Ms. Lauryn Hill, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” and Six of my best songs from ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ Album
As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, I choose to share some of My best songs in the album. From ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You’, Everything Is Everything,”Doo Wop ( That Thing ), Lost Ones, Ex Factor, To Zion
enjoy.
Album:The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Producer: Lauryn Hill
Originally a Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons song, Ms. Hill combined soft vocals and a drum-heavy beat to create an uber-soulful track that sounds all her cut.
Ms. Lauryn Hill -“Doo Wop ( That Thing )”
Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Producer: Lauryn Hill
Questionable respectability politics aside, this song (and video!) is one of Ms. Hill’s greatest pieces of work, the perfect blend of her ability to slay rhymes and sing. It was her only single to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. Not only is it a bop, it had many of us (this author included) singing “that thing” before we knew what “that thing” was.
Lost Ones
Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Producer: Lauryn Hill, Ché Guevera, & Vada Nobles
On Miseducation’s opening cut, Ms. Hill comes out swinging and she cuts down her former bandmate and lover Wyclef, letting him know that he “might win some, but you just lost one” of the illest in the game. Hill takes no prisoners and addresses her personal and professional split head-on, proving that she’s not to be fucked with: “It’s funny how money change a situation/Miscommunication lead to complication/My emancipation don’t fit your equation/I was on the humble, you on every station.”
Everything Is Everything
Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Producer: Lauryn Hill
WIth one of Hill’s best verses, “Everything is Everything” definitely deserves a top spot. John Legend’s powerful piano chords give this track a sound heavy enough to carry the weight of Hill’s lyrics about overcoming struggle. Hill’s verses bridge together Biblical references and Afrocentric themes, and even manages to use the word “begat.”
Ex Factor
Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Producer: Lauryn Hill
There’s a reason this song has been sampled in Drake’s “Nice For What” and Cardi B’s “Be Careful,” and covered by Beyoncé. Hill plunges into the complexities of loving someone whose behavior is toxic and manipulative, and the questions one asks while trying to break the cruel cycle of this type of relationship. The bridge is where we truly hear Hill’s hurt, in a sentiment that’s powerfully heartbreaking: “You said you’d die for me/ Why won’t you live for me?” The themes of the song are (unfortunately) familiar to many, making this not only Hill’s best song, but perhaps her most relatable.
To Zion Featuring Carlos Santana
Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Producer: Ché Guevara & Lauryn Hill
Dedicated to her son Zion, who’s now 21 years old and has a son of his own, “To Zion” tackles the power of choice and motherhood. While most of the tracks on Miseducation center on love and heartbreak, on this track Ms. Hill offers perspective on a different kind of love. The choir’s chant of “marching” propels the song to another level of intense devotion. Carlos Santana’s incredible guitar playing only deepens the sonic connection.
To Zion ❤
fantastic song. I love Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, Everything Is Everything….