|
Post by tearsdryontheirown on Jan 3, 2011 18:04:19 GMT -5
I came across this interesting retrospective. Good read.. The link to the source of the article is provided directly under the title. The Re-Education of Lauryn Hill Fans: Lauryn Hill Owes You Nothingwww.flyblackchick.com/2011/01/02/the-re-education-of-lauryn-hill-fans-lauryn-hill-owes-you-nothing/Before Lauryn Hill, was “Lauryn Hill”, she caught my attention as Kira Johnson, the name of her character on As The World Turns, she was one of the few black faces in a slew of white soap opera characters on television. I took notice of her then, not because I was a soap addict, I actually didn’t like soaps, but because she was a young black girl that grew up not to far from my neighborhood. Whether people realize it or not, since that time, Lauryn Hill has practically grown up in the public’s eye and under a microscope. With the Fugees first album, Blunted on Reality, I immediately became enthralled by this chick with the raspy voice and a cadence of her own. Although, most people probably can’t remember one song from Blunted on Reality, till this day, I remember practically every word. It wasn’t until the Fugees second album, The Score, that more people took notice of the gift that Lauryn Hill was given. Sure, the group was a “trio”, but in my mind it was Lauryn Hill that stood out and was catalyst. Without Lauryn, you’d just have Wyclef yodeling & Pras standing somewhere in the background, doing whatever it was that Pras did. After my first Fugees show, I left thinking to myself, “I can’t wait for her to drop those two and go solo”. Eventually, in 1998, she gave birth to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Miseducation quickly became every black girl’s story. A holy grail of sorts. Every story, every verse, every bar she dropped, although it was Lauryn’s story, also became everyone else’s story as well. Magazine covers, tour dates, music awards and $25million in record sales later, words like “influential” were used to describe this black girl from Jersey. Could I relate to some of the songs? Sure, but I also realized then, that her music was more about her own experiences. If she didn’t realize it then, I’m sure she realized it during her ‘hiatus’ that unfortunately, there were strangers, people that she would never meet, seemingly depending on her to give them more of her. I’m not sure if it’s safe to say, with every rise there’s a fall, when speaking about Lauryn Hill. If the definition of fall is writing music, like her unplugged album, because it’s something that she felt needed to be said, even though everyone may not “get it” or if the definition of “fall” is starting a family and taking care of your children, then more people should be “falling” instead of ranting & raving about Lauryn Hill on the internet. This past summer, I stood in the heat during the Rock The Bells tour when it came to Columbia, MD, anticipating Lauryn Hill’s performance. A few minutes before her start time, I was speaking with the organizers from Guerilla Union, and it wasn’t looking good. As quick as her set was put up. Her set was taken down. Peter Rosenberg, from Hot 97, amongst boos & heckling from the audience, took the stage to reassure people that the show would be going on. Unfortunately, the natives were restless & weren’t trying to hear that. All I could do was take a few sips from my water bottle, sit back down at the foot of the stage and wait. And wait. And wait. Eventually, her set was back up, the band was on stage, and she came out. Her set was like the movie, fast & furious. The “classics” from Miseducation were more up tempo and nothing like the original arrangements. Was I disappointed? No. Did I feel jipped? No. Do I realize that an artists art may change over time? Yes. It’s their art. Like Bobby Brown used to say, “It’s (their) my prerogative”. Fast forward months later. A different stage, a different show. Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Days after a blizzard. The crowd is impatient. Lauryn Hill is late. The New York Times reports that the singer was due to hit the stage at the Music Hall of Williamsburg at 8pm but did not show up until after midnight. I could only imagine the boos & disgruntled people standing and waiting. Because, I’ve been one of those people standing and waiting. People held up signs, that read, “You Just Lost One” and “This Is Insulting”. Even her keyboard player had one taped to his keyboard saying, “I was on time”, which was rightfully torn down by Lauryn after her first song. Lauryn Hill apologized for being late, some people feel that the following statement she made was a brush off, but would they have been happier if she said nothing at all? No, people would have complained regardless. People love to complain. “I spent my entire 20s sacrificing my life to give you love. So when I hear people complain, I don’t know what to tell you. I personally know I’m worth the wait”, she told the crowd. To the keyboard player she gave these words of advice, “you trying to escape the bottles and the cups. Next time you take it, you take it like a man. We in this together, brother”. For the complainers, I’m truly confused as to what they’re asking from her. Do you want her 6th born? Her blood? A lock of her hair? Do you expect after 12 years that an artist doesn’t change? If you read review after review about her lateness and you still pay $75 for a ticket, are you only going to see if she shows up, or are you going so that you can appreciate her music, regardless if it’s of a faster tempo? Have you ever thought about why there’s lateness from her? Being a performer with her kids in tow, I’m sure there’s countless issues that can come up. Did people fail to realize there was about 3 ft of snow in Brooklyn and New Jersey? Lauryn Hill owes you nothing. Lauryn Hill wrote Miseducation as therapy for herself. She didn’t have any one else in mind. Too often people take it upon themselves, to idolize an artist, when they’re only human and have their fair share of issues just like anyone else. Just like my friend Danielle said today, “You all sound like a bunch of jilted lovers”. If you need someone to write a new story so you can relate it to your life, you’re probably better off doing it on your own. Lateness happens. s**t happens. Chances are, you’ve probably been to work numerous times. Go ahead & lie and say you haven’t. Also, try clowning your “boss” on their lateness with a sign saying “you were on time”. Yeah, that’ll go over well. In the meantime, some of you need to get over yourselves, and hold on to the memories of why you fell in love with an artist from the start, because god forbid they actually change or show you who they truly are. Its like I wrote this myself. She doesnt owe anyone anything. If you want to leave the show, then leave. If you paid to see Lauryn Hill, stay and see her. If you want her as she was, visit youtube, if you want the classics as they were, put your ipod on and play them. Who else is buying these tickets? She hasnt released an album in a decade. A lot of people dont even know she is touring so surely it is the fans of her music and those who are fans of what she used to be. Frankly she is touring for herself, not as a charity event for the fans. She is touring to fulfill something within her. She is basically a merchant selling a good. If you dont like it, dont buy it, but shes happy making it so why stop making it? I dont understand the posts in here as though anyone knows what her life is like. I know I dont. But we get these posts that are condescending as though we are not humans with flaws just trying to be happy and be fulfilled.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2011 18:15:25 GMT -5
There are a lot of people who will see that Lauryn is touring and being such a fan of Miseducation decide to go and see her since she has not gone on tour in forever. That doesnt mean all those same people are sitting on the internet reading all her reviews for each show and know about her being 3-4 hours late.
|
|
bigb0882
7x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 7,726
|
Post by bigb0882 on Jan 3, 2011 20:31:26 GMT -5
You're right, Lauryn Hill owes me nothing and I owe her NOTHING! Therefore, because of her behavior, I will NEVER go see her in concert. She has turned me off as a fan forever. Her behavior is inexcusable and her lateness is a complete lack of respect for her fans. They showed up on time for her and she can't do the same for them. As word gets out, more and more people will make the same decision I have and they will add up. Lauryn is ending her career again before her comeback even gets started.
|
|
Kishi KCM
Diamond Member
Work In Progress
Joined: March 2007
Posts: 11,359
|
Post by Kishi KCM on Jan 3, 2011 20:40:57 GMT -5
I spoke with my co-workers and all of them are going to Jazz In The Gardens, but they won't wait for Lauryn. Even they know of her habit to be late.
