Today I saw Ms. Lauryn Hill in concert for the second time this year. Strange, because up until hearing that she’d play Rock the Bells, Ms. Hill was an afterthought for me. Granted I frequently return to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as a brilliant and comforting album but as a performer and public figure, Ms. Hill’s indefinite hiatus effectively erased her celebrity from my short-term memory. I assume this is what she wanted, to be removed from the media’s consciousness and watchful eye. But, even as fans often recall Ms. Hill as the preeminent female musician of the 90s, her self-imposed exile came at the cost of her legacy. While some acclaimed musicians maintain a constant presence in the life of their fans (see: Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, and, for better or worse, Michael Jackson), Ms. Hill seemed content to leave her mark and move on with her life, as a mother and private citizen.
Now Ms. Hill is back, either due to personal desire, a need for money, both or wild card. My guess is the latter. You can’t go wrong by guessing wild card when it comes to Ms. Hill. (more…)
Playtonic Dialogues 