I really like Lauryn Hill a lot. Apart from her beauty, I dig her incredible vocal talent. I loved the Fugees, despite all that stupid Wyclef ("one time!") shit on there. I loved "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" too.

However... I did not really dig the unplugged album. Not at all.

I mean, apart from the technical problems with the disk (the copy protection that stops you listening to it on a PC - I do all my music listening on my PC while I work) I just felt it was a collection of poor, half-written songs with Lauryn hoarsely screeching into a mic and forlornly strumming a guitar. Badly.

So... am I the only person who dug Lauryn's poppier stuff? And are we morons?

ian

I like it, her flying in the face of expectation was especially refreshing at the time. It is however an exhausting listen all taken in one go so I don't tend to return that often...

I think She needs to go Ahead&Make up with Wyclef&get Pras a Job on a New Album ASAP before She ends up on VH1's "WhatEver Happen To Shows"??She truly is missing direction&needs some Product out Soon.

I really have to dig into that album, I saw her on MTV, and I watched the whole thing straight through because it it was pretty soulful, she sang from the heart, and she made my eyes water, but it sounds more like you have to really listen to what she's saying, rather than the music itself, like study it, as she drops the knowledge...but after I saw the show, I wanted to get the album, but haven't yet, but I haven't changed my mind that she's still one of my favorite artists...I would love to listen to another one like 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'

P.S I liked 'one time!' and when she was with The Fugees...but I LOVE her solo album!
[This message was edited Wed Feb 19 17:31:00 PST 2003 by Starmist7]

She sure pulled herself an Around The World In A Day

rdhull said:

Naw not to me because Prince still had a few Hits but Lauryn Unplugged felt like She was going through "Caos&She left alot of Folks with Musical Disorder IMHO

mistermaxxx said:

true but I meant that her next release after she hit it big time big time was to come with Unplugged and that material and presentation

rdhull said:

Fair enough I Agree with your Point.

ian said:

Nah, you're not a philistine. Not for that reason, anyway. Even though I like Lauryn and her debut the hype over it wasn't ncessary, though seeing as how it was a breath of fresh air I guess was partly the reason. Listening to the singles from the Fugees last album makes me think Lauryn's solo album is more accomplished.

ian said:

i hated that "one time" shit, too. it didn't add anything, it was like...saying THIS makes it hip hop, see?

mrdespues said:

If Wyclef didn't say "one time" on Killing Me Softly it would have been a Lauryn solo joint and he and Pras would be stood around like dummies. In fact Pras didn't feature on it at all huh? hehe

mrdespues said:

I thought he was saying something like, 'This is gonna be a hit'...

ian said:

i think the unplugged album was boring because it was just her and an acoustic guitar. the songs weren't so bad, it just got to a point where it all sounded the same. especially after 2 discs of it.

Lauryn was/is goin thru a lot of isht... estrangement from family and friends, break up of her relationship with the Marley boy (at the hands of a relative I hear), and now hooked up with a self-made guru. She's pretty much shut down everything at this point.

NuPwrSoul said:

yeah i heard that as well.hope She can work through it.

i just watched that turn your lights down low video...i like the way they did that one.

Christopher said:

Beautiful song, and duet...
[This message was edited Wed Feb 19 22:54:15 PST 2003 by Starmist7]

I think Lauryn -- in addition to being a wonderfully talented artist -- also provides an interesting study in artistic symbolism in today's rock/pop scene.

She was at the top of the industry a few years ago. Now, her niche is being filled by such artists as India.Arie. (And, as much as I dig I.A, she ain't Lauryn, who is a songbird.)

Where does a black female singer go when her "vibe" is appropriated? How does she remain relevant? I'm not suggesting Lauryn's "Miseducation" follow-up was anything less than an honest, musical snapshot of her present spiritual/emotional/philosophical state.

I hope she comes back strong, with something a bit more coherent and representative of a sister who's weathered and overcome the storm.

So,what's the deal with Lauryn? Is she working on a new CD? I have a feeling that she is fed up with the music industry and superstardom in general.

