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Article for the online magazine hano.it. A story of the only Italian show of MS Lauryn Hill in Parma.

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We went to Parma for Lauryn Hill's only Italian date

In its first edition, the Cittadella Music Festival has already made itself known among the unmissable summer musical events, presenting a lineup that is varied. If the event began on June 21st with the music of Ennio Morricone and ended on Saturday with the electronics of Appart, Digitalism and 2manydjs, on Friday it was the moment of MS Lauryn Hill, the undisputed queen of R'n'B who chose Parma for her only Italian live. A tour, after years of sporadic appearances, organized in a year that is not accidental as it marks the twentieth anniversary of the publication of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, an unforgettable solo debut winner of numerous awards and a milestone in neo soul. The tour is in fact dedicated to the celebration of this anniversary.

But let's talk about the concert. The location is the Arena della Cittadella, a green space that gives the festival its name. Before the arrival of MS Lauryn Hill, her DJ had the fundamental task of warming up a very varied but above all comfortably seated audience. With the sun going down, thanks to a selection of classic R'n'B, reggae and hip hop pieces, and not a few incitements, most of the audience left the stands and seats to get closer to the stage and dance. Including us.

After the DJ set, it was finally time to welcome MS Lauryn Hill, who, accompanied by an instrumental intro, started the concert with Everything is Everything. A great start. Black hat, white dress that hides leopard-print leggings and basically no set design: just musicians, choristers and MC. Good music and good vibes for a one and a half hour concert which, like all beautiful things, seemed to last too short.

These are some of the moments to report: the participation on To Zion (in the studio version embellished by the featuring with Santana); the energy of Lost Ones, to remind us that Hill not only sings well, but she has always also known how to rap; the fun on the cover of Can’t take My Eyes Off of You, where the soul side reigns supreme instead; finally, the whole part dedicated to the Fugees.

Exactly, there was also room for the era prior to her solo debut. In fact, more than the celebration of a single album, it has been retracing an entire career, also dedicating a wide space to the singer's starting band with whom relations have not always been idyllic. Before starting this tribute, Ms. Lauryn Hill addressed the audience saying, “I've been told there are some Fugees fans here. I want to test you. I wanna test you out“.

And judging by the reaction of the audience, the fans passed the test! Ready or Not has been one of the best moments.

Big finale with Doo Wop (That Thing), letting the whole arena go wild. With her best known single, the concert ends after the last more soulful songs in which the voice, although not always perfect of the singer, was still extraordinarily engaging and very recognizable. MS Lauryn Hill thanked and left the stage and then returned a few minutes later, not for the encore, but to greet the audience in the front rows and sign not only autographs but whatever came within reach (albums, t-shirts, tickets, even a folding fan). Moving in time with the music.

But how does The Miseducation sound live… after 20 years? The answer is: impeccable, with pieces that in some cases become even more danceable (Killing me Softly is one of the most lively). If in 1998 the album re-defined a genre, today we realize how much The Miseducation... was fundamental for the artistic growth of other authors and musicians. It can be safely said that the album, and its live staging, are acquiring the status of a classic, which still sounds great despite representing a very specific moment in the history of R'n'B music.

This beautiful nostalgia operation has some interesting shows in store for the US tour. In fact, several artists will accompany MS Lauryn Hill, including her contemporaries, such as Busta Rhymes and Nas, and a new generation who most likely consumed The Miseducation... before becoming superstars themselves, such as M.I.A. and Santigold.

What can I say, if you are in the USA don't miss this concert, partying like it's 1998.

Photo by Michael Chacon on Unsplash