I'm a BIG TIME fan of hers and will wait an hour. Two/three hours is pushing it...but I'll probably do some shopping until she hits the stage. :)
|
|
chiguy2006
New Member
Joined: December 2010
Posts: 54
|
Post by chiguy2006 on Jan 4, 2011 7:49:27 GMT -5
From last night's show at The Blue Note (NYC):
|
|
chiguy2006
New Member
Joined: December 2010
Posts: 54
|
Post by chiguy2006 on Jan 4, 2011 11:24:06 GMT -5
A review from The Village Voice regarding last night's show at The Blue Note. You can click on the link beneath the title of the article to be taken to the original source: Live: Lauryn Hill, Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close At The Blue Noteblogs.villagevoice.com/music/2011/01/live_lauryn_hil.phpBy Rob Harvilla, Tue., Jan. 4 2011 @ 8:00AM Lauryn Hill The Blue Note Monday, January 3Better Than: You had any right to expect The bad news always comes first with Lauryn Hill. And so. Initial advertised start time: 8 p.m. Revised start time as of this evening: 11. Mood at 10:05: anxious. (Two different Blue Note folks use the words "hopefully," "start," and "eleven" in a sentence while I'm taking off my coat.) PA announcement at 11:05: "Lauryn will be on really soon." ("Is that five minutes or less?" someone shouts; "10 minutes?" comes the answer.) 11:23: a DJ shows up to "set a nice mystical mood." (Which involves lots of Bob Marley.) 11:42: the band appears, crowding the tiny stage, and starts idly vamping. 11:50: The couple next to me, who I learnhave been sitting there since 7:15, leaves in disgust, explaining that they have a train to catch, the male half noting diplomatically that "That's how Lauryn is." 11:57: Lauryn steps onstage. I feel terrible for those poor people who left, both because they missed the show, and because the show itself was actually fantastic. You know this about Lauryn Hill already, of course: the relentless lateness, the defiant aggro-rock scrambling of her beloved solo + Fugees back catalog (typical banter: "See if you recognize this one!"), the physically painful rasp now seemingly omnipresent in her voice. Only two out of three tonight, though: Her voice sounds great, actually, clear and brash and lethal, shifting from the straight reggae crooning of "Forever Loving Jah" (more Bob Marley) to the rap-metal swagger of "Lost Ones" to the simmering torch-song theatrics of "When It Hurts So Bad," directing the band to lay out as she adds a wailing a capella coda that leaves her nowhere to hide and no reason to. There's a mic in her right hand and a black handkerchief in her left; she dabs at her face nearly every second she's not singing. "If I had a bikini I would still be sweating this much," she notes, as someone in the front row continually waves a napkin at her, semi-helpfully. "It's the lights." Once you accept that you're probably not going to get these songs as you originally heard/loved them, you're free to marvel at the audacity of Ms. Lauryn Hill in 2011: the breathless rant of "Ex-Factor," say, basically performed twice in full, the second time with way more psych-rock wooziness. Hill is a tough bandleader, constantly hectoring both the soundman (poor Lucas, name-checked mid-song roughly 50 times tonight) and the players themselves: "Where we going? Where we going?" she demands as one keyboardist takes a deranged prog-rock solo during "To Zion." But the maelstrom doesn't overwhelm her the way it apparently did at other shows, even with the much smaller and less sonically forgiving venue, and eventually she starts singing the songs more or less the way you originally heard/loved them: From "Fu-Gee-La" on, the crowd's on its feet (a rarity at the Blue Note) as she blows through "Ready or Not," "Killing Me Softly," and a climactic "Doo Wop" with aplomb. It's around 1:45 a.m., and there's a feeling that we all avoided disaster here: The show could've started way later, and bypassed "intimate" and headed straight for "incredibly loud and painfully incoherent." But instead, the immense frustration of the wait behind us, the dominant memory is the unremitting joy driving "Fu-Gee-La," Lauryn beaming and clearly enjoying herself in a way she hasn't seemed to in quite a while. She always makes you work for it. At last, she's started rewarding you when you do. Critical Bias: The last time I saw her, at Wingate Field in 2007, didn't go quite as well. Overheard: Lots of grumbling up until midnight, lots of elation from there on. Random Notebook Dump: On "To Zion": "This is a song I wrote while I was in the shower, about my now 13-year-old son. It was the only privacy I could get at one point." Set List: Forever Loving Jah Lost Ones When It Hurts So Bad Ex-Factor Final Hour To Zion How Many Mics I Only Have Eyes for You/Zealots Fu-Gee-La Ready or Not Killing Me Softly (encore) Turn Your Lights Down Low Doo Wop
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2011 11:25:11 GMT -5
5 hours and 45 minutes late? LOL
|
|
bigb0882
7x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 7,726
|
Post by bigb0882 on Jan 4, 2011 13:12:49 GMT -5
I want to know what she is doing during those 3-4 hours when she is supposed to be on stage. Is she eating dinner at 8:30 knowing full well a crowd is waiting on her and has been for 30 minutes already? Is she lounging in her hotel room? It's one thing if there was an accident, traffic, delayed flights, etc but clearly that isn't the case every single stop.
