cdmeggers
Nov 23rd, 2006, 08:18 PM
Got this in my email today.
* World AIDS Day - HANSON will be releasing the song, Great Divide as a charity single exclusively on iTunes in recognition of World AIDS Day on December 1st. The song will benefit HIVSA (http://www.hivsa.com/). Great Divide, features a South African children's choir and was recorded on the group's recent trip to Africa. The track will be released in Europe on November 27, 2006 and in the US on November 28, 2006. For more information, please visit Hanson.net (http://www.hanson.net/).
* Great Divide t-shirts - To coincide with the release of Great Divide on iTunes, a shirt to benefit the same charity, HIVSA (http://www.hivsa.com/), will be available exclusively in the Hanson.net store (http://www.hanson.net/webstore/) beginning November 27th.
Great Divide
The song "Great Divide" was one of the first songs written for the new album, and since its inception has been a key song in guiding the sound of the new album. "Great Divide" is all about hope. The song is almost solely a four piece (guitar, drums, bass, and piano). No need for bells and whistles.
I remember the night we started writing "Great Divide," because we just kept playing and playing all night. We didn't stop to write down lyrics, it was too much fun to simply play. Eventually we recorded a demo, and as we all walked into the control room to listen, a conversation started. This was one of the songs that would define the new album.
As we continued to work on songs, we had our corner stone.
Months after "Great Divide" was written we found ourselves sitting in the conference room of a small technology company in Tulsa, Oklahoma with a few friends. They were going to South Africa to give away their software to the largest hospital in the southern hemisphere – Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. The primary use for the technology was to enable better treatment and research for AIDS and HIV. We didn't know what role we could play, but there was something fortuitous about the whole experience. We would go to Africa, and we would bring our music with us.
The things we saw in Africa were both joyful and sobering. The trip was about learning. We saw as much as we could in a short time trying not to blink, so that the pictures would be ingrained in our minds. But the biggest impact come from what Africa did to our music.
We were able to record two children's choirs while we were there; one in South Africa, the other in Mozambique. Watching them sing reminded me why we make music in the first place. They sing with such joy it made me stop and wonder how children with so little could possibly sing about hope. It was chilling. It was changing.
Through the song "Great Divide" we hope that some of the conviction we have will translate to whoever hears it. All the proceeds we receive from the iTunes downloads will go to the Perinatal HIV Research Unit of the hospital; people who are creating REAL HOPE. We know that a song and a T-Shirt will only do so much, but we are doing what we can with what we have.
Awareness must become a resolve to make a difference.
All the best,
Zac
* New Merchandise - New merchandise has begun appearing in the Hanson.net store (http://www.hanson.net/webstore/)!
- 2007/08 Calendars
- Freshly Squeezed Rock 'n' Roll t-shirts
- We've lowered the prices on some of the previous tour tees. Get 'em while they last!
- More to follow soon. Also keep your eyes peeled for a special free shipping promotion coming soon!
* Van Wilder 2 Soundtrack - Don't forget: Hanson has contributed a new, original song, The Ugly Truth, to the soundtrack of National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj, available NOW!
* World AIDS Day - HANSON will be releasing the song, Great Divide as a charity single exclusively on iTunes in recognition of World AIDS Day on December 1st. The song will benefit HIVSA (http://www.hivsa.com/). Great Divide, features a South African children's choir and was recorded on the group's recent trip to Africa. The track will be released in Europe on November 27, 2006 and in the US on November 28, 2006. For more information, please visit Hanson.net (http://www.hanson.net/).
* Great Divide t-shirts - To coincide with the release of Great Divide on iTunes, a shirt to benefit the same charity, HIVSA (http://www.hivsa.com/), will be available exclusively in the Hanson.net store (http://www.hanson.net/webstore/) beginning November 27th.
Great Divide
The song "Great Divide" was one of the first songs written for the new album, and since its inception has been a key song in guiding the sound of the new album. "Great Divide" is all about hope. The song is almost solely a four piece (guitar, drums, bass, and piano). No need for bells and whistles.
I remember the night we started writing "Great Divide," because we just kept playing and playing all night. We didn't stop to write down lyrics, it was too much fun to simply play. Eventually we recorded a demo, and as we all walked into the control room to listen, a conversation started. This was one of the songs that would define the new album.
As we continued to work on songs, we had our corner stone.
Months after "Great Divide" was written we found ourselves sitting in the conference room of a small technology company in Tulsa, Oklahoma with a few friends. They were going to South Africa to give away their software to the largest hospital in the southern hemisphere – Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. The primary use for the technology was to enable better treatment and research for AIDS and HIV. We didn't know what role we could play, but there was something fortuitous about the whole experience. We would go to Africa, and we would bring our music with us.
The things we saw in Africa were both joyful and sobering. The trip was about learning. We saw as much as we could in a short time trying not to blink, so that the pictures would be ingrained in our minds. But the biggest impact come from what Africa did to our music.
We were able to record two children's choirs while we were there; one in South Africa, the other in Mozambique. Watching them sing reminded me why we make music in the first place. They sing with such joy it made me stop and wonder how children with so little could possibly sing about hope. It was chilling. It was changing.
Through the song "Great Divide" we hope that some of the conviction we have will translate to whoever hears it. All the proceeds we receive from the iTunes downloads will go to the Perinatal HIV Research Unit of the hospital; people who are creating REAL HOPE. We know that a song and a T-Shirt will only do so much, but we are doing what we can with what we have.
Awareness must become a resolve to make a difference.
All the best,
Zac
* New Merchandise - New merchandise has begun appearing in the Hanson.net store (http://www.hanson.net/webstore/)!
- 2007/08 Calendars
- Freshly Squeezed Rock 'n' Roll t-shirts
- We've lowered the prices on some of the previous tour tees. Get 'em while they last!
- More to follow soon. Also keep your eyes peeled for a special free shipping promotion coming soon!
* Van Wilder 2 Soundtrack - Don't forget: Hanson has contributed a new, original song, The Ugly Truth, to the soundtrack of National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj, available NOW!