Here is another one.


All i have to say is, we have been fans this long, why start loosing faith now. We always get these whack stories that say these things, so don't loose faith...read the story...ms. hill says something that grabbed my attention, and makes me understand. ....read her quote.




Late start, new approach disappoint Lauryn Hill fans at Oakland concert
Lee Hildebrand, Special to The Chronicle

Friday, June 29, 2007

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The public meltdown of Lauryn Hill, which has been apparent for five years, moved further into the realm of the bizarre Wednesday night during a late-starting sold-out show at Oakland's Paramount Theatre. The 32-year-old New Jersey singer-rapper's 90-minute performance mixed new, unfamiliar material with hits from a decade past, most of them rendered unrecognizable by radical new arrangements and a blaring, poorly balanced sound mix.

Aural audience response was divided between cheers and boos. Others sat and stood in silence, their mouths agape at what they were hearing and seeing.

Her hair in an unkempt rust-colored Afro, Hill wore a green-and-yellow plaid jacket that appeared to be made of wool and an ankle-length black skirt, looking not unlike a bag lady one might encounter at a taco truck on International Boulevard. She held a microphone in her right hand and a black handkerchief in her left, frequently wiping sweat from her face as she paced the stage.

At one point during the show, the singer tripped and fell, landing flat on her backside. "That's what I get for wearing high heels," she said as she rose to her feet.

Only during Hill's version of Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel's "Killing Me Softly With His Song," which she recorded with the Fugees in 1995, did her ensemble of 10 instrumentalists (all from the Bay Area), a DJ and a quartet of female harmony singers become quiet enough for her voice to cut through clearly. A raspy tone, cracked notes, clipped phrases and melismas that meandered painfully off pitch demonstrated just how badly Hill's once-commanding pipes have deteriorated.

Most of the music, including old favorites such as "Ready or Not" and "To Zion," as well as newer material recorded locally last year but reportedly rejected by Columbia Records for being too uncommercial, was treated to highly syncopated arrangements drawing on Afro-pop and reggae elements. Few featured the backbeats with which fans of her older material are most comfortable, but rather a frenetically throbbing pulse driven by a three-man percussion section that included former Tony Toni Toné drummer Brian Collier. There's nothing wrong in experimenting with new rhythms; the primary problem was in Hill's slipshod presentation.

Some concertgoers who had paid as much as $89.50 for tickets were requesting refunds even before Hill hit the stage -- two hours and 15 minutes after the concert's scheduled 7:30 start and 80 minutes after the opening act, Jupiter Rising, had finished its set. This was an improvement, however, over club shows last summer in San Francisco and Santa Cruz at which her performances began more than two hours behind schedule. Other patrons started their exits during her first song, and the trickle turned to a flow after a speech late in the show during which the vocalist attempted to explain her new musical direction.

"When you're young, gifted and black -- and female -- you have to have a lot of endurance," she said, borrowing from the title of a song made famous by Nina Simone, a singer who'd had a somewhat similar meltdown more than three decades earlier.

"I can't fit into a stereotype that makes me comfortable for you," she added. "If that makes me feel uncomfortable to you, I need to find some new company."

Hill had drawn a line in the sand. With many of the disgruntled customers now gone, she continued on to no further boos. One suspects, however, that if Hill remains on her present unprofessional path, the company with grow thinner and thinner.

WoW! I am a huge admirer of Ms. Hill. And when I say that I don't mean just the "Miseducation Lauryn". I have been really blessed by her work before and after that.

But I have a hard time swallowing what appears to be blatant disrespect of her fans. I am a big believer in what Jesus said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". It's hard for me to believe that a woman who makes some of the outrageous demands that she does would tolerate such treatment for herself.

Her fans I would guess are mostly working people. They are not rich famous rock stars. Most I would imagine sacrificed for the joy spending some time with her. It is always wrong to take advantage of love. Its wrong to humiliate and abuse just because one is in the driver's seat.

How does she teach her children about respecting others? When you say a concert starts at 8 and show up at 10:30 isnt that a lie? Isnt that a masqerade? Or is keeping one's word no longer honorable?

I have been such a big admirer of Ms. Hill that others have grown tired of my speaking of her. But as a parent no matter how attractive or rich my child's significant other was, I would not advise them to ever accept bad treament. I feel the same with fans relationship to Ms. Hill. No matter how smart , talented and beautiful she is disrespect is not tolerable.

how many shows have you been to actually start at the exact printed ticket time?


almost every concert ive been to starts late..its normal.....is weird for someone to want the show to start at the exact printed ticket time....i mean your at a concert...have fun, relax, chill, have a drink!