|
|
Kishi KCM
Diamond Member
Work In Progress
Joined: March 2007
Posts: 11,359
|
Post by Kishi KCM on Jan 4, 2011 15:34:33 GMT -5
5 hours and 45 minutes late? LOL 4 hours. Still unacceptable. She needs to get it together. If anyone has a show at 8pm, they need to be getting ready by 5pm. That's a mess. I wouldn't show up for these shows until 10:30pm, which shouldn't be.
|
|
esoteric76
5x Platinum Member
https://mixcloud.com/djmusikdawg
Joined: July 2006
Posts: 5,953
|
Post by esoteric76 on Jan 4, 2011 15:44:24 GMT -5
I was gonna ask who covers the cost of keeping the venue open hours later than scheduled and paying the staff to stay there til 3am, but then I thought of how many drinks they're probably selling to the audience to keep them from losing their minds!
|
|
So Pure
Platinum Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,610
|
Post by So Pure on Jan 4, 2011 20:16:13 GMT -5
I was gonna ask who covers the cost of keeping the venue open hours later than scheduled and paying the staff to stay there til 3am, but then I thought of how many drinks they're probably selling to the audience to keep them from losing their minds! A lot of cities have union regulations...especially in large venues where they have to wrap by 11:00PM. I guess not where she's playing...
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2011 11:04:10 GMT -5
Heres a video of Lauryn basically chastising people who are giving her flack for being late, saying she "sacrificed her life" for them and saying that shes "worth the wait". soc.li/IyjZiNL
|
|
chiguy2006
New Member
Joined: December 2010
Posts: 54
|
Post by chiguy2006 on Jan 6, 2011 15:51:20 GMT -5
From the sounds of things, it looks like Lauryn's last two shows at The Blue Note (NYC – 1/4/11 & 1/5/11) were a success. Between the two shows, seems like the some industry folks came to enjoy the show as well (Keri Hilson, Questlove from The Roots, John Forte, etc.) Here are some of the tweets about last night’s show@americanspierit Lauryn Hill and her band were on fire at theBlue Note last night. One of the best shows I have ever been to, and it was with my Mom! @americanspierit "Let's take it back now, way back. Not too far back, not Sister Act 2 back." - Lauryn Hill last night @keithrusso: 2:08am and Ms Lauryn Hilljust finished her amazing set at the Blue Note in NYC... Awesome @mreddiehuang we used to be #10 now we permanently at 1... Lauryn Hill at Blue Note was epic... how we gonna top this in 2011? @hollice Ms Lauryn Hill sounds amazing! You are missing out if you aren't at the blue note right now! @djrampageglobal Yet another great show at The Blue Note! ---Shut it down with Ms. Lauryn Hill, and The #CBCFambaM@KueSound blessed love mi dups @mszdjq Pow @questlove: Lauryn slain her tenthousands....#amazing and yeah "worth the wait". Goodnight Kids. @questlove: Aight. I'm cool on the Miseduremixes. But she is singing Ex Factor within an inch of her life. This facelift fits. Urgent! I'm warming john_forte I am here, and my old friend, Ms. Lauryn Hill is SUPERB.#selah #bluenoteNYC john_forte I can't get this grin off my face. She's really still so good... and then some. #LaurynHill john_forte She was incredible. I see great things in her future. #LaurynHill
|
|
chiguy2006
New Member
Joined: December 2010
Posts: 54
|
Post by chiguy2006 on Jan 6, 2011 15:55:27 GMT -5
From last night at The Blue Note (1/5/11)
|
|
chiguy2006
New Member
Joined: December 2010
Posts: 54
|
Post by chiguy2006 on Jan 6, 2011 17:21:08 GMT -5
