Do you miss the nineties ? We sure do. And, to this day, we still remember.
Titanic posters on theatres’ walls. Fluo scrunchies on our heads. Those hideous braces weakening the glory of our sweet sixteen. The warmth of summer 1998.
And Lauryn Hill ‘s mellow voice warning us about boys being all about that thing.
The day Lauryn Hill made history
Music is supposed to inspire. And that’s exactly what Lauryn did this year with her first – and sadly last – album, ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill“. A R&B monument, and a milestone for many musicians, who consider it as their holy grail. The album broke every record. It obliterated the competition, grabbed the first place of the Bilboard, was sacred album of the year, and allowed Lauryn to be nominated for 10 Grammys! She won 5 of them, and became the first female artist to do so. Such an inspiration for two ill-fitted teenage girls like us !
We spent months listening to this album and practically worn out our CDs. Sure, we did already know the girl was special.
No R&B singer can compare their voice to the maestria of Miss Hill. Sister Act 2 was obviously a must-have for any teenage girl loving music. In the movie, Lauryn was so relatable as a school girl whose talent was smothered by a mother only wanting her to fit into the mould.
How to make an Hip-Hop instant classic
But let’s not digress more. Though the first single was Lost Ones, the song that really provoked an instant crush was, and we’re sure you felt the same, Doo Wop (That Thing). This is a pure Hip-Hop Jewel, promoting sex equality, with the most addictive chorus. We dare you to say you forgot about this one! The song was much more than a banger, it was an anthem.
The album is nothing but smoothness, a real balm for our broken souls. It navigates between R&B masterpieces and beautiful asides, led by the poet and politician Ras Baraka speaking to children about love in the comfort of a classroom.
God, choosing our favorite songs was heartbreaking. But if you do want to capture the essence of Lauryn Hill’s genius, listen Doo Wop, I Used to Love Him, Everything is Everything, Can’t take my eyes off of You and… the magnificent To Zion. Boy, that song is touched by grace!
To Zion is dedicated to her first born son. After touring with the Fugees, Lauryn got involved in a romantic relationship with Bob Marley’s son, Rohan and shortly became pregnant. It was this surprise baby who convinced her to go solo and boy, was it a good idea ! She poured every pain she felt in her lyrics – especially her feuds with her band mates – and made her sufferings universal.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is now a Hip-Hop classic. More than an album, it’s a guide about love, spirituality, and the simple joys of life. More than twenty years after its issuing, it hasn’t aged a day, like good wine.
…We wish we could say the same thing about us!
