LAURYN HILL / “The Passion”
Lauryn Hill isn’t the first superstar musician to eschew the fame and fortune of mainstream popularity for religious reasons, but she has to be the most high profile artist to do so in many, many years. Her tune “The Passion” is two years old now, but except for the just-released Fugees reunion tune “Take It Easy” (which I’m finding instantly forgettable) it’s the latest thing we’ve heard from her…or haven’t heard. In fact, one of the reasons I wanted to post this song is that most people—probably even those who own and love The Score or The MisEducation Of…—have never heard it.
Lauryn’s relative anonymity shouldn’t come as a surprise. Inevitably, when a famous musician who ‘has it all’ makes a conscious decision to withdraw from the spotlight, they are eventually, if not immediately, seen as a kook, a nutcase, a weirdo. This has certainly been true in Lauryn’s case. From the stories about the legitimacy of her relationship with Rohan Marley, to her mid-song, emotional collapses at the taping of her Unplugged special, to rumors of her spiritual and monetary allegiance to a reputed cult leader, it seems that the only time the press reports anything at all about Lauryn, it’s about her allegedly bizarre behavior. Of course, Lauryn hasn’t been releasing much music: what else, you might ask, is the press supposed to report on?
I don’t mind the press reporting these things; what bothers me is the conclusion people seem to draw from the stories. That conclusion being, she’s crazy. When an R. Kelly exhibits bizarre behavior, I hear it rationalized. When a Martin Lawrence exhibits bizarre behavior, I hear it rationalized. When a D’Angelo exhibits bizarre behavior, I hear it rationalized. When it comes to public judgment, it seems that you’re better off being strung out on drugs, or stabbing someone in a club, or having an addiction to underage girls than searching for religious or spiritual fulfillment.
Whatever else you might question about Lauryn, her sincerity is beyond debate. With its cascading drum patterns and Lauryn’s beseeching, mournful tone, “The Passion” is appropriately named—it’s easily one of the most intense and affecting recordings of Lauryn’s career. It’s also a fully-formed song. The biggest problem with Lauryn’s much-maligned Unplugged album wasn’t the things people complained about (the between-song proselytizing, the cracks and hoarseness in her voice, the crying); the biggest problem was, as Lauryn herself admits, the songs weren’t songs and she’s no guitar player. For the most part, the selections Lauryn performed were sketches, outlines, frameworks—most were still at the demo stage and the ones that weren’t were sabotaged by the format. “The Passion,” by contrast, is a completed tune, a completed tune that left me wanting more. Given that lackluster first single, I don’t have high hopes anymore for the Fugees reunion project, but if Lauryn ever records another solo album, I’ll be all over it.
—Mtume ya Salaam
I agree
It ain’t easy being the mother of four, hooked up with a Marley offspring, one of the biggest (if not “the” biggest) pop stars of the last ten years, messing around trying to ressurect the Fugees, while searching for spiritual development. Hey, any one of the above situations is enough to fill up a lifetime, imagine how it must feel to wake up and have to deal with all of the above on any given day, plus, all the other stuff we don’t know about (but we can safely assume there are some other issues).
Lauryn Hill if you never produce another record, thank you for what you have already done. And thank you for (thus far) not selling out and producing shinning trinkets in the name of art. Asante sana (thank you very much).
Like you, Mtume, I have no interest in the Fugees reunion and barely expect to hear another superb solo album from Lauryn. To quote Nina Simone, “the weight is too heavy.”
—Kalamu ya Salaam
This entry was posted on Sunday, January 29th, 2006 at 4:15 am and is filed under Contemporary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
6 Responses to “LAURYN HILL / “The Passion””
January 29th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
I’m surprised no one mentioned the production quality of The Passion single. I’ve always had issues with it.
January 30th, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Lyrically it is a decent song. Not saying her best though…especially from a spiritual realm. And I kinda disagree with Mtume’s assumption that Lauren Hill is one of the most high profile artists to eschew the mainstream popularity for religious reasons. Anyway, Forgive Them Father from Miseducation was a pretty good lyrical piece with obvious spritual soul-searching. It is obvious why this song was overlooked…NO ONE associated it with the movie which is a good thing. However to market it under the banner of Passion, probably cancelled out any marketability also.
As for the production, it is simple yet not simplistic. It is hauntingly empty, which I thought was what she was going for in this song. True a Carlos Santana guitar treatment would’ve done wonders to this folksly song. But the song has meaning all on it’s own. Passion is from the gut, not from the mind, the studio, or from any contrived sound. And while it doesn’t have you bopping your heads in consciousness (like a Stevie Wonder tune would), look at it for what it is…ONE ARTIST’S EXPRESSION.
The only thing I didn’t like about the song was the lack of musical breaks to absorb all that passion and expression. In some parts it sounds a tad bit repetitive. But that’s okay.
February 3rd, 2006 at 2:10 pm
I’d like to call myself a Lauryn Hill…. From the Fugees to the MisEducation to the Unplugged… and I have never heard the song. This song stikes a cord… regardless of your views. While the production quality is a lil’ raw, I think that is the point. You’re just suppose to vibe to it and allow the words and rhythm to take you where you need to be mentally. I love it…. Rock on, Lauryn!
August 28th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
Since I’ve watched Lauryn Hill in Sister Act 2, I’ve fallen in love with her voice… It’s really good that she’s using her heart touching voice to God… and from what I’ve read above, I know and i believe that God is watching over and He’ll never let anyine or anything bad will happen to her… Lauryn Hill, you really touched my heart and soul… God Bless!
August 14th, 2008 at 9:33 am
This post is so right on. Just the other day they were ridiculing her on the radio. People act like it is a confirmed medical fact that she is mentally ill, and even if that were true, what kind of human being are you to make fun out of someone else’s mental state? It is but for the grace of God that we are of sound mind, and if their state of enlightenment has not reached a level where they can comprehend her messages they need to fall back and say nothing at all.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Can I hear the song?
kalamu sez
the music is only available for the week that the article is posted. we do not archive music.
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