|
Post by Oprah on Sept 13, 2015 18:39:24 GMT 1
I was reading some of the twitter comments from this past concert in Atlanta, and from what I gathered Lauryn had the biggest crowd their for her performance. However, during the third song which was "mystery of iniquity" 2/3rds of the crowd started making an exit. Which made me wonder why, as recently performance wise Lauryn has been doing really well. Do you guys believe that Lauryn has outgrown her fanbase and that people can no-longer relate to what she is doing? Most of the complaints were as usual, "remixing songs." Do you think Lauryn should just take Prince's advice to Outkast on their comeback tour and 'Just give them the hits'. I know people would prefer McDonalds over fruits and vegetables; as it relates to music simple sing along songs over songs that make them think. But how much longer will people support when they want the Miseducation and not some remixed songs that according to one of her former band mates which is supposed to replicate Ethiopian music?
|
|
Jena
Junior Member
Posts: 111
|
Post by Jena on Sept 13, 2015 19:24:06 GMT 1
Truthfully, it's hard to say because I don't even know what Lauryn is trying to accomplish these days and I have no idea where her head is. I don't think she has "outgrown" her fanbase, I think she is just doing a bad job of managing expectations. If people knew going in that they were going to get experimental music or whatever, then that would take care of those complaints.
If she's touring for the money, then yes, Prince is right. If she desires to be able to make money touring for years to come, then I do feel she is skating on thin ice these days. I have considered that maybe she is purposely trying to put off her audience/fans for some reason. I don't know. I don't get it! lol
Generally speaking, I think it's easy to appease her audience and still express a new sound. How hard is it to perform the original version of the song for a verse or two and then come in with the remix? And really I don't understand why she doesn't just add new songs to her set(or catalog!) if she is so tired of singing the old ones. Then again, she hasn't sang those old songs in their original form in ages, so I don't even know why she is so tired of them. lol
If her goal is to spread a message then she's doing a bad job. The audience is agitated by the time she gets on stage, they get annoyed that they aren't hearing what they were expecting to hear, sound issues, then she spends half the show disconnected from her audience while she fusses at her crew. I don't think these people are leaving her show with any message.
What she's doing now just isn't working and it's not helping her legacy at all. The new thing has been people cutting off her sound mid performance - there was a time when nobody would ever do that to Lauryn Hill regardless of how late she was. This isn't the 50s/60s, if Nina Simone behaved badly, nobody knew about it until...2013? If Lauryn Hill does it, we all know about it before she even leaves the stage.
That's my 2 cents. Nowadays, when it comes to Lauryn, my line is "it is what it is." She's going to do what she wants, I just figure the bad feedback doesn't bother her. It may even be what she wants. Who knows? All of these "issues" seem easy to fix if she wanted to.
|
|
Jena
Junior Member
Posts: 111
|
Post by Jena on Sept 13, 2015 19:47:14 GMT 1
Speaking of Prince, I once read that he was at one of Lauryn's shows a couple of years ago and he left before she managed to come on stage. lol
That's the other thing. If she is doing this for marketing purposes, then she is doing a terrible job. Talk about a bad return on investment! She's spending all of this time and energy touring, you'd think she'd want to capitalize on it as much as possible. You know all kinds of celebs would've been at her shows and giving her all kinds of free publicity if she was coming correct. But they are not going to be sitting around waiting on her like her fans who've spent what amounts to a lot of money for them.
I don't know what to tell you. We know how she feels about consumerism so maybe this is just her anti-consumerism tour and her aim is to be as non consumable as possible? lol
She had gotten better at a point and I thought maybe she cared, but I don't know.
