Now, this is my assessment of the show. I had already heard she doesn’t perform the songs like they are on the album. You can look at the video and see that the songs are slightly off from the original.
Like some other people, I thought this was due to a 1998 lawsuit where band members from her debut album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” sued her. The collective of musicians known as New Ark claimed that they deserve a share of songwriting or production credit on 13 of the album’s 14 songs — and, also a sizable chunk of the profits from the album.
The lawsuit was settled in 2001 and the detail wasn’t disclosed. This didn’t stop some people to speculate that one of the provisions of the settlement was that Lauryn couldn’t perform the songs in their original format. However, in 2018, Lauryn wrote a lengthy letter in response to her critics and to clear up some “myths” about her personal and professional life. This is an excerpt of that letter where she addresses her performing her songs:
I remix my songs live because I haven’t released an album in several years. There’s a ton of backstory as to why, but there’s no way I could continue to play the same songs over and over as long as I’ve been performing them without some variation and exploration. I’m not a robot. If I’d had additional music out, perhaps I would have kept them as they were. I didn’t, so I revise and rearrange them according to what I’m feeling in that moment. This way, my performances are heartfelt and authentic, not me just going through the motions. I can’t imagine why that would be a foreign concept to anyone who appreciates jazz.
-And the myth that I’m not allowed to play the original versions of my songs is…a myth (anyone who’s seen my current show knows this).
Look, I get it, as a performer, I understand, you got to have a vibe when you go on stage. But I’m not going to lie, I wanted to hear the closest rendition of those classic songs as I possibly can. I think the reason why and I’m sure some other fans can attest to this, is that album holds a special place in my life.
Back in the days, when artists made albums and gave seemingly such much of their emotional being into the music, it made you feel invested. Not to mention, as we get older, we just want to hear, see and feel some part of our youth.
Speaking of which, do you remember the “Zion” on that first album? The song is dedicated to her firstborn son. Well, Zion is grown now and has two kids of his own! Lauryn brought out the young man and her grandchildren to the stage in a touching family moment.
It was a reminder, that things and people have to grow. It was a reminder to me that you can’t be stuck in the past. If you want to listen to the album, go grab your old CD, or download it. On the other hand, if you want to see Lauryn Hill perform those songs in the present day, be prepared for something different. Be prepared to see a grown-ass woman, with 6 kids and grandchildren, show up to her job at the best time she can. Be prepared for an artist, who still wants to tap into her creativity the best way she can and embrace it and share it.
This was my experience from the Lauryn Hill show and I enjoyed it. Hate or love it her place in history is solid and I was just glad that I can say I was able to see a legend.
