From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“Killing Me Softly with His Song”
Single by Roberta Flack from the album Killing Me Softly
B-side	“Just Like a Woman”
Released	January 21, 1973
Format	7″
Recorded	1972
Genre	Pop
Writer	Charles Fox Norman Gimbel
Roberta Flack singles chronology
“Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow“ (1972) “Killing Me Softly With His Song” (1973) “Jesse“ (1973)

“Killing Me Softly with His Song” is a 1971 song composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel which has become a pop standard.^{[citation needed]} The song was inspired by a poem by Lori Lieberman, “Killing Me Softly with His Blues”, which she wrote after seeing a then-unknown Don McLean perform the song Empty Chairs live.

Song and cover versions

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 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”.

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. Hip-hop group The Fugees covered the song in 1996, 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 U.K., reaching number one and selling over a million copies. Propelled by the success of the Fugees track, the version by Flack was remixed in 1996 and topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Other major artists to cover the song include Herb Alpert, Engelbert Humperdinck, Frank Sinatra, Tori Amos, Alison Moyet, Eva Cassidy, Perry Como, Aretha Franklin, 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.

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

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 Stones list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

450) this.width=450″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/y_Mx6RHntHg&rel=1″ width=”425″ height=”355″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” wmode=”transparent” />