Music Critic Soliyana Pellicer Alemayehu attends Lauryn Hill’s Manchester show
I had the incredible opportunity of witnessing Lauryn Hill & The Fugees at Manchester Co-op Live on October 12th. The buzzing atmosphere reached its peak when DJ Reborn, the supporting act, reassured the crowd that Ms. Lauryn Hill was in the building. At that moment, the dream of seeing her perform live became a reality for all of us eagerly waiting. The stage design was simple yet visually striking. Umbrellas were scattered around the stage, creating a symbolic and intriguing aesthetic. Around 9:30 p.m., Lauryn Hill made her grand entrance with an umbrella of her own. Her presence alone set the tone for an unforgettable evening.
Her voice was as strong and soulful as ever, reminding everyone why she remains such an influential figure in music.
Lauryn Hill’s performance carried a powerful message of love, unity, and freedom. Themes that have been central to her artistry throughout her career. Her music transcended generations that night, with a diverse audience ranging from children to seniors. It was a testament to how deeply her work connects with people across all walks of life. The first half of the set was a celebration of her iconic album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. She opened with the classic ‘Everything is Everything’, instantly captivating the crowd. Despite some technical malfunctions, such as the occasional flicker on the left screen, the show never lost its momentum. Lauryn Hill’s powerful stage presence and commanding vocals more than made up for any minor glitches. Her voice was as strong and soulful as ever, reminding everyone why she remains such an influential figure in music.
Throughout the night, Lauryn Hill performed a few remixes of her original tracks, adding a fresh twist while preserving their emotional depth. Songs like ‘Ex-Factor’ stood out, with Lauryn Hill pouring raw emotion into her performance, mesmerising the audience with her ability to convey vulnerability and strength in equal measure. Her stage presence was magnetic, keeping everyone hooked as she weaved through her set. A particularly moving part of the concert came during her performance of ‘To Zion’, where Lauryn Hill’s gift for deeply personal storytelling truly shone. Accompanied by a heartfelt slideshow of photos of her son, Zion Marley, this moment captured the essence of her album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill — an album rooted in raw emotion and life experiences. The moment became even more unforgettable when Zion joined his mother on stage, performing his song ‘Best of Me’ and many others.
Her set was a masterclass in storytelling, blending personal experiences with universal themes, leaving the audience deeply moved.
Later in the night, Lauryn Hill energised the audience with her hit ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’ before diving into a nostalgic journey through her Fugees classics. The appearance of Wyclef Jean electrified the crowd, and together, they delivered fan favourites from the renowned album The Score, such as, ‘Ready or Not’ and ‘No Woman, No Cry’, creating a magical, communal atmosphere. They delved deeper into the album, performing unforgettable tracks like ‘Killing Me Softly’ and ‘Fu-Gee-La’. As Wyclef commanded the crowd to “get low,” the audience followed his lead, lowering themselves just as the opening lines of ‘Fu-Gee-La’ — “We used to be number 10” — filled the venue, making the entire crowd move as one. Lauryn Hill closed the show with YG ‘Praise Jah in the Moonlight’. A fitting end to an extraordinary performance and night. Her set was a masterclass in storytelling, blending personal experiences with universal themes, leaving the audience deeply moved.
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