Here's a review from someone who was in attendance at last night's show. Feel free to click on the link directly beneath the title to be taken to the original source (complete with additional images and video clips of the performance): LAURYN HILL-THE FIGHTER.stapledesign.com/2011/01/lauryn-hill-the-fighter/I recently saw the film “The Fighter” with Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg. It’s a great story about a boxer who falls from grace, faces massive adversities and challenges from the people he loves, and then makes a stunning comeback. When I watched Lauryn Hill perform last night in the intimate Blue Note Jazz Club, I felt like I was witnessing such a comeback. People paid hundreds of dollars. Waited hours and hours (she is well known for her tardiness) and she even canceled her early show that day leaving many without a seat. Why do we put up with her and all her drama? Because she is “Lauryn”. And no matter how much you love her, pity her, respect her or loathe her, you realize that anytime you see her on stage, it could be the last time you ever see her again. That’s how spiritual she is. She left us once before. Then she came back hurt—maimed. We witnessed it live and Unplugged (on MTV). Then she vanished again like a ghost. And with each year’s passing we listened to “Miseducation” and wondered “How could this happen? Was it Lauryn? Was it the system? Was it her band? Her love life? Her children? How could someone who creates an album like ‘Miseducation’ just disappear like that?” Then she came back again and made a few cameo appearances this past summer. She did some live shows and she was visibly rusty. Out of breath, off her mark, out of tempo, singing too fast, rushing through songs…it was rough to see. Like when a boxer steps back into the ring and gets clobbered his first fight back. It’s bound to happen, but we hold Ms. Hill in such high regard that it’s still difficult to witness. So now it’s Dec 10/Jan 11 and she is back in the ring. Who would we get tonight? You never know. But I will tell you. Tonight…we got The Fighter. Oh my god, Lauryn did her thing. She was fierce and on point. She took almost no breaks between songs—just went from one track to the next with a gulp of water in between each “bout”. She sung of course. But she RAPPED too. Something she hasn’t really wanted to do in years even though she is without a doubt the best female MC alive and top 10 in my book, male of female. It was evident she put a lot of practice time and work into her band and her set, where I feel like over the summer, she was maybe like “let’s wing it”. She didn’t sing any new songs. Only classics from “Miseducation” and “The Score” (Fugees). But when a boxer sets forth on a comeback, they have to fight fights they know they can win. It’s important to regain that confidence. You could feel that’s what Lauren was doing. Across from the stage at Blue Note, there are some mirrors and it allows the performers to see themselves at certain angles. I always thought that would be an awkward thing. If I were guest speaking in front of a crowd of people, the last thing I want to see is a reflection of myself! But L was shadowboxing at times. You could see her catching peeks at herself to see how her form was…how her presence was. We weren’t watching a concert. We was watching a sparring session. With herself. She won.
|
|
chiguy2006
New Member
Joined: December 2010
Posts: 54
|
Post by chiguy2006 on Jan 7, 2011 12:38:29 GMT -5
Thought this was too great not to share.....