As for 'Unplugged',I really liked it alot,and the DVD is fantastic.But I wonder how those songs would have sounded if they had been recorded in a studio,with a full band.If she had fleshed out the best songs from 'Unplugged' and added a few more really strong songs,she probably would have had a kickass comeback album.

I believe Lauryn Hill didn't want to reproduce the mis-education. So she stripped away all the musicians and all the producers to seem "Real". As you can see it backfired but all she has to do is pick up some hitmakers and her next album will sell like hotcakes. I'm will to bet anything that the whole "back to basic" act is just that, an act.

csharp57 said:

She Couldn't Re-Produce the Mis-Education because She had to pay out of Pocket for not crediting the Writers&Producers&that core of Talent went over to work on Faith Evans's 3rd Album.Sony wants some Product from her.

Hopefully Lauryn will be able to give us some great music to talk about in the future. Until then I wish her the best with her personal situations.

I wonder if Lauryn still even records for Sony Records/Columbia anymore?.They're having a major "shake-up" over there.Tommy Mottola is gone,and the label has just dropped Will Smith,Donna Summer and of course,Michael Jackson has left too.

DavidEye said:

Hope not. It was the wankers at Sony / Columbia who thought that putting copy protection on the CD was a good idea. Yes, dictating to your customers how and where they should listen to the music that THEY purchased is a great idea

I didn't even pick up the unplugged album, I just wasn't moved and I really dig her. I hope she makes it back - she can reject the whole hype & nonsense of the industry without ruining her career. She should take her time, create music she cares about & get a band together. While I respect her bravery for moving in such a different direction (w/ the whole acoustic thing), I'm not interested in hearing a 2 hour folk song... The mix of sounds on Miseducation was so great, what she's doing now just bores me

I enjoyed the raw "unplugged" LP 2 the fullest. I think it was a bald move from her to release an LP like that in a time where is everything is commercial plus its a non-direct diss 2 those who sued her thinking that if it weren't 4 them her debut wouldn't be that big.

Like some1 said earlier, its all about the lyrics NOT the music. Listen carefuly and you'll be moved.

I like how she burrow lines from every religion's book(Koran-Bible-Torah) to deliever her message.

I say 4get about Pras and Clef,,get yo self 2ghether, get the band, go to the studio and do yo damn thang. I don't like the Fugees that much becoz at the end its ALL ABOUT boring ass Clef:roll:.

I got this feeling that she will shut everybody's mouths up with another killer LP "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" stands the ultimate best when it comes to me. Nobody made a powerful hip-hop LP like that NEVA, I relate to her words and her music helped me in some ways. Its really rare 2 see such a beautiful soul sistah with sophistication, beauty and class these days. I respect that she deliever the message 2 the youth without getting into the stereotype.

Much 2 miss L-Boogie.
[This message was edited Thu Feb 20 9:17:36 PST 2003 by Harlepolis]

OK I just went back and listened to the unplugged album... I had to steal it I am afraid from a filesharing util. Well I didn't have to but since Sony/Columbia decided I can't listen to the album on a PC, and my PC is my hi-fi most of the time, I just stole the MP3 files online. I'd pay for it if I wasn't so annoyed with Sony/Columbia. This is actually the first album I have stolen music since I've become an adult (and therefore in a position to buy all the music I liked).

I gotta say... it IS all one big long miserable song. Some good moments definitely, but:

• Her voice is fucked up, really hoarse. Couldn't they just record the album when she was a bit healthier?
  
• The guitar playing stinks. No really.
  
• The vocal interludes are SO irritating.
  
• Some of the shit she says ... "it's very important that you listen to the words intently" - could she BE any more up her own arse? Fuck off Lauryn - what's important is that I can pay my rent and put food on my table. Sing the fucking songs!
  

Okay I'm done ranting ... for now.

ian said:

She could have at least had some mercy & made the shit shorter - 2 discs of the same song/sound...

CalhounSq said:

Yeah ... it's a bit much. And to honest I found her feelgood American Oprah-style bullshit she spouts inbetween each song just cringeworthy. Get over yourself woman! Make music!

That told her!

ian said:

She was Scary that Night IMHO.I see why the Sony Brass lost that Tape Footage.Be Very Afraid times 2.