|
|
|
Post by Oprah on Sept 13, 2015 20:07:46 GMT 1
Truthfully, it's hard to say because I don't even know what Lauryn is trying to accomplish these days and I have no idea where her head is. I don't think she has "outgrown" her fanbase, I think she is just doing a bad job of managing expectations. If people knew going in that they were going to get experimental music or whatever, then that would take care of those complaints. If she's touring for the money, then yes, Prince is right. If she desires to be able to make money touring for years to come, then I do feel she is skating on thin ice these days. I have considered that maybe she is purposely trying to put off her audience/fans for some reason. I don't know. I don't get it! lol Generally speaking, I think it's easy to appease her audience and still express a new sound. How hard is it to perform the original version of the song for a verse or two and then come in with the remix? And really I don't understand why she doesn't just add new songs to her set(or catalog!) if she is so tired of singing the old ones. Then again, she hasn't sang those old songs in their original form in ages, so I don't even know why she is so tired of them. lol If her goal is to spread a message then she's doing a bad job. The audience is agitated by the time she gets on stage, they get annoyed that they aren't hearing what they were expecting to hear, sound issues, then she spends half the show disconnected from her audience while she fusses at her crew. I don't think these people are leaving her show with any message. What she's doing now just isn't working and it's not helping her legacy at all. The new thing has been people cutting off her sound mid performance - there was a time when nobody would ever do that to Lauryn Hill regardless of how late she was. This isn't the 50s/60s, if Nina Simone behaved badly, nobody knew about it until...2013? If Lauryn Hill does it, we all know about it before she even leaves the stage. That's my 2 cents. Nowadays, when it comes to Lauryn, my line is "it is what it is." She's going to do what she wants, I just figure the bad feedback doesn't bother her. It may even be what she wants. Who knows? All of these "issues" seem easy to fix if she wanted to. You stated everything I've felt for a while... Its like let her do her, and see if something changes. And quiet as its kept from speaking with some people in her crew songs like Black Rage, I had to walk, Fearless Vampire Killer, Guarding the gates etc are actually all recorded songs, their just not some acoustic songs that she performed on stage, they are actually recorded songs. So Lauryn is really doing what she wants to do.
|
|
|
Post by L.A.323 on Sept 13, 2015 20:16:07 GMT 1
Lauryn will be fine. I can't with some of y'all. She's stated over and over that she doesn't do this for money. And yes she's performed the songs in its original way. If you want to listen to them in its original form, put the cd/ipod on with the original release. Lauryn knows her Unplugged album went way over people's heads and obviously it still does today, which is WHY people will leave. Too stuck on bubble gum music. Vibrations too low. You wouldn't believe how many people have listened to her first solo release and STILL do not grasp the more complex and nuanced messages in those songs. So, I'm not surprised most people don't get her Unplugged album. I don't know what Jena is talking about, but there has been no BAD feedback as of late. And who cares, people are not going to like everything you do or say and she knows this, so you either deal with it or don't.
The Miseducation = content.
|
|
Jena
Junior Member
Posts: 111
|
Post by Jena on Sept 13, 2015 20:30:57 GMT 1
Lauryn will be fine. I can't with some of y'all. She's stated over and over that she doesn't do this for money. And yes she's performed the songs in its original way. If you want to listen to them in its original form, put the cd/ipod on with the original release. Lauryn knows her Unplugged album went way over people's heads and obviously it still does today, which is WHY people will leave. Too stuck on bubble gum music. Vibrations too low. You wouldn't believe how many people have listened to her first solo release and STILL do not grasp the more complex and nuanced messages in those songs. So, I'm not surprised most people don't get her Unplugged album. I don't know what Jena is talking about, but there has been no BAD feedback as of late. And who cares, people are not going to like everything you do or say and she knows this, so you either deal with it or don't. The Miseducation = content. What do you think she is doing it for?
BTW, you really think people in 2015 are going to Lauryn Hill concerts hoping for "bubble gum music?"
|
|
Jena
Junior Member
Posts: 111
|
Post by Jena on Sept 13, 2015 20:37:31 GMT 1
Truthfully, it's hard to say because I don't even know what Lauryn is trying to accomplish these days and I have no idea where her head is. I don't think she has "outgrown" her fanbase, I think she is just doing a bad job of managing expectations. If people knew going in that they were going to get experimental music or whatever, then that would take care of those complaints. If she's touring for the money, then yes, Prince is right. If she desires to be able to make money touring for years to come, then I do feel she is skating on thin ice these days. I have considered that maybe she is purposely trying to put off her audience/fans for some reason. I don't know. I don't get it! lol Generally speaking, I think it's easy to appease her audience and still express a new sound. How hard is it to perform the original version of the song for a verse or two and then come in with the remix? And really I don't understand why she doesn't just add new songs to her set(or catalog!) if she is so tired of singing the old ones. Then again, she hasn't sang those old songs in their original form in ages, so I don't even know why she is so tired of them. lol If her goal is to spread a message then she's doing a bad job. The audience is agitated by the time she gets on stage, they get annoyed that they aren't hearing what they were expecting to hear, sound issues, then she spends half the show disconnected from her audience while she fusses at her crew. I don't think these people are leaving her show with any message. What she's doing now just isn't working and it's not helping her legacy at all. The new thing has been people cutting off her sound mid performance - there was a time when nobody would ever do that to Lauryn Hill regardless of how late she was. This isn't the 50s/60s, if Nina Simone behaved badly, nobody knew about it until...2013? If Lauryn Hill does it, we all know about it before she even leaves the stage. That's my 2 cents. Nowadays, when it comes to Lauryn, my line is "it is what it is." She's going to do what she wants, I just figure the bad feedback doesn't bother her. It may even be what she wants. Who knows? All of these "issues" seem easy to fix if she wanted to. You stated everything I've felt for a while... Its like let her do her, and see if something changes. And quiet as its kept from speaking with some people in her crew songs like Black Rage, I had to walk, Fearless Vampire Killer, Guarding the gates etc are actually all recorded songs, their just not some acoustic songs that she performed on stage, they are actually recorded songs. So Lauryn is really doing what she wants to do. I like all of those songs. I wouldn't be mad if she released them on an album.
