Video: Get “Fired Up” for tonight’s Thunder vs. Rockets game!
Kevin Durant (AP file)
The Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series at 8:30 tonight in Houston. The game is airing on ESPN and Fox Sports Oklahoma.
The Thunder lead the series 3-2. Hopefully, our boys in blue will close out the series tonight and move on!
Let’s obey the anthemic instructions of Tulsa-based sibling trio/Thunder super-fans Hanson and get “Fired Up!”
And Thunder up!
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Hanson’s “Fired Up” used as Thunder playoff anthem – and the playoffs continue tonight!
Get ready for tonight’s Game 2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Western Conference quarterfinal series vs. the Houston Rockets with this video featuring Tulsa pop-rock trio Hanson’s new song “Fired Up.”
Taylor, Zach and especially Isaac Hanson are well-known Thunder fans, and last season, they even performed the national anthem before a home game. “Fired Up” is featured on the band’s new album “Anthem,” set for June 18 release.
The Thunder lead the Rocket’s 1-0 in the series. Game 2 tips off at 6 tonight at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Oklahoma and TNT.
Thunder up!
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Hanson plays “Get the Girl Back” on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
As previously reported, Tulsa-based pop-rock trio Hanson was the musical guest Tuesday on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” where they performed their bouncy new single “Get the Girl Back.” Check out the performance in the last segment on Tuesday night’s episode, posted above.
The band of brothers recently announced the release of their new album and world tour. Titled “Anthem,” the new record will be released on June 18. The North and South American leg of the “Anthem World Tour” begins July 18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and ends Nov. 20 in Charlotte, N.C.
On Tuesday, the band released the new album’s lead-off single, “Get The Girl Back,” along with launching the presale of the highly anticipated album and the onsale of the North and South American leg of their world tour, including deluxe album and ticket bundles. For more information, go to www.hanson.net.
To see the official, super-fun music video for “Get The Girl Back,” featuring Kat Dennings (“2 Broke Girls”) and Nikki Reed (“The Twilight Saga”), click here.
The video is a narrative tale that features the band performing in a packed club backed by an old-school brass section that accentuates the retro aesthetic of the song. “Anthem” was produced and written by the band and was mixed by Tom Lord-Alge. According to a news release, it features a more guitar-driven sound, pulling from a series of harder hitting rock and R&B influences from James Brown to early Michael Jackson, and AC/DC.
This year marks the 21st anniversary of Hanson. The brothers – Isaac, Taylor and Zac – have been nominated for multiple Grammys, released five studio albums, spawning a string of hit singles, including their 1997 No. 1 smash “MMMbop,” and have sold more than 16 million albums worldwide.
-BAM
Video: Hanson to play “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” tonight
Tulsa-based pop-rock trio Hanson will be the musical guest tonight on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” The show airs at 10:35 p.m. weekdays on NBC.
The band of brothers recently announced the release of their new album and world tour. Titled “Anthem,” the new record will be released on June 18. The North and South American leg of the “Anthem World Tour” begins July 18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and ends Nov. 20 in Charlotte, N.C.
Today, the band released the new album’s lead-off single, “Get The Girl Back,” along with launching the presale of the highly anticipated album and the onsale of the North and South American leg of their world tour, including deluxe album and ticket bundles. For more information, go to www.hanson.net.
Last week, I posted here the super-fun video for “Get The Girl Back,” featuring Kat Dennings (“2 Broke Girls”) and Nikki Reed (“The Twilight Saga”), but it’s so cool I just had to post it again.
The video is a narrative tale that features the band performing in a packed club backed by an old-school brass section that accentuates the retro aesthetic of the song. “Anthem” was produced and written by the band and was mixed by Tom Lord-Alge. According to a news release, it features a more guitar-driven sound, pulling from a series of harder hitting rock and R&B influences from James Brown to early Michael Jackson, and AC/DC.
