Whenever I come across Lauryn Hill, my thoughts turn to her famous record ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’.
It was a game-changer in the music industry released in 1998. This album won all the trophies including Album of the Year - a big achievement especially for a black woman. However, there is something about what happened next that caught my attention.
After the year 2000, Lauryn seemed to have disappeared. In May 2001 however, she briefly showed up at the Essence Awards but she was different. Her signature locks were gone and her voice sounded strained while her face said it all.
Then came her MTV Unplugged performance which was like watching another person altogether.
I can recall the excitement leading up to her MTV Unplugged performance. With a recording album such as “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” people had set their hopes high. However, we got something different altogether.
Lauren Hill MTV Unplugged Album
Instead of the expected radio hits, Lauryn came before an intimate audience in a denim jacket and baseball cap, carrying only her guitar.
Critics were quick to attack her and called Lauryn insane, too religious or mentally ill. Right from her voice to her playing of the guitar and even up to her long speeches were highly criticized by them.
But for me it was beyond just being good.
Though it didn’t exactly meet our expectations but that’s what made it so enthralling. It was unrefined and sincere like she had bared her soul open to everyone.
Moreover, this kind of genuine nature is very rare in today's world where everything we see is refined and staged.
From the content of Lauryn’s MTV Unplugged album, it is apparent that she was going through a lot at that particular time. The pressure of celebrity life and public scrutiny got to her. But instead of pretending, she showed all of us what was happening to her.
In numerous ways, Lauryn’s MTV Unplugged performance was way before its time. It wasn’t what people wanted but maybe it was what we needed. This was a reaffirmation that behind the glitz and glamour of fame, there are real people with real struggles.
Looking back now, it is clear that Lauryn surpassed the present moment. Her performance may have been taken out of context then but today’s generations can attest to its uniqueness in every respect.
I see Lauryn’s MTV Unplugged concert as a much needed representation of her battles with popularity and emotional instability. It wasn’t the goodbye we were waiting for but perhaps it was the one we required.
Therefore, here is to Lauryn Hill, an icon of our generation and her completely misunderstood valediction.