Lauryn Hill in ATL - 2011 tour

[Nylle23]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this board although I have been spying on all of you for a while. I’m really sorry to step on the toes of you veteran’s but I had to get this out.

Okay, I just got in from the Lauryn Hill concert (Atlanta). She was only an hour late...which I think is an improvement. It was awesome! She rocked it yo! She seems to be getting stronger with every show, and tonight was example of that. She sounded great. The band was still a little too loud but they seemed to respond to her direction quickly and take things down a bit to accomplish a more even sound.

When Lauryn stepped on stage, the crowd went into an all out frenzy. The reception she received was incredible! It went on for a while. Lauryn even got a little teary eyed. It didn't seem as though she expected such a response and seemed to be quite was really overwhelmed by it in the moment. She kept saying “wow” and shaking her head in disbelief. It was great to see. I got stuck watching for minute because the aura that woman carries is intoxicating. It was such a surreal moment.

I know that sounds O.D. but it really was like that. It's amazing how much swagger this 35 year-old woman with 5 children has. It's clear she has aged and looks as a wise woman, but on stage, she is 25 again. The energy is bananas.

One thing that caught my attention was the two huge crosses she had hanging from her neck (I have a theory about that one). I didn’t know she wore crosses. I’ve never seen her wear them before. And on Forever Loving Jah, she explained that when she says Jah, it means God too. Never heard say that before either. Although I thought that she said God in the first line of that song at the Charlotte concert. Just an observation.

Anyway, I digress. I was on the floor about three rows back and let me tell you, that whole first row showered Lauryn with gifts, notes, a framed picture of some sort, and other miscellaneous items. She seemed very appreciative. She even shook every outstretch hand in the front row before leaving the stage.

Of course the first song was Forever Loving Jah, and after the song she told us that she wanted to get comfortable and went and took her shoes off. That was funny. Ya’ll know she loves those pumps. Anyway, there was a little bit of bewilderment going on during the first few songs with the new arrangements and all. I heard a few people grumbling, some left, and some just kept going to get alcohol. But those of us who stayed were treated to a great performance and once she did Fugee La, it was over!! Everyone was in! One of my friends was up in the stadium seating and she said it was nuts up there as well.

I’m interested to see what the reviews will be like. According to my friend, she says she thought it was about 80/20…in favor of Lauryn.

Oh, and yeah, so I tried to get an interview with Lauryn tonight for a Georgia Public Broadcasting story. Well that was part of my cover. I’m really trying to interview her because she is the topic of my thesis. Anyway, I tracked down her road manager via Lauryn’s bass players (that was funny) and he basically said no (lol) because they have to know ahead of time what press will be in the building to arrange any such interviews. But he did give me the name and contact information of her publicist.

But the interesting thing was he told me that she would be back in Atlanta in a couple of months. I even confirmed it after I got the info from him but he didn’t tell me why she would be back in Atlanta.

I don’t remember her having another show here, anybody have any ideas about that one?

Anyhow, I will keep all of you posted on my adventures of getting to Lauryn. Okay, know this post is all over the place but it’s late so forgive me.

P.S. I’m glad to be on this board and look forward to further conversation about Ms. Hill.

[sengun]

Lauryn Hill's shows remind me of something I heard about Nina Simone. That Nina liked the money from the shows but never really wanted to perform them, and the audiences reaction would depend on how she performed. I feel it's partly the same with Lauryn, Although I don't believe she does these shows purely for money, I do think if the crowed is welcoming and encouraging she's at her best. Just a theory...

P.S Welcome to the bored Nylle23

[hi74]

Sorry fo quality video

Killing me softly

[Moderator]

thanks so much for that review Nylle23...i'm glad you've posted up your experiences with Lauryn...i'm sure the fans would love to hear more about them. I know i would

[ladona]

Welcome and thanks for the review Nylle23. I'm so very happy that Lauryn is getting more positive reviews. I'm pray that God continues to bless her. It seems like she has such a beautiful spirit. You all are making me jealous though. I had always planned on going to one of her concerts one day, but it may be sooner rather than later now. Lol, Lauryn is going to always be swaggerific!