Jesus..this whole late start time thing is nothing new...it happens...you know already...deal with it...get there later next time! You bought a ticket, your seat is guaranteed!


If i sound mad...maybe i am because im just tired of people trash talking ms. hill about how she does things, yet you already know how she runs her shows....it is what it is...

Man, honestly no disrpect intended to Ms. Hill or her fans. Please believe I have great respect for her. I've been to see her several times back in the day and always was blessed by what she gave.

But I am talking about some level af accountability. Of course shows start late. But you gotta admit this is ridiculous! What do you think about the questions I posed?

Everytime she performs in the U.S. she get's bad reviews. The only good reviews I've heard of her in the U.S. have been when she performed in NYC; remember the one at central park. I think when she does free concerts, people who actually like music go, and if they don't like it, then they can't complain cause they didn't pay. IDK, Ms Lauryn Hill is an enigma. I love her though. She's amazing!

Nah, I ain't got no problems with her being late... but she's so embarassing now.
Imagine if it was a performance to be broadcasted on national television ?
Something's clearly not right with her. And if her family cares about her, they should take action. We know she's been tru some very rough stuff, and shit happens to everyone.
I mean she can't even sing 3 songs without running out of breath. If it's true that she's on drugs/alcohol, she's endangering herself and it culd be fatal in the long run.
But this is a shame.
I have to read more reviews from her upcoming shows, to decide once and for all if I'm gonna go see her live this year.
Damn, this is soooo sad. :( :( :(

are u serious? <_<

serious as a heart attack. <_<

u're visiting this board every day to talk about Lauryn,and u don't want to see her live?

Not anymore.

Plus, according to many people she was sending off an uneasy vibe. It's just scary. :blink: :(
I would be too scared to be in the front row.

I am a Black American and I am going to tell it like it is. Lauryn only gets these types of reviews when she performs for an urban audience. Do you guys remember Vibe fest? The audience she has championed and fought for are not ready for the change Lauryn is embarking on. The biggest reason is the lack of understanding of our own rich musical history. What is happening to Lauryn is nothing new. It has happen time and time again. We have seen all of our greats over time performing to all white audiences. We only want to reclaim them long after they are gone or someone decides to put in an Oscar worthy performance about their life. Who do you think Ray Charles' audience was before his death? Who goes to see the Blues greats like BB King?

If you look at the reviews of Lauryns performances over the years people may complain about the last start times or the diva behavior, but the music always shines through. In short, Lauryn may have had a rough start in Oakland, but I am not worried about Lauryn. I know that the musical content that I have heard from her is not being match by the biggest selling artist male or female. Lauryn is a true genious. She just has to keep believing and be strong. She will always have an audience if she so desires.

I really hope Syb you're not serious at all...if you let a review scaring you,well girl you really disappoint me!!First:I think she isn't on drugs and alchol..'camon do you think she's Withney Huston?!Second:I was front row in Milan two years ago..the vibe was really really good!!Third:I'm sorry to say that,but american audience isn't able to accept who she's now in my opinion...when they go seeing lauryn hill they expect to see the Miseducation Lauryn,maybe it's for this reason that,always in my opinion,she seems more confortable with european audience...Fourth:every concert I've been in these years always started with 40-60 minutes late...excuse me girl,but you've never seen her live,maybe you can't judge just reading an interview of a disappointed fan that doesn't feel confortable with the new lauryn....really Sybille...you've disappointed me..I've never expected you saying these things....

Whatever, Lauryn's so unstable it's not even funny. I'd rather save my money and do something else. I'm still a fan, but I'm just not interested and waste my energy(travelling from france to amsterdam, which is 8 hrs) to go see her live anymore, at least until she can put up a decent show.
Now I MIGHT go see her in Nice, which is minutes away from where I'll be. But I'm not excited about it.
The worst thing is I finally found a friend who wants to go see her for the first time,and I know she might be disappointed. Oh lord.

Syb..sorry but...have you ever seen her doing a live show?...how can you say she can't put up a decent show?...her shows were more than decent!!!I can understand that you wanna save money but I don't understand your behaviour.....I was afraid too the first time I went to see her 'cause I heard nothing good about her..just a lot of shit on her!!!the concert was great!!...and if you think what you think well I suppose I understand nothing of you!!I really can't believe you let this review scaring you,and I also think that if you won't go to her live show you'll regret it....saying that..do what you want,but for me you're making a big mistake..maybe you're loosing the ms hill's fan part of you....I hope not!

