With a Fugees reunion tour still enthralling the masses, there’s a rejuvenated focus on the trio’s groundbreaking entry into the hip hop world. The perfect melding of soul, reggae and conscious hip hop, the group’s debut album, The Score continues to have ripple effects throughout the music world. It remains a career highlight for everyone involved; however, perhaps two of their most beloved songs were covers.
Naturally, the most famous cover came when the band took on ‘Killing Me Softly’. That cover launched the band into the stratosphere, brokered their place in the middle of the mainstream and almost instantly made Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras icons of the decade. However, the band also took on another particularly brilliant cover when they gave a soaring rendition of Bob Marley’s classic song ‘No Woman No Cry’.
Lauryn Hill recently reflected on the recent reunion: “The Fugees have a complex but impactful history. I wasn’t even aware the 25th anniversary had arrived until someone brought it to my attention. I decided to honour this significant project, its anniversary, and the fans who appreciated the music by creating a peaceful platform where we could unite, perform the music we loved, and set an example of reconciliation for the world.”
Wyclef Jean also stated: “As I celebrate 25 years with the Fugees, my first memory was that we vowed, from the gate, we would not just do music we would be a movement. We would be a voice for the unheard, and in these challenging times, I am grateful once again, that God has brought us together.”
25 years on from that iconic album, and we are still enjoying the songs on it. The fourth single from the record was the truly outstanding Marley cover. The song was wildly successful and became a big chart hit in New Zealand, England and elsewhere across Europe. The song failed to chart in the US as it didn’t receive a physical release.
It’s quite easy to take on a Bob Marley song with some glee and gusto: a slow tempo and a joyful bounce and you’re halfway to greatness. However, The Fugees delivered an outstanding performance of it back in 1996, a performance that could rival the great man himself.
