While Julie Andrews’ version of The Sound of Music’s “[These Are a Few Of] My Favorite Things” may be all smitten, mittens, strudels, snickerdoodles, poodles, and noodles; Lauryn Hill’s rendition of the melody is certain one to check out—if you haven’t already.
They (well…I do) say music is universal and timeless. And the beauty in music tends to put the mind to sleep and either moves our bodies or opens up our hearts.
Certainly, a lot of people were moved by the incidents of the past couple weeks and too-so was Lauryn Hill—moved by the killing of 18 year-old Mike Brown of Ferguson Missouri.
Other rappers who have extended their voice and/or presence are J. Cole, Nelly, and Talib Kweli just to name a few, along with actor Grey’s Anatomy actor Jesse Williams .
Currently on tour and unable to lend her presence to the city of Ferguson, Lauryn Hill took the time out to lend her voice-in song-to let the people know that theirs indeed, was heard.
Via MTV Unplugged, and throughout the Internet, Lauryn has recorded lots of music since her last studio album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” (1999). She chose to offer a “sketch” of her song “Black Rage” in spirit of understanding + identifying with the oppressed, and dispirited during this time.
“An old sketch of ‘Black Rage,’ done in my living room,” captioned, when she re-released the tune that’s she’s performed for some years now however—befitting of what’s going on here of late. “Strange, the course of things. Peace for MO,” she expressed.
Although “Black Rage” is set to the melody of the whimsical of The Sound of Music’s “[These Are a Few Of] My Favorite Things,” by contrast, Lauryn sings from the heart; about the not so many “favorite things” that are more than a “few”—and instead, [are] abundantly not so favorite in the Black community who would rather do without [those “things”] however, are often times forced to cope while trying to live and stay alive each and everyday in spite of.
For many, what happened in Ferguson is not just a “Black” problem-it’s largely a tragedy and a problem for humankind.
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