This year marks the 21st anniversary of Hanson. The brothers – Isaac, Taylor and Zac – have been nominated for multiple Grammys, released five studio albums, spawning a string of hit singles, including their 1997 No. 1 smash “MMMbop,” and have sold more than 16 million albums worldwide.
Get More:
Hanson, Get The Girl Back, Music, More Music Videos
-BAM
Video: Hanson “Get the Girl Back,” featuring Kat Dennings, Nikki Reed and Drake Bell
Tulsa pop/R&B trio Hanson has released the star-studded music video to their infectious new single “Get the Girl Back.”
Along with the dapper Hanson brothers, the video features actors Kat Dennings, Nikki Reed and Drake Bell, as well as Reed’s husband, Paul McDonald, Drew Seeley and Alex Beh.
It will make your day.
-BAM
Hanson brothers talk family, music, memories with Oprah on tonight’s “Where Are They Now?”
Tulsa-based sibling trio Hanson talk music, memories and family with Oprah Winfrey on “Oprah: Where Are They Now?,” airing at 9 tonight on OWN.
“We have had an amazing journey. We’ve made five records, along with live albums, fan club albums, tours, circled the globe many, many times,” Taylor Hanson says in a preview at People.com.
“I think the last … four years in a row we did right around 40 to 50 shows in the U.S. every year,” Isaac, who along with wife Nicole are parents to sons Clarke Everett, 5½, and James Monroe, 4.
“It can be a hard thing. We all have kids and wives and lawns to mow,” Zac, 27, dad to Shepherd, 4, and Junia Rosa Ruth, 22 months, with wife Kate, quips.
In the child-bearing department, Taylor admits that he and his wife Natalie are “off-setting the scales,” recently becoming a family of seven with the arrival of daughter Wilhelmina Jane earlier this month. Taylor, 29, and Natalie’s other children are Jordan Ezra, 10, Penelope Anne, 7, River Samuel, 6, and Viggo Moriah, 3½.
“Zac and I don’t have that many between the two of us!” Isaac, 31, jokes.
It sounds like their children are tight-knit just like the musical brothers. There may even be a second band in the family’s future:
“Each of us have a boy that was born in 2008 — they sort of fit our roles,” Zac, 27, explains. “Viggo … he’s kind of the mastermind, and Isaac’s 4-year-old Monroe, he’s kind of the show man, the frontman, he’s very outgoing. And my son Shepherd … he hits things! He’s sort of the muscle.”
“He’s like, ‘Hey, Shep…” Isaac says with a laugh, leading Zac to interject, “‘Go beat that kid up. That kid stole my lollipop, beat him up!’”
Click here to see a preview video of tonight’s episode.
-BAM
Taylor Hanson and wife Natalie welcome fifth child, daughter Wilhelmina Jane
Taylor Hanson (Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman Archives)
Taylor Hanson – one-third of the Tulsa-based pop/rock band Hanson – and his wife Natalie have welcomed their fifth child, a daughter with an unusual name.
“Natalie and I are thrilled to announce the arrival of our newest family member, Wilhelmina Jane Hanson,” Taylor Hanson told People exclusively. “She arrived on Tuesday, Oct. 2, and was welcomed by more love than could fit in the room.”
Taylor, 29, and Natalie, 28, announced to People in April that they were expecting again and revealed in July that they were having a girl.
Wilhelmina joins siblings Ezra, who turns 10 on Oct. 31; Penelope, 7; River, 6; and Viggo, 3½.
“Thinking back on all the children’s names has helped to give me a fresh perspective in choosing the name for the baby GIRL we are expecting in the fall,” Natalie Hanson wrote on her blog for Nameberry.com over the summer, when she related the reasons for each of her four older children’s names. “It has helped to remind me how the right name seems to come at the right time, and how, no matter how ‘perfect’ the choice, it will only be a part of all this little person will become.”