[puma]

With the positive there will always be a negative. Is any of this stuff true Nylie23?? You were there so you can actually state whether this is bullshit or not. I feel like people like to exaggerate things.

Atlanta Concertgoers ‘Stomp’ Out of Lauryn Hill Concert

Let this be a fair warning to the few unsuspecting fans that troubled singer Lauryn Hill has left: she doesn’t care about you.
The 35-year-old narcissist left Atlanta concertgoers infuriated and unimpressed with her sold-out show at Atlanta’s Center Stage last night.
After the show, one fan, a well-connected industry insider, called me to say Hill’s Atlanta show was “very disappointing.” The source said local DJ Cash played old school music and kept the audience so crunk that when Hill finally rushed out onstage just after midnight, the expectations for a great show were high.

It was all love when the mother of 5 first hit the stage 3 hours late for her advertised 9 p.m. show
Lauryn promptly confused her fans by announcing that she was tired of “playing the same music night after night.” Hill told the shocked audience that she wanted to play something different. She then instructed her band to speed up the music, which rendered her classic hits unrecognizable.
The insider said Hill urged the audience to sing along, saying, “I want crowd participation.”
“But nobody could participate because NOBODY knew the music!,” said the fan. “Everybody was looking around like ‘WHAT SONG IS THIS???’”
“It was new music completely,” the frustrated fan continued. “The lyrics were the same, but you had to be on ecstasy to follow the music!”
“You can’t just say ‘I don’t wanna play my music night after night.’ That’s what we pay our money to hear! What do you think we do with your CD? We play the same songs. We don’t remix your CD!
“Everybody just stood there with their arms folded. Everybody was shaking their heads [wondering] are you THAT into yourself that you would think everybody would like this? Every single record she played she put a different spin on it. She changed the whole thing. It was a waste of money, and a waste of time. If she did another show in Atlanta, no one would come!”
To complicate the situation further, the fan said the band was way too loud. “We kept asking her to tell the band to turn the music down,” said the fan. “We couldn’t hear her.”
The source said other concertgoers booed the singer and then took their bags and purses and “stomped out” of the theater. “They didn’t walk out — they stomped out!” she emphasized. The insider eventually gave up and walked out as well.
Lauryn’s next stop on her tour is St. Louis tomorrow (Jan. 16). If you’re planning on attending her show at The Pageant Theater, just remember: you were warned.

sandrarose.com/2011/01/atlanta-concertgoers-stomp-out-of-lauryn-hill-concert/

[pippip262]

