Someone asked me this the other day. My response? "That's a big NO!" I don't understand how people can say this. They've been out all of two years, and yet they've released 4 CD's, one of which was in the top 10 for a long time (summer 1997), 2 long-form videos, one of which (TTMON) has gone 5 times platinum, and the other of which has gone platinum in spite of being out only about, what, 3 months? They've done 5 very cool videos, appeared on almost every TV show there is, given and recieved awards at almost every awards show aired between '97 and now, AND have done an extensive concert which necessitated them getting up at the ungodly hour of 5 A.M., playing music all day, then sleeping on a friggin' moving vehicle. All of this in two years. And now they're LAZY?! WHATEVER! They have more energy than I would in that situation. Come on, people! They've given us so much already! They deserve a break. I'd rather them take some time off and really get ready to knock my socks off again than have them burn out next year and never come back. THAT would be the tragedy if people insist on demanding so much of them. I may not LIKE waiting for their next album, but I'm willing to. I may want MORE MORE MORE! but I'm content with what I've got so far. They are amazing. They've done more for me than I could ever ask for. Why on earth would I think they were LAZY! More like bone tired and sick of people screaming at them. Another point: no Jewel fan said anything when Jewel didn't put out a new record in 4 years. Why should a Hanson fan, who has been given so much already, complain about having to wait until summer 1999? For me, it's like in Madeline, "here we go round again". I'm rediscovering MMMBop. I'm making the best of having to wait. Why can't other people do that too, instead of going to more (seemingly) prolific bands like N'Sync and the Backstreet Boys, who probably won't be around much longer? This is the time to see who the true fans are. In the prophetic words of MMMBop, the one's "who really care, in the end will be the only one's there." To quote another great group, I'll be there. I'M in it for the long haul. Are you?
