Next up Lauryn Hill - “Black Rage (Sketch)”. Number 88
Black Rage is a cover of “My Favorite Things” from the Sound of Music. Seriously.
The words are changed, like Weird Al, but sad instead of funny. The fundamental tune is obviously very solid, it was the foundation tune for one of the more successful and enduring Broadway musicals of all time. Lauryn Hill does a great job with her delivery. The instrumentation also works well, it’s a mix of minimal and understated guitar strumming with a few whumpwhumpwhump effects and some clickety drum beats. You wouldn’t expect those two elements to work well together but they do.
The lyrics are generally pretty solid as far as politically motivated songs go. Some might find them too didactic, but I didn’t get that feeling myself so maybe it’s not really a valid worry. One nit-pick, right at the very start of the song, she says black rage is founded on two thirds a person. In fact, historically blacks were three fifths a person, which is slightly less than two thirds, but perhaps she was feeling charitable towards the founding fathers.
Message aside, this is a good song. It just sounds goods when you listen to it. I’ve looped it a lot more than would be strictly needed to get a sense to write this review.
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