start, back to the states and pull a tour together. Then we'll be touring around.. Really the world, and definitely Australia. Absolutely!
PHIL: Oh right! Good to talk to you. There you go! Taylor, Taylor Hanson!
Also Zac and Isaac. We'll see them in four weeks time!
PHIL: Taylor and Crystal - talk to talk.
CRYSTAL: If you could be anybody in the world for one day who would you be and what would you do?
TAYLOR: If I can be one person in the world... Wow! Well, you know Phil, I am such a big fan of you...
PHIL: Oh there ya go! Cos I just wanna be you just for like a minute, you know what I mean?
TAYLOR: I wish I could be you!
CRYSTAL: Why would you wanna be him?
PHIL: Shut up Crystal!
TAYLOR: Why would I wanna be Ugly Phil?
CRYSTAL : He is bald and he's...
PHIL: Don't give that away - that is a secret!!
CRYSTAL : Where has all his hair gone anyway?
TAYLOR: (laughing) Because... I think it would be fun to be... I actually love... radio is really a lot of fun to do, so maybe for a day, that would be something crazy and of course, Phil you're my idol!
PHIL: Oh c'mon, stop that now! Stop it! Taylor if I was you I would spend all day looking in the mirror going "Me, man, ME!"
TAYLOR: Well if I was you I would walk around without a mirror...
PHIL: With a bag on your head... yeah...
TAYLOR: Exactly....
PHIL: Hey Alex, do you wanna speak to Taylor quickly?
ALEX: Okay.
PHIL: Go on then!
TAYLOR: Hey Alex, this is Taylor. How's it going?
ALEX : Hi Tay!
TAYLOR: Hi!
Alex: I heard that you'll be releasing "This Time Around" in the States and "If Only" for the rest of the world...
TAYLOR: Uh-huh.
ALEX : And I was wondering why you decided to do that instead of releasing the same single everywhere?
TAYLOR: Well, to be honest, it was kind of... it was kinda the international... the label and art decision, because, because of the market, you know, just the international markets are different than the States. The States were really supportive of that as the first single. You know, this... the plan is that "This Time Around" would be the second single, so you guys will hear that very soon. But, I dunno, it's one of those decisions that... you know, you can't quite figure that out but I... you know... it was just the call we decided to make.
PHIL: Hey Liv! You know that Taylor Hanson said that if he was ever to go out with a girl in Australia, he'd go out with a girl called Liv?
LIV: Well that doesn't surprise me - that's kinda what I figured.
PHIL: Liv, say HI to Taylor!
LIV: Hi, how are you?
TAYLOR: Hi it's Taylor! How is it going?
LIV : I am really good, thanks! Are you good?
TAYLOR: I am very good! How about you?
LIV : Are you having fun?
TAYLOR: That's good. Are we having fun?
LIV : Yeah...
TAYLOR: Oh, always. Of course - on the Ugly Phil show.
PHIL: What's your question to Taylor, buddy?
LIV : I was just wondering if he feels that the evolution of that sound will influence a different audience this time around?
TAYLOR: Well, I… you know, I guess you would hope so because that has changed a little bit, it has kinda taken a different turn, but I think you always hope you can gain new fans, you always hope you that can grab new people, that would say: "Oh I wasn't Hanson fan before, now I like them," or something like that, you hope so... You hope that you can... we hope that you can grab the fans that were into the last record! And that... that would be the first step. And if... if we gain new ones - that would be even better!
LIV : That's very cool.
PHIL: You can see the guys in four weeks time as well because Taylor and I are, like, gonna have a big birthday party to celebrate my 17th and his 18th.
LIV : Really? I wanna come.
PHIL: Maybe you'll be able to. You'll have to wait and see. Okay?
LIV : Okay.
PHIL: Remember - the bigger the present, the bigger the invite!
TAYLOR:. See.... that's... you see that's Phil's rule.
PHIL: Come on now!
TAYLOR: I thought you were gonna take all the presents.
PHIL: I thought we were in leads of this whole thing! Hold on
there a second...