|
|
|
Post by dazonne on Sept 13, 2015 21:23:00 GMT 1
At this point, I think it’s time to accept that her shows will always be of mixed reviews (until she releases a new album that will give people where she is musically). Even if she hits that stage at the time printed on the tickets, I truly believe certain people will still complain because she is not performing “HER” art the way “fans” expect/desire from her. However, she is not just remixing her songs.....she is infusing musical gems that has probably inspired her musically as well. For instance take “Lost One”, she is incorporating Fela Kuti’s “Zombie”…..this is her artistic mind at work and she is finding some way to blend it into her set…..she is a musical historian! Hopefully most people like myself/or on this forum can appreciate her artistic vision, but based on reviews some people get it and others don’t as previously mentioned. But I think Lauryn is unbothered. Also, I’ve read people complaining that not only did she not perform songs from the Miseducation in its original form, but she is performing new songs with a guitar (the unplugged album) and she did not perform any of the hits from Sister Act….this is cringe worthy for me to read! These select individuals are truly not up to date with her musically and clearly stopped following her after the Miseducation era, so this is going to cause mixed reviews to pour in after each show. I have seen her 6/7 times from 2006-2014 and each show have been a greater experience!
|
|
|
Post by dazonne on Sept 13, 2015 21:36:05 GMT 1
By the way, I will like to add that Lauryn even during the Fugees era have always remixed her songs but I guess she was popping back then so it was accepted/well received!
|
|
|
Post by masdo 1 on Sept 14, 2015 11:50:44 GMT 1
I find it quite laughable that people flock to her shows and then complain about the remixes. Lauryn has been remixing songs for the past 10 years. So true Lauryn is a music historical so ahead of her time, so maybe the masses cannot grasp what she is doing. Some of the complaints are just outright silly and foolish, mob psychology period.
|
|
|
Post by Nigelahmad219 on Sept 14, 2015 19:57:53 GMT 1
I've loved some past/current remixes and some I have not. My only gripe is why not release new music? Some of the remixes are so different, that they mind as well be new songs. Don't get me wrong, I like some of those songs. The thing about her remixes is that she always keeps some element of the original song in the remix.I really enjoy Mystery of Inequity! But I think that sometimes people don't understand that Lauryn does it because she loves it. Remember there was a time she didn't, and she didnt perform at all. She could have made so much money, but decided not to. It takes a lot of work to make these songs new, but I always wonder why she doesn't just make them into new songs. The funny thing is Lauryn's career is BASED OFF REMIXES lol. The Score was a whole bunch of remixes, and the Mised was too. I just wish Lauryn released more music. That's one thing that'll always be a downer. Nina Simone, Prince, Bob Marley have catalogs of great music! But at the end of the day Lauryn seems the happiest she's been in forever. Go watch a 2005 (or even a 2007) performance. It's like two different people
|
|
|
Post by dazonne on Sept 14, 2015 22:05:22 GMT 1
I've loved some past/current remixes and some I have not. My only gripe is why not release new music? Some of the remixes are so different, that they mind as well be new songs. Don't get me wrong, I like some of those songs. The thing about her remixes is that she always keeps some element of the original song in the remix.I really enjoy Mystery of Inequity! But I think that sometimes people don't understand that Lauryn does it because she loves it. Remember there was a time she didn't, and she didnt perform at all. She could have made so much money, but decided not to. It takes a lot of work to make these songs new, but I always wonder why she doesn't just make them into new songs. The funny thing is Lauryn's career is BASED OFF REMIXES lol. The Score was a whole bunch of remixes, and the Mised was too. I just wish Lauryn released more music. That's one thing that'll always be a downer. Nina Simone, Prince, Bob Marley have catalogs of great music! But at the end of the day Lauryn seems the happiest she's been in forever. Go watch a 2005 (or even a 2007) performance. It's like two different peopleExactly! I'm just thrilled she has found that joy again because it's so evident now! I understand fans want and desire more including myself; but honestly speaking, seeing her in this positive frame of mind performing and connecting with the people on a sincere level is helping me cope without new music. I am finding a balance within myself as a fan with demands for product to see the greater picture on what is more important because it's obvious that she is happier now.
