The song that made Roberta Flack want to sing
Roberta Flack stands out as a highly knowledgeable vocalist in contemporary times, recognised for her mastery across jazz, R&B, soul, and folk genres. Her foundation in classical music is evident in many of her compositions, skilfully weaving elements from the classics into the melodies of her songs.
Her fusion of classical techniques into modern music sometimes led critics to label her compositions as dull, overly calculated, or lacking vitality. However, the intricate musicality within her songs remained a pivotal aspect of her production. Her distinctive approach to music set her apart from most of her peers during that era.
Some of her notable singles include ‘The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face’, ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’, ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’, ‘Where Is the Love’, and more. Among these, ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’ remains one of her most popular, despite being originally performed by American singer-songwriter Lori Lieberman in 1972. Lieberman’s rendition failed to chart, but Flack’s 1973 cover gained widespread acclaim, bringing Lieberman’s original song to the global forefront.
Given Flack’s exceptional vocal abilities, it’s unsurprising that she holds Mahalia Jackson, another esteemed musician, in high regard. In fact, her song ‘Trouble of the World’ was the first one that inspired her to become a singer. “I grew up in Arlington, Virginia, in a place that the black people referred to as Green Valley,” she told The Guardian. “It was not a green valley at all but it was OK. My family was a happy family. My mom played the organ and piano; I had lots of relatives who sang”.
She continued: “One artist who inspired me was Mahalia Jackson. I loved her voice. It gave me goosebumps. I didn’t think I could ever sing like that because I had a very slight voice when I was a child, but now I realise that what I was hearing from Mahalia was her experience – as an adult, as a musician. All that comes into play when you perform.”
Although Flack became well-known for her version of ‘Killing Me Softly with His Song’, she is also a big fan of other recordings of the song, including the Fugees’ cover. “I love hip-hop,” Flack explains. “In fact I love music, period. Lauryn Hill recorded Killing Me Softly [with the Fugees] and did an excellent job. She’s a genius musician and so is Wyclef Jean who co-produced it”.
Adding: “I’m not going to hold on to that song with my heart and bleed to death while someone else covers it; I’m a music lover who has enough experience and common sense to know that it’s good they recorded it and had a hit. I had a hit with it, too, but I wasn’t the first person who recorded it.”
Listen to that song below.
