Thought for May 3, 2013

POEM: Inconsistencies

Inconsistencies are a constant
but background checks are non-existent
no level playing field
but lots of underhanded evil deeds
there seems to be no end in sight
the people don't even want to fight
but as more things come to light
we're seeing that living is tight
and every night
the plunderers are out to get us
in high and low places
there's no one to trust
change is in the people's hands
change may have to become
the plan
and when I say change
I mean for the better
cause I what see
needs more than a letter
and what I know is that
it can't continue
we have to raise our morals
and fix the issues
the unfinished business
and petty nonsenses
and the broken cookie jar
and that's just the start
but the real start
starts with you

© Linette Rabsatt 5-1-2013

Lauryn Hill's Hit Album: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill is a powerful lyricist and singer and her first album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, gained acclaim with hits like "Ex-Factor" and "To Zion."

In 1998, Lauryn Hill (http://www.lauryn-hill.com/) released her first solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill with Ruffhouse Records. There are a total of sixteen songs on this album including two bonus songs "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" and "Sweetest Thing Mahogany Mix ." "Ex-Factor," "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and "Everything is Everything" are some of the popular songs from this album. Hill's official site shares that "Lauryn Hill's solo debut sold 8 million copies in the U.S., spawned 4 top ten singles, and garnered Hill five Grammy (http://www.grammy.com/) awards." The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was written and arranged by Hill.

Lauryn Hill Started with The Fugees

Lauryn Hill's voice was firstly widely recognized through her singing with Wyclef Jean and

Pras in The Fugees. They delivered the hits "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready Or Not." Hill was also recognized for the song "Sweetest Thing" which was featured on the soundtrack from the film Love Jones starring Nia Long and Larenz Tate (http://www.larenztate.com/). Her stunning

dark face and afrocentric hairstyles also caught attention as she landed on the covers of Time and Rolling Stone.

The Mis-education in the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

The cover of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill features a sketch of this talented R&B and Hip Hop artist. A wooden pencil lays flat on both the front and back cover of the CD. Hill ties in her mis-education further with the classroom themed interludes between the songs. A school bell rings and a roll call starts off the "Introduction" of this powerful album. Names are called and every student answers until "Lauryn Hill" is called three times with no answer. The classroom setting is continued at the end of "Lost Ones." The teacher shares that he will write letters on the board and the students recite the letters "L-O-V-E". They talk about songs about love and mention Kirk Franklin's song "Love" and a song from the movie Titanic. The discussion continues at the end of "To Zion," "Doo Wop (That Thing)," "When It Hurts So Bad," "Forgive Them Father" featuring Shelly Thunder and "Every Ghetto, Every City."

Top Hits From Lauryn Hill First Solo Album

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill features artists such as Mary J. Blige (http://www.mjblige.com/) and D'Angelo. This album can be considered a cross between soul, R&B, Hip Hop and a hint of jazz. Some songs have live instruments in the recording including "To Zion" featuring Carlos Santana and "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" featuring the Indigo Quartet.

• "Nothing Even Matters" featuring D'Angelo: "Nothing Even Matters" has a soul and jazzy feel and powerful lyrics that sing about love. "I sometimes have the tendency / to look at you religiously" are lyrics sung by D'Angelo. Hill assures her lover that no natural catastrophe or the threat of unemployment could change her feelings towards him.
• "Ex-Factor" is an Ode to the Exes: Lauryn Hill sings the lead and background vocals on this emotional song. "Ex-Factor" is a painful yet expressive song that sings about breaking up. "When I try to walk away, you hurt yourself to make me stay" and "cause no one's hurt me more than you / and no one ever will" are examples of the lyrics. "Ex-Factor" contains a sample from Wu-Tang Klan (http://www.wutang-corp.com/)'s "Can It All Be So Simple." Wu-Tang Kan's song was originally sampled from Barbra Streisand (http://www.barbrastreisand.com/us/home)'s "The Way We Were" which was written by Marvin Hamlisch and Alan and Marilyn Bergman (http://www.alanandmarilynbergman.com/).
• The Title Track "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill": "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" is a deep song about finding oneself. Her words "And every time I try to be / What someone has thought of me / So caught up, I wasn't able to achieve" show personal struggle. The lines she repeats "I made up my mind to find my own destiny" reflect that through the soul searching, the resolution was made to fend for herself to live as she chooses.
• "To Zion" is a Song to Lauryn Hill's Son: In the 'Shout Outs & Thank You's' of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Hill states "Zion (you delivered me)!!! My joy and my light, Mommy loves you." Hill paired with Carlos Santana on the guitar to present this inspiring song about the love for her son, Zion. Her chorus is simply "the joy of my world is in Zion" in expressing her love for her son.

Lauryn Hill is multi-talented as she can sing, write and arrange music. She is an appreciated and loved artist. Since her release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998, she released MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 in 2002. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which won five Grammy awards, will remain coveted by many upcoming artists and loved by millions of fans because of its success and timelessness.

POEM: It's About You

What do you want for yourself
Do you want to be last
or the very best
are you contented
with the minimal
or can you take it
to the next level
what may depress you
should be your inspiration
because you'll only get
elation
when you have truly
surpassed those
difficult challenges
until you know
what it means to persevere
you'll never appreciate
the joy what hard work can give
so do something
for yourself
get off the lazy shelf
and renew your mind
and refresh your thinking
evoke a new awakening
and do something
for yourself

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The Five Adjectives I Like for Me

There are several adjectives I would like people to use to describe me. Of course, this means that I have to interact and communicate with them in some way.

1. Consistent.
If I act strange, let me be consistent at it. I am just 'me'. I am consistently hardworking, driven and straight-up.

2. Humorous
I do love a good joke and I try to throw my little joke once in a while too. However, preferably not at anyone's expense.

3. Straight-up
I'm getting better at that every day. If I am not going to do something, I am not. I don't bend easily and I stand firm on my opinion/thoughts. Of course, this standing firm is after I have carefully weighed the situation. I'm not one of the those persons who just jump and say no.

4. Helpful
I try to be but to a point. People like to use you when they know you can do things and I can't stand lazy people - refer to point #3.

5. Honest
I try to be but there are times when something may be omitted.

I want to have good qualities like everyone else and I aspire to do the best. I encourage you to do the same.

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Email, Social Media and Those Games

Google upgraded its mail and I am trying to get accustomed to it. I like the little pop-up for composing mail. I find it harder to locate the chat feature but that's not so bad because chatting can be distracting. I'm one of those people who have turned off my Facebook chat. I hardly open my Hotmail and I also turned off the Yahoo chat.

I'm sorry but I'm just not into that anymore - it's way too distracting. Imagine those people with all the apps, BBs, bleeps and blips all at one time?! I'm still pulling it simple. I love my social media but I can't be joining everyone other thing. And don't get me started on the games that are tied into social sites.

I started off with Farmville - yes, I did. Then I just got fed up! I like my MSN games because there are no stipulations for me to invite anyone to play and I get my badges if I want to try to get them. There's no pressure and no need to involve anyone else.

Everything is so linked today. When I post on my blog, there are people in my circle who will get the notification. Then I post to Facebook and then on Twitter. I love the idea of this. This is technology at its best linking us all together.

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Miss Teen Diva 2012 Encourages All to Break the Cycle of Child Abuse

Miss Teen Diva 2012 Encourages All to Break the Cycle of Child Abuse
Photo Credit: Camille Merry