Hanson Reveals You’ve Probably Been Singing “MMMBop” Wrong on Song’s 20th Anniversary

Ready to feel old? Hanson released their hit song “MMMBop” 20 years ago next month. Ready for another shock? You’ve probably been singing the hit song wrong all these years.

“People can’t sing the chorus right,” Isaac Hanson shared in a recent interview with Vulture. “Most of the time they syncopate it wrong.”

The original version of the song, which is much slower and takes on a more reflective tone, was released before the band was signed. After signing with a producer, the tune was jazzed up a bit.

Here’s the original song:

And here is the final version:

So how should that catchy chorus go for your next after-work karaoke night? Syncopate people!

The three brothers from Oklahoma also shared that the popular song has some unexpected dark undertones in the lyrics. While it may sound like a catchy pop song, it has a more serious meaning.

“It does tap into a theme we’ve continued to have, which is to interweave relatively serious thoughts — the verses, you know, ‘You have so many relationships in this life / Only one or two will last / You go through so much pain and strife / You turn your back and they’re gone so fast.’ It’s not exactly sunshine and rainbows,” shared Taylor.

“We used to always tease that we write happy sad songs,” said Isaac.

“Hopefully over time, the staying power of that song is about the fact that it’s more than it looks like at first glance,” explained Taylor. “That hook is what gets you in, but what’s below that is what keeps you there.”

Zac also shared that the song “probably needs a really good cover.” Perhaps creating a simple solution to the lyric mix-up?

“Someone needs to either make it totally their own in a genuinely unique way, or it needs to be a band that has a sensibility for old R&B. Fitz and the Tantrums could maybe do it,” shared Taylor.

“If Bruno Mars were interested, he’d probably find a way to kill it,” said Isaac

While Bruno Mars hasn’t jumped on that bandwagon yet, it sure seems like a task One Direction is willing to take on. Check out their version of “MMMBop” below.