|
|
Caviar
Diamond Member
Queen X
Joined: October 2003
Posts: 31,004
My Charts
Pronouns: He/his
|
Post by Caviar on Jan 7, 2011 14:18:45 GMT -5
I hope she releases another record this year. She's the only black female that has the potential to cross 1m first week.
|
|
Jack
8x Platinum Member
King of the World
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 8,531
|
Post by Jack on Jan 7, 2011 14:22:01 GMT -5
I hope she releases another record this year. She's the only black female that has the potential to cross 1m first week. I suggested that a while around here back but got laughed off.
|
|
bigb0882
7x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 7,726
|
Post by bigb0882 on Jan 7, 2011 15:03:26 GMT -5
I don't think she would get anywhere close to the 1M mark. She can sell well but she has been gone for way too long and this comeback of hers is something I would have never heard a word about if it wasn't for this board. Most people have no clue she is back out there. She would need a single to get her attention, it wouldn't even have to hit at radio, but just be something that gets people talking.
|
|
Dammn Baby
8x Platinum Member
Watchin' 'em all go...
Joined: December 2007
Posts: 8,099
|
Post by Dammn Baby on Jan 7, 2011 15:28:55 GMT -5
I can't see her getting anywhere close to 1 million. It is probable that most people who grew up on Miseducation have completely left her behind. A decade is a generation in music, and she's been high and whiny for the entire duration.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2011 15:33:34 GMT -5
Artists to get close to a million recently have all been artists who are successful at pop radio. Lauryns last hit at pop radio was 1996 with the Fugees.
|
|
Jack
8x Platinum Member
King of the World
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 8,531
|
Post by Jack on Jan 7, 2011 15:59:11 GMT -5
Never heard of Doo Wop?
Again, though, there's a lot of people here saying "Just because me and my friends aren't aware, she's not making a splash anywhere"...the critics, the industry, the core hip hop wing are all starting to buzz about a return.
As for the million thing, it's just conjecture. Pretty much anybody could theoretically open with a million depending on the variables (hit single, promo, etc. etc.). Would, or will? Not so sure.
They may be let down and it may never happen, but buzz there is.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2011 16:04:07 GMT -5
Yes peaked at #29 pop radio.
|
|
bigb0882
7x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 7,726
|
Post by bigb0882 on Jan 7, 2011 16:23:04 GMT -5
People forget that just because there is buzz it doesn't mean everyone bought into the buzz. I assume those that think she can open with a million have really bought into whatever buzz there might actually be. I think more than anything you are just a good fan who has an optimistic attitude. As for the "anyone COULD open with a million" argument. Come on. Is it possible? Yes. Could I record an album on my own and sell 5 million in 1 day? Well, yes, I guess it isn't IMPOSSIBLE. Doesn't mean it will ever happen.
|
|
hidizzyguy
8x Platinum Member
hello
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 8,800
|
Post by hidizzyguy on Jan 7, 2011 18:30:08 GMT -5
Sade recently debuted 500,000+ recently......Maxwell did 300,000+ recently. I would believe she could best Maxwell, maybe equal Sade.
|
|
Nick
8x Platinum Member
Joined: August 2004
Posts: 8,694
|
Post by Nick on Jan 7, 2011 20:11:36 GMT -5
Sade recently debuted 500,000+ recently......Maxwell did 300,000+ recently. I would believe she could best Maxwell, maybe equal Sade. Maxwell and Sade still had their music played a lot on the radio (adult R&B type stations). Lauryn wasn't played much. Who knows. I doubt she'll sell more than 200,000 opening week. Remember, there is more downloading and sharing these days. Black people don't buy music. lol.
