Amazing life. School teacher who wanted to get into Opera and then became a great Pop singer. She must have been about 30 or so when she started to have hit records.
All kinds of older music have enjoyed revivals, but Roberta Flack, who had several big hits, seems to have been completley forgotten. Too bad. She was a good singer.
That song takes me back to 1973, my 7th grade year when it could be heard everywhere. This was back when all sorts of music could be heard on the AM radio Top 40 stations. It didn’t matter your race or age or any other demographic factor, if you listened to Top 40, you would hear Roberta Flack and enjoy her music. Nowadays, music is much more fragmented and narrowcasted to smaller audiences, with far more choices available, which is good; still, I miss the days of a common culture.
@Lexington, not quite forgotten. Killing me Softly was released by some artist that sampled Ms Flack. At least that's what it seemed like when I heard it on the radio. One of my favorites.
In 1993 at a community festival, a band with a female vocalist on stage. She covered Killing me softly. Her voice was so sweet and beautiful that I waited till the end of the set and went over to ask her on a date. Turns out she was already engaged. Never ran into her again after that night. Her name was Julie. Three decades on I think about her when I hear this song. Funny how some memories are so sticky.
MadisonMan said... " Killing me Softly was released by some artist that sampled Ms Flack. At least that's what it seemed like when I heard it on the radio. One of my favorites."
I think you're thinking about the Fugees remake of this song. They had a great female vocalist, but I didn't like the sitar and the addition of "one time" "two time" by the male vocalist. You have to ba careful when remaking classics.
I tried to listen to this twice. Both times, my cattle dogs began howling joyfully with her. Happy howling, not danger howling.
I've never seen them react to music like this, and I like the Gladys Knight/Quiet Storm stuff. She must have had something in her voice that calls to canines. Impressive.
I mean her no disrespect, when I say she didn't have a fabulous life. She achieved success at a reasonably young age and got to live in Dakota just down the hall from the Lennons. Her marriages were not abusive or exploitative. She was good looking rather than beautiful or homely. She had a fabulous voice but not a fabulous life. She had a fine talent and received her just desserts.
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22 comments:
It's not a good time to be a flack.
R.I.P. Her voice was something special.
Her two biggest hits are in my top 20 favorite songs. RIP, Ms. Flack.
Just beautiful.
…a revival as the foundation of yacht rock lists. Man did that one get play on AM back in the day…
Such a beautiful voice... RIP.
Amazing life. School teacher who wanted to get into Opera and then became a great Pop singer. She must have been about 30 or so when she started to have hit records.
I saw her in concert. Wonderful.
Her song added a lot to Play Misty for Me. I think this is one of Clint's underappreciated films.
An icon of the 70’s. RIP.
All kinds of older music have enjoyed revivals, but Roberta Flack, who had several big hits, seems to have been completley forgotten. Too bad. She was a good singer.
That song takes me back to 1973, my 7th grade year when it could be heard everywhere. This was back when all sorts of music could be heard on the AM radio Top 40 stations. It didn’t matter your race or age or any other demographic factor, if you listened to Top 40, you would hear Roberta Flack and enjoy her music. Nowadays, music is much more fragmented and narrowcasted to smaller audiences, with far more choices available, which is good; still, I miss the days of a common culture.
@Lexington, not quite forgotten. Killing me Softly was released by some artist that sampled Ms Flack. At least that's what it seemed like when I heard it on the radio. One of my favorites.
In 1993 at a community festival, a band with a female vocalist on stage. She covered Killing me softly. Her voice was so sweet and beautiful that I waited till the end of the set and went over to ask her on a date. Turns out she was already engaged. Never ran into her again after that night. Her name was Julie. Three decades on I think about her when I hear this song. Funny how some memories are so sticky.
MadisonMan said...
" Killing me Softly was released by some artist that sampled Ms Flack. At least that's what it seemed like when I heard it on the radio. One of my favorites."
I think you're thinking about the Fugees remake of this song. They had a great female vocalist, but I didn't like the sitar and the addition of "one time" "two time" by the male vocalist. You have to ba careful when remaking classics.
And of course there was the performance of Killing Me Softly in About A Boy.
JSM
I tried to listen to this twice. Both times, my cattle dogs began howling joyfully with her. Happy howling, not danger howling.
I've never seen them react to music like this, and I like the Gladys Knight/Quiet Storm stuff. She must have had something in her voice that calls to canines. Impressive.
Thanks for the video link. That live version is much better than I remember the hit single being. Great voice.
Beautiful voice. RIP
Not sure I understand the "killing me" lyric.
Did Bill O'Reilly co-write a book about her?
Not even her song. It was written and recorded by Lori Lieberman after witnessing a concert by Don McLean (of American Pie fame).
I mean her no disrespect, when I say she didn't have a fabulous life. She achieved success at a reasonably young age and got to live in Dakota just down the hall from the Lennons. Her marriages were not abusive or exploitative. She was good looking rather than beautiful or homely. She had a fabulous voice but not a fabulous life. She had a fine talent and received her just desserts.
Love
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Comments older than 2 days are always moderated. Newer comments may be unmoderated, but are still subject to a spam filter and may take a few hours to get released. Thanks for your contributions and your patience.