Killing Me Softly with His Song

Infobox Single
Name = Killing Me Softly with His Song


Artist = Roberta Flack
Album = Killing Me Softly
A-side =
B-side = "Just Like a Woman"
Released = January 21, 1973
Format = 7" single
Recorded = 1972
Genre = Soul
Length =
Label =
Writer = Charles Fox Norman Gimbel
Producer =
Last single = "Where Is the Love" (1972)
This single = "Killing Me Softly with His Song" (1973)
Next single = "Jesse" (1973)

"Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a 1971 song composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel.

Song and cover versions

Roberta Flack version

Lori Lieberman was the first to record Fox and Gimbel's song, in 1971, but it became a bigger hit when covered by Roberta Flack in 1973. Her version won three Grammy Awards: 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 O'Jays, then returned to the top of the U.S. charts for another week. In 1999 Flack's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. [ [http://www.grammy.com/Recording_Academy/Awards/Hall_Of_Fame/#k Grammy Hall of Fame] ]

Infobox Single
Name = Killing Me Softly


Artist = The Fugees
Album = The Score
A-side =
B-side = "Cowboys"
"Nappy Season"

Released = May 1, 1996
Format = CD, Cassette, 12" vinyl
Recorded = 1995
Genre = Soul
Length =
Label = Ruff House
Writer =
Producer =
Last single = "Where Is the Love" (1972)
This single = "Killing Me Softly with His Song" (1973)
Next single = "Jesse" (1973)

The Fugees version

Hip hop group The Fugees covered the song in 1996 on their album "The Score", with Lauryn Hill singing the lead vocals. Their version became a massive hit reaching number two on the U.S. airplay chart, and had similar success in the UK, reaching number one and selling over a million copies, becoming 1996's best selling single in the country. Propelled by the success of the Fugees track, the version by Flack was remixed in 1996 and topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart. The Fugees version of the song is on the game Karaoke Revolution Volume 3.

Track Listing

#Killing Me Softly
#Cowboys
#Nappy Heads

Other versions

Other major artists to cover the song include Herb Alpert, Engelbert Humperdinck, Frank Sinatra, Tori Amos, Alison Moyet, Eva Cassidy, Perry Como, The Jackson 5, Mina, Anne Murray, Luther Vandross, Toni Braxton, Alicia Keys, Jaco Pastorius, The Plain White T's, The Youngblood Brass Band, Shirley Bassey, John Holt and Usha Uthup.

In 1975, an instrumental version of "Killing Me Softly" served as the main musical theme of the film "The Drowning Pool", starring Paul Newman. Charles Fox received credit as composer and conductor.

R&B artist Al B. Sure was the next to cover the song in 1988 on his debut album "In Effect Mode..." and experienced some success with it. He was voted the top new Male R&B solo artist in 1989.

A live instrumental version was recorded by Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers in 1998.

Popular culture

The song was prominently featured in the 2002 film "About a Boy" in which the boy of the title, Marcus, is ridiculed by classmates for singing the song, a favourite of his mother's, at his school talent show because of its feminine associations and its romantic, emotional lyrics.

In 2006 the song became a popular football chant with Irish soccer team Shelbourne F.C. with the lyrics changed to "Dillon Me Softly with His Song" regarding former defender Sean Dillon. The chant has since followed Dillon to his new club Dundee United F.C..

Flack's version ranked #360 on "Rolling Stone"'s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Flack's verision also ranked at #82 on "Billboard's Greatest Songs of all time." [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-titles-90.shtml]

Cover versions in other languages

Charts

References