|
|
chiguy2006
New Member
Joined: December 2010
Posts: 54
|
Post by chiguy2006 on Jan 9, 2011 8:50:19 GMT -5
Here is a press review of Lauryn's show last night in Charlotte, NC. Feel free to click on the link directly under the title of the review to be taken to the original source: Review: Lauryn Hill was Worth the Waitwww.charlotteobserver.com/2011/01/09/1967455/review-lauryn-hill-was-worth-the.htmlBy Courney Devores Special to the Observer Posted: Sunday, Jan. 09, 2011 After much speculation about set time and performance quality spurred by a string of recent reviews, Lauryn Hill continued a fairly triumphant comeback tour Saturday at Amos’ Southend. If you came expecting a rehash of past hits you may have been disappointed. But if you came for a good, loose live show, you got one and not the train wreck many predicted. A lot of fuss has been made over Hill’s current club tour in anticipation of Saturday’s sold out show - from high ticket prices to Hill’s chronic tardiness (something she has in common with male performers that take less flack for it). The latter has been so well publicized though that a late start was almost expected. Door time was pushed to 9 p.m., which left many concertgoers shivering in the cold for up to three hours. Those standing in the balcony, many of whom undoubtedly arrived early, began chanting Hill’s name and even booing around 11:20. She took the stage twenty minutes later following her 12-piece band and quieting most of her detractors with a strong, if a touch raspy voice, big funk band, and a demeanor that suggested she was genuinely happy to be there. She kicked things off with Bob Marley’s "Forever Loving Jah" backed by a trio of singers that did an impressive take on Marley’s I Threes-style backing vocals. During "Ex-Factor" the crowd joined in like a gospel choir rivaling any audience in memory in terms of vocal quality. Yet at times Hill seemed like she was having more fun than the crowd. She spoke candidly about her 13-year-old son Zion and the trials of mothering an apparently attractive teenage boy (Hill has five children) when introducing "To Zion." Some attendees were displeased with the new arrangements and left early. Some songs were sped up. Others were completely reworked. "Final Hour" rode a bassline reminiscent of the Cranberries’ "Zombie" and morphed into more of a haunting rock song than the slightly jazzy hip-hop original. The Fugees’ "How Many Mics" shifted from big funk rock jam with an organ fit for a baseball game to an uplifting smooth R&B groove midway through. It was fascinating how well the song could work in either style. These versions may not have been as familiar, but illustrated how a good song can be with different dressings. Because of the arrangement and the funk nature of the live band the set came off less like a chill R&B/hip-hop performance and more like a classic funk and soul set. Hill even looked the part of a '70s soul diva with an afro, big jewelry, and a fur collared jacket that she wore throughout the show despite the heat of the lights. Those that left early missed the pinnacle of the concert – a string of Fugees’ tunes that had both Hill and the audience bouncing to "Zealots," "Fu-Gee-La" and "Ready or Not." Hill seemed to revel in the fact that she could easily perform all of her former partners’ parts with a quick, fluid tongue. She bounced in a long flowing, belted dress, punching at the ceiling along with the crowd. "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" may have been an historical Grammy nominated album, but tracks from Fugees' 1996 album "The Score" pushed the performance to the next level. The momentum continued to climb as she belted out "Killing Me Softly" then ended a nearly two-hour set with a lively encore of "Doo Wop (That Thing)."
|
|
#LisaRinna
Diamond Member
#LiteralLegender
Joined: August 2008
Posts: 42,243
|
Post by #LisaRinna on Jan 9, 2011 10:59:53 GMT -5
She is getting good reviews. Hope this inspires her to record.
|
|
chiguy2006
New Member
Joined: December 2010
Posts: 54
|
Post by chiguy2006 on Jan 10, 2011 23:06:04 GMT -5
|
|
So Pure
Platinum Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,610
|
Post by So Pure on Jan 12, 2011 14:51:30 GMT -5
One of the things she definetly got rid of was a stylist because I don't know what the hell she's got on!? Lauryn was always more substance than style but her whole package used to be tight...even the ill fated Fugees Reunion had her looking fly (ever see the Essense cover story from 05 I believe?! Short crop bangs? Bob haircut)... ...she's been looking like a bag lady lately!!!
|
|