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I cant remember when I first heard this song, just that it always has touched my heart. Beautiful song.
Beth
The first time I heard this song, I was driving home on a moonlit night, listening to the radio. When Roberta Flack began to sing, I nearly drove off the road in my distraction over the elegance and what I call "undertow" of the lyrics.
Where were you when you first heard "Killing Me Softly?" And what were you doing? What was your reaction? Why do you think this song resonated with you?
Deb Gallardo
Roberta Flack studied music at Howard University and taught music in the District of Columbia Elementary School system. My father is a retired carpenter as he was working in an elementary school he heard a beautiful sound. He followed the sound to the music room where he heard and saw Roberta Flack for the first time singing and playing the piano for her students. This was before she recorded her first album. My father is a big fan and every time as a kid when she came on the radio I heard this story again and again and again; so I’m sharing it with you. It’s a great song. Hopefully you will like this video clip which displays the lyrics of this song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqss0y3I12o
This song was rumored to be a tribute to songwriter Don MaClean of American Pie fame. He returned the favor with a tribute song to her, kind of a rollicking tune but not nearly as great as "Killing Me Softly." Don't know about everyone else but I also loved the flipside of this record, "Jesse."
Thanks for the great video, Al. Her voice is fabulous, even live.
Al, I loved this story about your dad. Thanks for sharing not only it but also the video of her singing it. I'm listening to "The First Time Every I Saw Your Face," another of my faves, also on YouTube.
Thanks for all the comments, everyone!
I would have to say that I haven't heard a Roberta Flack song I did NOT like. LOL.
Deb
Oh, this is my favorite song, too. It's so gratifying to see how many other people feel the same way! Thanks for the video, Al. "Killing Me Softly" has such a haunting quality about it, almost other-worldly.
Lovely choices -- Roberta Flack's voice is as smooth as silk. And the lyrics of those particular songs touch the soul.
This song was originally done by Lori Lieberman and she was the first to record the Fox and Gimbel song, in 1971, but it became a bigger hit when covered by Roberta Flack in 1973. It was based on a poem Lieberman wrote after seeing Don McClean of American Pie fame in concert. Flack's version won 3 Grammys: Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female Performer and it was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 4 weeks. It was replaced by "Love Train" by the The O'Jays. "Killing Me Softly" returned to the top of the U.S. charts replacing "Love Train".
You should try out Lieberman's version also. It has more of a Judy Collins feel to it and although different than Roberta's, I believe it has it's own special beauty. Flack's is more soulful while Lieberman's is more on the folky side! Its all good!