Family is undoubtedly important to the Hanson clan, since Taylor has been making music with his brothers Isaac and Zac since the early 1990s. Hanson just completed a world tour in support of their last album, “Shout It Out,” with sold-out dates throughout Australia. They are now working on their sixth studio album, set for release next year.
-BAM
Video: Hanson covers Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Hanson
Taylor Swift (AP file)
Hanson recently visited the Australian drive radio show “Fifi and Jules,” where the Tulsa sibling trio delivered a harmony-rific acoustic rendition of Taylor Swift’s latest smash “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”
The cover earned the enthusiastic stamp of approval from the country-pop sensation herself, who tweeted (@taylorswift13) “1) Hanson covered ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’. 2) I didn’t just watch the video of it 8 times in a row. 3) #2 might be a lie.”
Compare and contrast the Hanson cover with Swift’s hit, and then follow the jump to watch the band of brothers perform their own ’90s smash “MMMBop” and buoyant R&B ballad “Give a Little”:
UPDATED: Oh, say, who will sing the National Anthem before the Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA Finals games?
Tulsa trio Hanson sings the national anthem before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 31, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
A version of this story appears in Monday’s The Oklahoman. This story was co-written with my excellent colleague Carla Hinton.
UPDATED: The Oklahoman’s Thunder beat writer Darnell Mayberry reported this afternoon on Twitter (@darnellmayberry) that “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sanchez will perform the National Anthem prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. Sanchez has recently performed the Anthem at two high-profile events: PBS’ Memorial Day concert and the Bradley-Pacquiao Fight.
Oh, say, who will sing before the Thunder’s NBA Finals games?
The Thunder’s front office won’t reveal what entertainers will sing the National Anthem before the upcoming home games, but belters who have performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” for OKC’s NBA team call the opportunity a big honor.
Isaac Hanson clearly recalls the precise moment when his love for the Oklahoma City Thunder hit its most fervent point.
“We were able to sing the (National) Anthem in the Western Conference Finals last year, and it literally just consumed me at that moment,” said the Tulsa singer/musician who is one third of the sibling trio Hanson.
“It took me back to my youth in the early to mid ‘90s when I was collecting Upper Deck and Fleer Ultra basketball cards. I had some Shaq rookie cards and … Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, back in the day.”
He and brothers Zac and Taylor got the chance to give their harmonious rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” again May 31 during Game 3 of this year’s Western Conference Finals. So, they kicked off the festivities when the Thunder turned it all around against the San Antonio Spurs, embarking on a four-game winning streak that earned Oklahoma City a berth in its first NBA Finals.
“For us, the Anthem has always been extraordinarily important and a reverent experience and one that we’ve always taken really seriously,” Hanson said. “Singing it for the Thunder crowd in Oklahoma, having the team that is doing so well and such a young and vibrant team and then to have a crowd like the Oklahoma crowd, which I really think is extraordinarily unique … it was a lot of fun both times, particularly this time.”
As much as he enjoyed his band’s opportunities to sing the Anthem, Hanson hopes to say he can see some bigger names belting the country’s song when the Thunder’s NBA Finals series against the Miami Heat tips off at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
“I think it’s pretty great that we’ve had the opportunity to get so many folks involved,” Hanson said. “But I’m kind of waiting for Miss (Carrie) Underwood and Mr. Vince Gill and maybe a little Reba and Garth while they’re at it because we need some country superstardom in there as well.”
Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth sings the national anthem before an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
A surprise
John Leach, the Thunder’s director of events and entertainment, declined to reveal what performers will get star-spangled during the Oklahoma City games of the NBA Finals.
“That’s gonna be a surprise,” he said. “We have a few big names that we’re working out right now.”
Once Oklahoma City clinched its NBA Finals berth, he said Thunder and league officials began working to secure Anthem performers.