Lauryn on Perezhilton.

http://perezhilton.com/?p=657

I have no words..I wonder when american people will stop..maybe people find a funny thing to destroy a woman that with many difficulties is trying to start her life again!!...you know..Alanis Morissette starts her shows always,and I say always,with 45minutes late and no one say nothing.The san francisco chronicles doesn't say that...Why? :censored:

Objective Review:

Why I Still Love L-Boogie



By Dana Phillips SF/Oakland Lifestyle Rep.

Pictures provided by Kat Wade



It was an unforgettable experience. It didn’t start on time, and boos were mixed in with the cheers that echoed throughout the crowd when Lauryn Hill’s voice came from behind the stage. On top of that, during the first few songs some people filed out from the theater. But for those, like myself, who have waited so long to see her live, who have grown up listening to her and supported her through all of her music, not just ’Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”, we got what we should have expected.



I have loved Lauryn Hill for as long as I can remember and even though her growth has been beyond the status quo and societal expectations of most celebrities, I’ve understood it, embraced it, and enjoyed the music that has come out of each and every of her many transformations.



For many concertgoers, it was a stressful experience. First off, it’s a Wednesday, so people have gone to work, maybe even left work early to attend, plus most have to go to work the next day. Although the tickets said the show started at 7:30pm, Hill didn’t grace the stage until almost 10 pm, which was an hour and a half behind a dreadful opening act. People were asking for refunds in the lobby, and getting into arguments with Paramount Theater staff.



For me and the majority of the concert attendees, the stress of before disappeared once we heard Hill’s voice from backstage. All is forgiven and we were ready for the experience of a lifetime. She looks unmistakably her; meaning for those who have grown up in the Bay Area, or know of the unique Bay Area culture, should think of those ’other college students” who spend their time on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley. But that’s her garb, and socks with high heels, although eccentric, are not particularly surprising.



She begins singing, a song that no one knows, up-tempo with reggae-style beats with talks about getting the ’heathens pon’ de wall”. Her voice is raspy and in desperate need for tea, and the band overpowers her voice so much that you can only guess the lyrics of the song. As she finishes her first songs, you can see how upset she is with the sound, and the feedback she was getting from the microphone.



The Paramount Theater in Oakland is known for horrible acoustics, however, there were people there who didn’t get the memo and have blamed Lauryn Hill for the poor sound, which was not her fault. At this point I am eagerly anticipating the music that will follow. I’m not disappointed as I hear her say to the band, ’let’s give them something they recognize”. The next two hours are unforgettable. She got some tea and water and her voice became clearer. I let go of my issues about the acoustics and enjoyed songs like, ’Zealots”, ’How Many Mics”, ’Ex-Factor”, ’To Zion”, ’Ready or Not”, ’Final Hour”, and so many more. In total she did around 15-20 songs, older ones than I expected and new ones that I loved.



Lauryn Hill was exactly what I expected her to be. Herself. Real, without any apologies. She is at a place in her life that most people don’t understand and never will. She is to most, ’weird”. She is a celebrity that refuses to cater to her audience. And that was what the audience didn’t get. They wanted her to be perfect, to put on a full fledged concert in the latest fashions, and be in full and unflawless voice. They have put her in a box that is reminiscent of the Lauryn Hill who released ’Miseducation”, which was almost ten years ago.



A little bit less than halfway into her set, she spoke to the crowd about where she’s been and what she’s gone through. And it came down to if you like her and her music, great and she appreciates the support, but if you don’t, oh well, pleasing everyone isn’t on her to-do list. Her encore was the most special part of the night for me. She came back and did 3 songs; ’Doo Wop”, ’Killing Me Softly”, and a new one called ’Lose Myself”. ’Lose Myself” is one of the most amazing songs I have heard in recent months. It’s so real, applicable to everyone.



In one song, she delivers the chance to not only understand Lauryn Hill more, but the chance to begin to understand yourself more and the processes of growth that we all do as we enter adulthood and continue to build ourselves into something that we know God would be proud of. She sang with so much heart and so much passion,



I was completely speechless and completely enthralled. And it was the perfect conclusion to the evening, although it wasn’t even the last song, and it sealed the deal on this experience for me. I left the Paramount Theater a happy, content fan. I left that concert with a better understanding and a bigger appreciation of Lauryn Hill, a.k.a. ’L-Boogie” and her persona as an unapologetic singer, lyricist, musician, and person.



If she was somewhere nearby performing live, I would jump to see her again, and if Columbia Records ever gives the green light to her new material, you will find me in line on the Tuesday it comes out with a few copies in my hand. I am a die-hard Lauryn Hill fan, and I unapologetically will support her to the very end.

^ Thank you so much for that!