|
|
|
Post by L.A.323 on Sept 15, 2015 7:35:55 GMT 1
Lauryn will be fine. I can't with some of y'all. She's stated over and over that she doesn't do this for money. And yes she's performed the songs in its original way. If you want to listen to them in its original form, put the cd/ipod on with the original release. Lauryn knows her Unplugged album went way over people's heads and obviously it still does today, which is WHY people will leave. Too stuck on bubble gum music. Vibrations too low. You wouldn't believe how many people have listened to her first solo release and STILL do not grasp the more complex and nuanced messages in those songs. So, I'm not surprised most people don't get her Unplugged album. I don't know what Jena is talking about, but there has been no BAD feedback as of late. And who cares, people are not going to like everything you do or say and she knows this, so you either deal with it or don't. The Miseducation = content. What do you think she is doing it for?
BTW, you really think people in 2015 are going to Lauryn Hill concerts hoping for "bubble gum music?"
If you have to ask this question, you really haven't been paying attention to her of her music. They check out because they only listen to the beat, not the message. If it's too complex, ppl will check out and that is because they are stuck on packaged bubble gum music or they either understand it but don't want to deal with reality of what she's saying. Lauryn's music is not bubble gum, but I've noticed that the majority of ppl who have listened to that album still do not understand the more complex stuff.
|
|
|
Post by L.A.323 on Sept 15, 2015 7:37:57 GMT 1
At this point, I think it’s time to accept that her shows will always be of mixed reviews (until she releases a new album that will give people where she is musically). Even if she hits that stage at the time printed on the tickets, I truly believe certain people will still complain because she is not performing “HER” art the way “fans” expect/desire from her. However, she is not just remixing her songs.....she is infusing musical gems that has probably inspired her musically as well. For instance take “Lost One”, she is incorporating Fela Kuti’s “Zombie”…..this is her artistic mind at work and she is finding some way to blend it into her set…..she is a musical historian! Hopefully most people like myself/or on this forum can appreciate her artistic vision, but based on reviews some people get it and others don’t as previously mentioned. But I think Lauryn is unbothered. Also, I’ve read people complaining that not only did she not perform songs from the Miseducation in its original form, but she is performing new songs with a guitar (the unplugged album) and she did not perform any of the hits from Sister Act….this is cringe worthy for me to read! These select individuals are truly not up to date with her musically and clearly stopped following her after the Miseducation era, so this is going to cause mixed reviews to pour in after each show. I have seen her 6/7 times from 2006-2014 and each show have been a greater experience! Thank you, someone with some objectivity
|
|
Jena
Junior Member
Posts: 111
|
Post by Jena on Sept 15, 2015 23:40:09 GMT 1
What do you think she is doing it for?
BTW, you really think people in 2015 are going to Lauryn Hill concerts hoping for "bubble gum music?"
If you have to ask this question, you really haven't been paying attention to her of her music. They check out because they only listen to the beat, not the message. If it's too complex, ppl will check out and that is because they are stuck on packaged bubble gum music or they either understand it but don't want to deal with reality of what she's saying. Lauryn's music is not bubble gum, but I've noticed that the majority of ppl who have listened to that album still do not understand the more complex stuff. I was asking what do YOU think she is doing it for. And by "it" I meant touring. If these people like Lauryn's old music - which you say isn't "bubble gum", then why assume they are looking for "bubble gum" music just because they don't like hearing the remixes? Maybe nothing is wrong with them and they just don't like it?? Anyway, let's just say you're right and it's "too complex" and their "vibrations are too low" to understand... then what is the point of it? If it is about the message, it doesn't benefit to bring something "too complex" or too deep for the audience, does it? Does she want to just "preach" to the choir? You say it's not the money. So is it enjoyment? Well I don't know about that because she is so tired of her songs that she has started remixing them. Plus she has complained about having to pull herself up to perform as if it were a burden to her. So why do you think she is touring right now? (or dee267 or anyone else can answer) Because I really don't know.
|
|