HELLLOOOOOOOO EVERYONE! I WAS AT THE CONCERT LAST NIGHT FRONT ROW!!! I gave Lauryn a picture of my tattoo that says "Selah" and she pointed to me nodded and smiled and she acted VERY appreciative. She was so wonderful. She apologized a lot of times for her lateness and her voice being raspy and SHE TOUCHED ME!!! SHE SHOOK MY HAND AND AFTER FOREVER LOVING JAH SHE SAID "We're gonna do some classics but we're gonna rearrange them, and i hope you like them" and I said "DO WHAT YOU DO!" and she said "What did you say?" and i repeated it and she asked me to repeat it again and I did and then third time I said it she said "Do what I do?" I said "YEA" she said "Alright then" and she started JAMMING!!!!! SHE SOUNDED PERFECT ALL NIGHT AND MY SISTER KEPT SAYING "SING LAURYN SING!!!!!" AND LAURYN WAS LIKE "I GOTCHU" NYELLE IS RIGHT! WHEN LAURYN CAME OUT SHE WAS VERY HUMBLE AND SHE TEARED UP it looked like she was shocked to see us welcome her with open arms. I spoke to her bg singers and they came and spoke, very sweet ladies. I didn't get many vids cuz they said no cameras so i didn't bring mine. me and my sis were second in line!! we were front row! she shared so much of herself with us! she was classy and humble and her voice was beautiful! she looked great and i met a lot of great ppl in line. the first five ppl there were: Kay, me and my sis, Omar, Chavon, and the sixth person was a guy we'll call "the Professor". everyone was so nice and Lauryn was so pleasant and genuine and she interacted wonderfully with the crowd. I really want to go to another of her shows. IT WAS MAGICAL! ALL this that i'm saying could be multiplied by a trillion and it still wouldn't convey just how awesome this show was! I cried so much because my mind now knows 100 PERCENT what my heart always knew that LAURYN HILL IS THE BEST!!!!!!!! PERIOD THE END!!!!!!! NO ONE DOES IT BETTER!!!! I THANK GOD FOR THIS CONCERT AND FOR LAURYN HILL! IT WAS TRULY A BLESSING! OH YEAH AND WHEN SHE GAVE HER RAG AT THE END ME AND A GIRL WERE FIGHTING OVER IT BUT I DIDN'T WANT LAURYN TO THINK BADLY OF ME SO I LET IT GO BUT I GOT A HANDSHAKE INSTEAD! SO I'VE ACTUALLY TOUCHED HER! I JUST CAN'T EXPRESS HOW MUCH THIS CONCERT MEANT TO ME IT HAS REALLY SET THE TONE FOR MY YEAR! I LOVE HER EVEN MORE NOW (LIKE THAT'S POSSIBLE) BUT IT GET A TRILLION STARS FROM ME! BEST CONCERT EVER!!!

[pippip262]

AND SHE DID NOT SAY THAT SHE WAS TIRED OF PLAYING THE SAME MUSIC EVERY NIGHT!! AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO BE PARTYING IT UP THE WHOLE NIGHT AND SHE WAS NOT CRAZY SHE WAS VERY HUMBLE AND CLASSY AND THAT'S A LIE! NO ONE BOOED LAURYN SERIOUSLY NOT ONE PERSON! AND SHE KEPT ASKING THEM TO TURN THE MUSIC DOWN AND SHE KEPT SAYING CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME OUT THERE? SHE SAID TURN IT DOWN I WANT THEM TO HEAR ME I WANT THEM TO FEEL IT. THE CROWD WAS ROCKING! I WOULD NOT LIE ABT THIS I WAS THERE I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND WHOEVER WROTE THAT BULL IS A LIE! LAST NIGHT WAS INCREDIBLE AND IT PISSES ME OFF THAT PPL JUST WANT TO MAKE IT HORRIBLE AND I BET IF LAURYN EVER CAME BACK TO ATL PPL WOULD B SHOVING TO GET IN THE DOOR AND LAURYN DID LIKE 5 REMIXES TO EXFACTOR AND ALL OF THEMWERE AWESOME. MY SIS LOVED THEM AND SHE IS NOT EVEN A SUPER FAN LIKE ME SO I KNOW LAURYN WAS BRINGING THE HEAT. WHOEVER WROTE THAT IS A LIAR PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

[hi74]

[Nylle23]

Sigh. Let me say this: that review was B.S.!!!

What I find interesting (and frustrating) is that 13 years later people are still coming to Lauryn Hill concerts expecting a regurgitated version of Miseducation. I am almost 100% positive these are the people who "stomped" out. That review was a complete exaggeration (and very mean spirited might I add).

As my review stated, there were people standing around bewildered at her new arrangements--particularly in the first half of the concert. There were also people who left. Did the energy change after the thunderous reception? Yes, but that was after certain people realized the the concert was not going to be MISEDUCATION LIVE. And the atlanta DJ had just turned that place into the club before she came on. Not to mention the first few songs in her set are more laid back. But like I said, once Fugee la hit, it was over. At least on the floor. My friend confirmed the same in her section too.

