The other afternoon while I was letting my iPod do it’s thing, this song came on and floored me all over again.  It’s from Lauryn Hill’s 2002 MTV Unplugged album, and it is, quite simply, such an incredible version of this song that I had to put it up here.  (As an aside, if you don’t have that album, you should make certain to get it.  Ms. Hill is at her most honest and broken-down that it’s literally painful to listen to her at times during the album.)

It’s been a long time since I considered myself religious, but I’ve never stopped considering myself a spiritual person.  That doesn’t really mean much, when I think about it more; I suppose everyone is to some extent.  But I connect with this song in such a powerful way that it serves to remind me of my own spirituality.  And on a random Wednesday afternoon in the middle of March, while it’s unexpected, it’s certainly not unwelcome.

Lauryn Hill – So Much Things To Say (Bob Marley cover) (Live) (mp3) from MTV Unplugged No. 2.0

This morning finds me squarely in 1998 with my musical choices.  The nostalgia and smell of Curve is killing me, but the songs are still surprisingly good.

If you don’t know what this project’s about, you’ve got a lot to catch up on.  You can do that here.

75. Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing) (mp3) from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (3:59) [Time Remaining: 646:09]

It’s impressive to me that – after her complete domination of music in the mid-to-late Nineties – Lauryn Hill was able to almost completely walk away from the entire scene.  She shows up now and again – her Unplugged album, her appearance on Dave Chappelle’s Block Party – but for the most part, she’s content to have left while on top of the industry.

There’s nothing, really, for her to continue to prove.  When I listen to “Doo Wop (That Thing),” it’s as gripping as when I first heard it.  It’s forceful and remains relevant, and it’s evidence of a woman who would have as much impact returning to the limelight, as she does out of it.

76. The Afghan Whigs – 66 (mp3) from 1965 (3:23) [Time Remaining: 642:46]

I don’t know much about The Afghan Whigs.  In fact, my experience with their music is limited to this song only.  But this song is so personally affecting that I almost don’t want to ruin my experience by hearing anything else.

Remember the beginning of Empire Records when Lucas is shooting craps in Atlantic City?  There is a woman who comes up to him after he doubles his money that says “Baby! You are sex!”  While it’s made unattractive by her delivery of the line, it could have been so much more.  This song delivers on the promise contained therein.