In An "MMMBop" They're Back!

Puberty did them good, right?

I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't rolling on the floor with excitement when the iconic 90's band, Hanson, announced and released they're new single, "Get the Girl Back." In fact, that's exactly what I did when I first heard the latest single from the band that brought the world the annoying pop hit "MMMBop" back in 1997. Of course, I am aware that they've made 4 other studio albums since they first appeared on the scene, but, apparently, the rest of the world didn't get that memo. And if you're thinking these guys still look like blonde girls, you are very very wrong.

While another certain trio of brothers also recently released a single that was of questionable quality after a hiatus, unlike them, Hanson is still making good music that is actually worthy of being heard. Because they don't need dancers wearing revealing clothing in all their videos to get attention. Just saying. 

I'm not going to brag or anything, but I totally met Hanson once. Sure, it really wasn't under the conditions and circumstances that every teenage girls concocts when she imagines meeting the band she's totally head over heels for, but I met them nevertheless.

Some bare feet ready to walk!

Okay, so for those who aren't up-to-date with all things Hanson, you should know that Hanson is a big supporter of TOMs shoes and the charity work that is done by them in Africa. To show their support, the guys started doing one-mile barefoot walks before their concerts to raise money. For every walker who signs up and finishes, a dollar is donated in their name towards education, fresh water, medical treatment, and shoes. The guys themselves participate in every walk they host. And that is where me meeting them comes in.


In August, right before my senior year of high school, Hanson did a show at Tulsa's historic Cain's Ballroom. I didn't actually get to go to the concert because it was a school night and I was lame and poor, but I did get to go do the walk with them. I took off my shoes and walked one mile in Oklahoma heat to raise money for the people in Africa... Or maybe I did it for the chance to rub elbows with some really awesome guys? The world may never know? Anyway, in the process of getting the most painful blisters known to man on top of pretty much the worst burns on my feet, I did get to have some

light-hearted conversations with Zac, Taylor, and Isaac.

Not only are these guys completely dedicated to their music, they are also genuinely nice guys. All three of them are married, have kids, and currently live in Tulsa. Thankfully, they avoided the horrid child-star flu and turned out relatively normal.

You should definitely go check out their latest single (now available on iTunes!), and maybe catch them on tour this fall!

For more information on Take The Walk, check out the official website!

Oh No I Didn't!

The back of an angel.  (photo by me!)

So, 2 years ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to see Josh Groban in concert with my friend, Emma, and her mom. Dude, I love Josh Groban. He's probably the most "adult" singer that I listen to because I'm normally not into music that doesn't have some curve of angst in it (because it's totally not like I don't already have enough angst as it is). Anyway, when I found out that I was going to be seeing him I was like freaking out and preparing my acceptance speech to the spontaneous marriage proposal he would pull out of his pocket during the concert if our eyes should meet for a brief moment. Yeah, that is how much I love Josh Groban. Then again, who doesn't love Josh Groban? I mean, he totally kicks major ass in everything he does. You could probably say he really knows how to... RAISE things up. (Get it? Like, You Raise Me Up...like the song. Nevermind)

Okay. Back to my story. Damn. I'm ADHD right now.

So, we get to the BOK Center in Tulsa, and that's when I find out that we have freaking floor seats. Just FYI, in my adult life I have never ever ever had real floor seats to any concert, so this was a huge deal to me. Because everyone knows that most performers will travel through the crowd on the floor at some point during the show and that gives anyone an opportunity to touch the person they've just paid a ridiculous amount of money to see in concert. Then, when we were situated in our seats, suddenly something rather close to me and amazing caught my eye. 

It was a smaller stage. With a piano on it. A Groban-sized piano. 

So, I immediately turned to Emma. 

Me: Girl, what is that over there?

Her: What?

Me: That thing 10 feet away from us right now. 

Her: Oh my gosh.

Me: You don't think he'll be right there, do you?

Her: Oh my gosh. 

Me: *internally dies from the potential closeness of Josh Groban*

Her: Oh my gosh. 

So, then I just sat there totally flipping my shit because Joshua Winslow Groban might be super close to me any moment from then. And then his opening act came out. And that was alright. I don't remember much of that because of the amazing piano stage that was 10 feet to my left. Yes. It was like being at a funeral and having no choice but to think about the rotting corpse in the box in front of you. (Yes, I did just compare a lifeless body to a piano. Deal with it)

And then it happened. He came out. And began the show. On the piano. 10 feet from my body. 

I melted. 

He did his thing and I continued to melt onto the floor beneath me. His smooth vocals, piano-playing that could make miracles happen, and perfectly styled hair were flawless. The whole crowd was silent for lots of the show because we were all mesmerized by this God-like presence before us. I'd never been to a concert where the crowd wasn't 98% screaming teenage girls or drunk neanderthals, so this was a new concept to my mind. I loved it. 

My favorite thing about concerts are the stories that the performer(s) will tell during the show. Josh, thank the high Heavens above, did this at my concert. He talked about how he'd seen that Tulsa was having it's annual Mayfest (which the cute little idiot called May Fair... but I'll let it slide this time) and some other stuff. Then he told a story about how someone had made a tweet about how he wouldn't be caught dead at a Josh Groban concert. 

Unf. (photo by me!)

Now, what happened next can't be explained. 

Me: OH NO HE DI-DN'T!

Josh: *turns in my direction*

Josh: That's right! "Oh no, he di-dn't!"

Instantly, Emma's mom had her hands on my shoulders and she was saying that I'd talked to Josh. 

And I had.

I had spoken to Josh Groban. 

Truthfully, I didn't think he'd hear my yell because I'm just so used to not being heard, but he did. He acknowledged that my vocal cords had produced a sound that his ears understood. It was amazing. 

So, you see, I might just say things spontaneously sometimes, but sometimes that unflattering habit of mine can perform pop-opera miracles of the Josh Groban variety. So, anyone who says I need to keep my mouth shut can suck my big, fat one, okay? Because I know they haven't talked to Josh freaking Groban.