I also stated that the band was still a little loud and from what I can see Lauryn realized it at certain times and made adjustments. She even asked that her mic be turned up. Nevertheless, I heard her fine. So did my friend sitting up in stadium seats. Sidenote: She has a lot of changes in her show and every song seems to require different leveling and this seems to be the challenge.

And Lauryn was not 3 hours late. The doors opened at 8 and the venue (on there website) stated that she would not be on until around 11. The DJ came out at 11 and got the crowd ready. Then the bass players and the keyboardist joined them. The background singers followed and Lauryn hit the stage close to 12.

She never announced that she was tired of “playing the same music night after night.” What she said was, "we're going to do some classics, but a little bit different. We like to keep them interesting for us too." I believe she even asked, "is that alright?" And she says that at the beginning of every show.

And this "she doesn't care about her fans" business is just absurd. Just because she changed up her music, she doesn't care about her fan's. Weak argument. Especially since we have something called purchasing power. She was very gracious and talked directly to people in the crowd during the show. She laughed with them and as I mentioned shook every outstretched hand before leaving the stage. She even gave her sweaty little rag to them. Lol.

Here is an example of of what I mean by people wanting 1998 Lauryn and also bad "journalism."

Quote: “You can’t just say ‘I don’t wanna play my music night after night.’ That’s what we pay our money to hear!

First of all, she didn't say that. Second, Lauryn has been playing re-imagined versions of Miseducation for years now. So what that tells me about this fan (and those who walked out) is that he has not followed her, and had no idea of who lauryn is these days. People paid money for what they wanted to see, not for a 2011 lauryn hill show. And also, was the person who wrote this article at the concert? It does not seem like it. So how can you write a review from hearsay from one anonymous person. I question the journalistic integrity of this person.

Quote: “Everybody just stood there with their arms folded. Everybody was shaking their heads [wondering] are you THAT into yourself that you would think everybody would like this?

Not true because I was in the midst of a crowd who had hands up in the air and were jumping up and down with Lauryn. This is just another illustration that people really think Lauryn owes them something. Because she did not sound like the album, this means that she is THAT into herself? She has made it clear that she does not make music nor perform so that everybody will like it. Entertainers do that, not artists. Grrrr!

Quote: "Every single record she played she put a different spin on it."

Yes, heavily in the first half of the show. If this was an issue of wanting to sing along then there was Fugee La, Doo Wop, Ready or Not, Killing me Softly, and Turn your lights down low. They were all very close to the original versions.

Personally, I knew her new arrangements so I was singing along with every song. Lol.

The bottom line is this: was it a perfect concert on every accord? No. Did everyone get what they wanted? No. But did a lot of people enjoy the concert and share her energy? Yes. Her voice was solid and she is hitting those falsetto notes that she wasn't early on in the tour. What is really interesting about her is that when she REALLY chooses to SING, her voice is absolutely stunning. Ms. Hill is a natural performer. It was an awesome concert.

The concert was nowhere near what this reviewer is describing. People loathe her nerve. This reviewer is expressing the feeling of the group of people I just described.

Okay, this will be the last book I write. lol. Sorry got a little annoyed at that review.

[hi74]

Jan 15, 2011 22:10:17 GMT 1 @Nylle23 said:

Sigh. Let me say this: that review was B.S.!!!

What I find interesting (and frustrating) is that 13 years later people are still coming to Lauryn Hill concerts expecting a regurgitated version of Miseducation. I am almost 100% positive these are the people who "stomped" out. That review was a complete exaggeration (and very mean spirited might I add).

As my review stated, there were people standing around bewildered at her new arrangements--particularly in the first half of the concert. There were also people who left. Did the energy change after the thunderous reception? Yes, but that was after certain people realized the the concert was not going to be MISEDUCATION LIVE. And the atlanta DJ had just turned that place into the club before she came on. Not to mention the first few songs in her set are more laid back. But like I said, once Fugee la hit, it was over. At least on the floor. My friend confirmed the same in her section too.

