Where they were doing covers and folks were being a bit rambunctious and pushing people out of the way. “You’ve Got to Find Piece of Mind.”, yeah that song.Ī couple of years ago was the 20-year anniversary album and we went to the celebratory concert. Very present in a time when I was not at my best. At the time when I was a young artist and wasn’t sure what I was doing, and I didn’t have that support group, not having that network and navigating by myself. I would feel so connected emotionally to that song and would find myself, crying and other times finding a source of strength. I remember sitting on the top deck of the bus with the panoramic view and listening to Lauryn Hill from the MTV Unplugged album during a time that I felt quite lost. Which also spawned my interest and awareness of gospel and jazz. Usually with simply the music playing in the background. After thinking of it, the film Sister Act was always on play in the house on repeat. Checking out boys and strutting our stuff. I mean it was simply so refreshing, so new!ĭuring that time when we were young teenagers, we would always listen before going out like going to the arcade or so. And when I heard the album, there was such a sense of excitement and joy. We would also consistently watch MTV as music videos were a thing at this time. Funnily, I think that I learned about most music through her. The first time that I heard her album, The MisEducation of Lauryn Hill, it was through an old friend of mine. When I think of music and memories I think of that time. In celebration of seeing people of color doing their thing, like listening to Lauryn Hill. For the purpose of this article though I can think of one person that has consistently come up though when thinking of this topic is Lauryn Hill. I think for me a lot of the music I listened to was always in a format that had songs blending into each or were presented in a way where I was not aware of the exact artist but aware of the song. Ultimately I feel like I feel more connected to songs and musicians that are not necessarily current. At that time Bhangra was going through quite an experimental phase, definitely not in the mainstream, but it was another genre of music in my teenage years and gave me an extra confidence, an extra edge before walking out into the streets. Also, I remember that Bhangra was another sort of music that made me feel connected. It's impossible to ignore how much her rawness resonates here, check out "I Gotta Find Peace of Mind," "The Conquering Lion," "Adam Lives In Theory," and "So Much Things to Say," which is a cover of the Bob Marley and the Wailers song of the same title.Garage music I associate with my days of youth. Kanye West, who interpolated "Mystery of Iniquity" for "All Falls Down," has been using Twitter to do somewhat of the same thing to a much uglier end, but Lauryn Hill, almost 20 years ago, chose a medium that she is most comfortable and accomplished in, music. And in that space, she is celebrating her new-found freedom, concerned about what's going on in the world, and is dealing with personal and artistic struggles. The ideas may be underdeveloped and melodies not fully worked out, but Hill is giving her audience a direct & sincere look at the very headspace she is occupying. Hill could have asked for a 20-piece back-up band and ran through her biggest hits, but rather, she chooses to peel back from her pop-star self. Back in 2001 when MTV Unplugged 2.0 was recorded, there was not. There are a million ways for artists to connect with the world/fans now, and many do so and share some of the most vulnerable/emotional moments with them. 17 years later, the flaws are still there, but let's revisit the record in today's context. Given that Lauryn Hill released The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, a pristine body of work, just 3 years prior, this follow-up effort left many confused. The songs feel unfinished, and the interludes, there are about 8 or 9, take up as much time as the music. She's certainly not a proficient guitar player, and her voice sounds strained.
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