22 min listen
"Killing Me Softly With His Song," as sung by Lauryn Hill, Roberta Flack, & Lori Lieberman
FromStrong Songs
"Killing Me Softly With His Song," as sung by Lauryn Hill, Roberta Flack, & Lori Lieberman
FromStrong Songs
ratings:
Length:
60 minutes
Released:
Aug 11, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
It's not uncommon for a song to be written for one artist, only to become widely known after being recorded by another. It's less common for a song to have yet another rebirth decades later. That's just what happened with "Killing Me Softly with His Song." Originally inspired by Lori Lieberman's profound experience at a 1971 Don McLean concert, Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox's song underwent two dramatic reinventions, first by soul titan Roberta Flack in 1973, and then by Lauryn Hill and her band Fugees in 1996. In this episode, Kirk dives into all three versions, looking to better understand how each singer put her own spin on what was already a classically strong song.Written by: Music by Charles Fox, lyrics by Norman Gimbel with uncredited contributions by Lori LiebermanRecorded by: Lori Lieberman (1972), Roberta Flack (1973), Lauryn Hill & Fugees (1996)Albums: Lori Lieberman (1972), Killing Me Softly with His Song (1973), The Score (1996), A Thousand Dreams (1995), Truly (2022)ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED:"She sang ‘Killing Me Softly’ before Roberta Flack. Now she just wants you to hear her side of the story," by Geoff Edgers for the Washington Post, 2020"Lori Lieberman comes to terms with 'Killing Me Softly'" by FaceCulture, 2010"Empty Chairs" by Don McLean from American Pie, 1971"Bonita Applebum" by A Tribe Called Quest from People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, 1989OUTRO SOLOIST: Joey BrinkJoey Brink is University Carillonist and Professor of Carillon at the University of Denver, where he performs daily on the 65-bell Williams Tower. An award-winning performer and composer, he has released two albums for carillon and performed widely across North America and Europe. Watch him record his solo on YouTube and check out his site at joeybrink.com.----LINKS-----SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Paypal | Patreon.com/StrongsongsMERCH STOREstore.strongsongspodcast.comSOCIAL MEDIAIG: @Kirk_Hamilton | Threads: @Kirk_HamiltonNEWSLETTERhttps://kirkhamilton.substack.com/subscribeJOIN THE DISCORDhttps://discord.gg/GCvKqAM8SmOUTRO SOLO PLAY-A-LONG:https://soundcloud.com/kirkhamilton/strong-songs-outro-music-no-soloSTRONG SONGS PLAYLISTSSpotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music--------------------JULY 2023 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSCatherine WarnerDamon WhiteKaya WoodallDan AustinJay SwartzMiriam JoySEAN D WINNIERushDaniel Hannon-BarryAshley HoagChristopher MillerJamie WhiteChristopher McConnellDavid MascettiJoe LaskaKen HirshJezMelanie AndrichJenness GardnerJeanneret Manning Family FourDave SharpeSami SamhuriAccessViolationRyan TorvikElliot Jay O'NeillAndre BremerMark SchechterDave FloreyJULY 2023 HALF-NOTE PATRONSCallum WebbLynda MacNeilDick MorganZach WamplerBen SteinSusan GreenSean MurphyJake YumatillaAlan BroughRandal VegterGo Birds!Jeff SpeckSamuel MillettWhit SidenerChance McClainRobert Granatdave malloyTim RosenwongNick Gallowayjohn halpinPeter HardingDavidMeghan O'LearyJohn BaumanDax and Dane HuddlestonMartín SalíasTim HowesStu BakerSteve MartinoDr Arthur A GrayCarolinaGary PierceMatt BaxterGiantPredatoryMolluskLuigi BocciaRob AlbrightE Margaret WartonCharles McGeeCatherine ClauseEthan BaumanRenee DowningKenIsWearingAHatJordan BlockAaron WadeTravis PollardJamieDeebsPortland Eye CareCarrie SchneiderRichard SneddonJulian RoleffDoreen CarlsonDavid McDarbyWendy GilchristElliot RosenLisa TurnerPaul WayperBruno GaetaKenneth JungAdam StofskyZak RemerRishi SahayJason ReitmanAilie FraserVonNATALIE MISTILISJosh SingerPhino DeLeonAmy Lynn ThornsenAdam WKelli BrockingtonStephen RawlingsVictoria YuBrad Clarkmino caposselaSteve PaquinDavid JoskeEmma SklarBernard KhooRobert HeuerMatthew GoldenDavid NoahGeraldine ButlerRichard CambierMadeleine MaderJason PrattAbbie BergDoug BelewDermot CrowleyAchint SrivastavaRyan RairighMichael BermanOlivia BishopJohn GisselquistLinda DuffyLiz SegerEoin de BurcaKevin PotterM Shane BordersDallas HockleyJason GerryNathan GouwensLauren ReayEric PrestemonCookies250Damian BradyAngela LivingstoneDavid FriedmanSarah SulanDiane H
Released:
Aug 11, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Five Albums That Shaped Me: Strong Songs now has a Patreon! Learn more about how you can support the show here: https://patreon.com/strongsongs. Kirk gets his Patreon pitch out of the way up front, then lists five albums that have shaped him as a musician over the years, talking a little bit about why each one is great. There could've been like a hundred different albums on this episode, but hey, let's start with five. Those albums are: -- Frank Zappa, The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life, 1991 Listen/Buy: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify -- The Cardigans, First Band on the Moon, 1996 Listen/Buy: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify -- Stan Getz, Stan Getz and the Oscar Peterson Trio, 1958 Listen/Buy: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify -- Spacehog, The Chinese Album, 1998 Listen/Buy: Apple Music | Amazon | Spotify -- Maria Schneider, Allégresse, 2000 Listen/Buy: Apple Music | Spotify | Maria Schneider's Website ———————————— NEWSLETTER/MAILING LIST Sign up for Kirk's mailing list to start ge by Strong Songs