I also stated that the band was still a little loud and from what I can see Lauryn realized it at certain times and made adjustments. She even asked that her mic be turned up. Nevertheless, I heard her fine. So did my friend sitting up in stadium seats. Sidenote: She has a lot of changes in her show and every song seems to require different leveling and this seems to be the challenge.

And Lauryn was not 3 hours late. The doors opened at 8 and the venue (on there website) stated that she would not be on until around 11. The DJ came out at 11 and got the crowd ready. Then the bass players and the keyboardist joined them. The background singers followed and Lauryn hit the stage close to 12.

She never announced that she was tired of “playing the same music night after night.” What she said was, "we're going to do some classics, but a little bit different. We like to keep them interesting for us too." I believe she even asked, "is that alright?" And she says that at the beginning of every show.

And this "she doesn't care about her fans" business is just absurd. Just because she changed up her music, she doesn't care about her fan's. Weak argument. Especially since we have something called purchasing power. She was very gracious and talked directly to people in the crowd during the show. She laughed with them and as I mentioned shook every outstretched hand before leaving the stage. She even gave her sweaty little rag to them. Lol.

Here is an example of of what I mean by people wanting 1998 Lauryn and also bad "journalism."

Quote: “You can’t just say ‘I don’t wanna play my music night after night.’ That’s what we pay our money to hear!

First of all, she didn't say that. Second, Lauryn has been playing re-imagined versions of Miseducation for years now. So what that tells me about this fan (and those who walked out) is that he has not followed her, and had no idea of who lauryn is these days. People paid money for what they wanted to see, not for a 2011 lauryn hill show. And also, was the person who wrote this article at the concert? It does not seem like it. So how can you write a review from hearsay from one anonymous person. I question the journalistic integrity of this person.

Quote: “Everybody just stood there with their arms folded. Everybody was shaking their heads [wondering] are you THAT into yourself that you would think everybody would like this?

Not true because I was in the midst of a crowd who had hands up in the air and were jumping up and down with Lauryn. This is just another illustration that people really think Lauryn owes them something. Because she did not sound like the album, this means that she is THAT into herself? She has made it clear that she does not make music nor perform so that everybody will like it. Entertainers do that, not artists. Grrrr!

Quote: "Every single record she played she put a different spin on it."

Yes, heavily in the first half of the show. If this was an issue of wanting to sing along then there was Fugee La, Doo Wop, Ready or Not, Killing me Softly, and Turn your lights down low. They were all very close to the original versions.

Personally, I knew her new arrangements so I was singing along with every song. Lol.

The bottom line is this: was it a perfect concert on every accord? No. Did everyone get what they wanted? No. But did a lot of people enjoy the concert and share her energy? Yes. Her voice was solid and she is hitting those falsetto notes that she wasn't early on in the tour. What is really interesting about her is that when she REALLY chooses to SING, her voice is absolutely stunning. Ms. Hill is a natural performer. It was an awesome concert.

The concert was nowhere near what this reviewer is describing. People loathe her nerve. This reviewer is expressing the feeling of the group of people I just described.

Okay, this will be the last book I write. lol. Sorry got a little annoyed at that review.

thank you for the true

[pippip262]

Jan 15, 2011 22:01:28 GMT 1 @hi74 said:

my hand is in this picture lol the hand with decorative sleeve that's me! She shook my hand right after this! i'll try to upload the pics my sister took!

[GUEST21]

Intro/Forever Loving Jah

www.twitvid.com/H4MRH

[pippip262]

Jan 16, 2011 0:33:27 GMT 1 @GUEST21 said:

Intro/Forever Loving Jah

www.twitvid.com/H4MRH

If you guys look closely she takes something from an audience member! it's me!! She's looking at a pic of my tattoo!

[guest21]

Ex Factor

www.twitvid.com/7TAKH