When Lauryn Hill’s debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, dropped in 1998, it created a solo career that has lasted ever since. But none of the tracks on that original album were as well loved as Lauryn Hill’s Ex-Factor, a soulful mash-up of musical genres and flavors that influences artists 20 years after release.
But what happens when a musician takes this influential song and gives it her personal flair up front and center? The results have to be seen to be believed.
A beautiful cover
The video, by Instagrammer Farrah Camu, starts off with a simple title card telling you the name of the song and its original artist. A simple and effective mention to honor the work that spawned the beautiful cover to come.
You then notice the singer herself, a gorgeous woman seated on a couch with a guitar in hand. She starts right off playing the first notes of the song turning the original song into a guitar backed melody.
Farrah’s passion for music comes through in her facial expressions. Every high note is met with a big smile and every time the lyrics shift tone we can feel the emotion in her gestures and motions. The classic lyrics and memorable chorus is given brand new life with Farrah’s own artistry.
As the song picks up, it’s easy to fall for the singer’s charms and catch yourself swaying side to side. Some viewers even said they were taken back to the song’s original release with some preferring Farrah’s version over Lauryn’s and others enjoying both equally.
But finally, the song comes to an end as the melody falls away and Farrah looks away from the camera moments before the video cuts off. But what remains long after the video ends is a feeling of seeing something special that could last long after the video’s posting. It’s a lot like how Lauryn Hill’s original song had been sampled decades after by artists including Cardi B, Kehlani, and more.
If you want more
Comments for the original Farrah Camu video are almost universally in praise of the young singer. With many encouraging her to find a producer to get her into a studio so she can release her own EP albums.
If you check out her channel then this mass appeal and love shouldn’t come as a surprise. Farrah has over 20 videos showcasing her enchanting voice as she tackles on difficult songs with a panache that’s all her own. Some of her fans love her best when she takes on love ballads and romantic music, but there’s plenty to choose from.
Her videos also show a humble side to this creative woman, as each of them is recorded in, what we can presume to be, her home. Sometimes she’ll have a young man with her to handle the guitar duties while she focuses on belting out note after note of beautiful music. Her channel is definitely worth the visit if you love music and enjoyed what Farrah has done in her video.
There’s no telling how far Farrah’s career will go, but if her version of the 1998 Lauryn Hill classic is anything to go by, she’s an artist that you will want to watch. What did you think about her version of Ex-Factor?
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