“We try to showcase Oklahoma talent because we really do feel like there’s a lot of talent here,” Leach said. “There are some that we have pursued for many, many years to no avail. I won’t mention any names. But a lot of the big names that you think of when you think of Oklahoma — Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, all those people — they’re singers but they don’t necessarily have the desire to sing the Anthem because it’s a very difficult song … and they don’t want to be put in the position to execute that song at the expectation that people have.”
He said scheduling conflicts and routing issues often keep top-shelf stars from committing to what amounts to a high-pressure 90-second performance, even for their home team. The team worked for a long time to book Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth, a Thunder super fan who was finally able to belt the Anthem at the Dec. 29 home game vs. the Dallas Mavericks.
“We hope to have her back here again real soon. So we’re getting big names; I mean, she’s a superstar,” Leach said.
“Blake Shelton, he’s told us flat-out ‘it’d be an honor but I don’t want to.’ … Look what happened to Christina Aguilera, she’s got one of the strongest voices out there. She had a little mental break and screwed up the words a little bit and she’ll never live it down.”
Winning records
Booking a performer who can deliver a high-quality Anthem is more important than securing a superstar name, Leach said. Plus, it doesn’t hurt if the team wins when you perform.
Krystal Keith
Oklahoma country singer Krystal Keith, daughter of superstar Toby Keith, sang the Anthem for the Thunder before Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals May 14, when Oklahoma City beat the Los Angeles Lakers by 29 points.
“Being a hometown girl, I was pumped … because we’re such huge fans, and the Thunder’s been so good for Oklahoma,” said Keith, adding she has sung the National Anthem at many sporting events as well as on her dad’s tour.
“I love doing it and a lot of people know that I love doing it. You have to have a broad range … it’s not easy. Not everybody can do it. But I’ve sung it for years, and that’s one of the songs that helped me learn how to sing. I started learning to control my voice by learning that song.”
A few days after her anthemic performance, her famous father, who is co-producing her debut album, said she might have been a bit of a good luck charm for the Thunder.
“She didn’t sing at the second game and it was closer,” Keith said with a grin. “She did a good job.”
For her part, Krystal Keith laughingly said, “Definitely the team earned it. I don’t think I had anything to do with it. But if they want to give me credit on it, I’ll take it.”
Although she was honored to be asked, Oklahoma native and gospel recording artist Sandi
Sandi Patty
Patty approached singing the Anthem before Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals with trepidation.
After all, when she lived in Indiana, Patty performed the Anthem several times for the Indianapolis Colts. But when the NFL team was on a winning streak, she declined to sing the “Banner” because they had lost a few previous games where she had belted the song.
“I’d say ‘I am such a fan that I won’t sing because every time I sing, the Colts have lost and we can’t afford a loss right now,’” Patty said.
This time, she relaxed when Thunder announcer Brian Davis told her that she had a 4-0 record: She had sung at four previous Thunder games and each time, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the crew had emerged victorious.
“I didn’t realize that,” she said, laughing. “I would never want to do anything to jeopardize them. If my win/loss record was not good, I would not sing.”
Of course, the Grammy winner is now 5-0 with the Thunder becoming Western Conference Champions last week. She said she took the song up a key before Game 6 because she knew the Thunder needed to play at a higher energy level.
“I have worn my Thunder playoff shirt three days in a row now around town. I am so proud of them,” Patty said Friday. “They are great young men on and off the court.”
After the break, see the list of who has sung the National Anthems before the Thunder playoff games to date.
Video: Hanson sings National Anthem before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals; Thunder up for Game 6 tonight!
Check out this video of Tulsa-based pop trio Hanson performing the National Anthem beautifully before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
If you’ll remember, our Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the San Antonio Spurs in that May 31 game, with the final score Thunder 102, Spurs 82.
Tonight, the series moves back to OKC with the Thunder owning a 3-2 lead. The Thunder needs just one more victory to move on to the NBA finals and a chance for the championship. Tipoff is at 8 tonight, and the game will air on TNT.
Hopefully, this video will be a good luck charm and a reminder for everyone to Thunder up!
-BAM
