Forbes

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 12:(L-R) Zac Hanson, Taylor Hanson and Isaac Hanson of the band Hanson visit … [+]

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Hanson, the brotherly trio who skyrocketed to fame with their breakout smash “Mmmbop,” is once again back on the Billboard charts with almost the same track, 26 years after its initial release.

The infectious tune was a massive hit at the time it was released, propelling the group into the spotlight and setting the stage for their musical career. Now, thanks to a reworking of the song from another beloved outfit from that time period, Hanson has managed to secure a ranking that didn’t exist during their heyday.

The group’s latest offering, “Mmmbop 2.0,” debuts on this week’s Digital Song Sales chart, which compiles the most-purchased tracks in the U.S. The revamped version of the beloved track enters the chart at No. 33, having sold just under 1,750 copies, according to Luminate.

What makes “Mmmbop 2.0” particularly unique is that it is credited as a duet between Hanson and Busted, an English pop-punk band currently in the midst of a comeback. After a hiatus several years ago, Busted is recreating fan favorites and collaborating with other popular bands, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation surrounding each release.

This marks the first time that Hanson has secured a spot on the Digital Song Sales chart. While the band scored several smash hits during their initial rise to fame, it’s important to note that platforms like iTunes and other online stores for digital song purchases were not popular—or even around—at the time. It makes sense then that this particular chart did not exist during Hanson’s prime.

“Mmmbop” holds a significant place in Hanson’s history, as it is their only tune to reach the coveted No. 1 position on the Hot 100 chart, back in 1997. The single instantly catapulted the group to fame and success. Following their chart-topping triumph, Hanson managed to secure two more placements on the Hot 100, including a second top 10 hit. However, in the years that followed, much of their work went relatively unnoticed by Billboard.

CheatSheet

Hanson’s “MMMBop” was partly influenced by The Beach Boys. A member of Hanson explained how “MMMBop” came together and what the song means.

TL;DR:

• The Beach Boys inspired Hanson’s “MMMBop” after Hanson members stumbled upon Beach Boys songs.
• Hanson’s Zac Hanson explained the meaning of the track.
• Hanson’s “MMMBop” became a massive hit in the United States that the band never equaled.

The Beach Boys managed to influence some of the music of the 1990s. For example, Hanson’s “MMMBop” was partly influenced by The Beach Boys. A member of Hanson explained how “MMMBop” came together.

Hanson’s ‘MMMBop’ was inspired by The Beach Boys but not The Grateful Dead

During a 2004 interview with Songfacts, Hanson member Zac Hanson discussed whether there was some truth to the rumor that The Grateful Dead inspired “MMMBop.” He said that was not the case.

Subsequently, Zac why his band wrote the lyrics of “MMMBop.” “They weren’t inspired by one artist in particular,” he said. “The first music that we got into was ’50s and ’60s music. If anything, ‘MMMBop’ was inspired by The Beach Boys and vocal groups of that era — using your voice as almost a doo-wop kind of thing. It was something we almost stumbled upon.”

The song was originally part of a different track before it became its on thing

Zac explained how the song came together. “That song started out really as the background part for another song,” he recalled. “We were making our first independent album and we were trying to come up with a background part.

“We started singing a slightly different incarnation of what is now the chorus of ‘MMMBop,’” he added. “That sort of stuck in our heads and never really worked as a background part, and over a couple of years, that piece really has stuck in our heads and we really crafted the rest of the song — the verses and bridge and so on.”

Zac said the song was about how everything in life fades away, and how family and “support systems” are what truly matter. That’s a pretty mature meaning for a song for a teen pop song with a lot of nonsensical lyrics! The members of Hanson did not expect “MMMBop” to be hugely successful. Subsequently, it helped the band secure a record deal.

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