53 Years Ago Today, One of the Most Haunting Ballads Ever Written Was Ruling the Charts
One of the most haunting ballads ever recorded was dominating the Billboard Hot 100 exactly 53 years ago today. The song would go on to define 1970s music for many people, and it remains an unforgettable track that has influenced generations of fans.
Roberta Flack’s 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' Held No. 1 Exactly 53 Years Ago Today
Photo by David Redfern/Redferns
In 1972, the first version of "Killing Me Softly With His Song," which was recorded by Lori Lieberman, was released. The following year, on January 22, 1973, Roberta Flack's cover of the track was released, and it didn't take long for it to take the charts by storm.
After it made its chart debut at no. 54 on January 27, "Killing Me Softly With His Song" reached No. 1 on February 24, 1973, and stayed in the top spot for five non-consecutive weeks. Notably, it sat atop the chart for more weeks than any other track that year, and its reign on top included the week of March 9, 1973, which is 53 years ago today.
What Makes Roberta Flack’s 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' One of the Most Haunting Ballads Ever Recorded
Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song" is an outstanding example of the magic that can happen when talented artists come together. Written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, with an uncredited Lori Liebermanproviding inspiration, the track boasts lyrics that seem expertly crafted to evoke emotion in listeners. The undeniably beautiful words that the song starts with reflect how music can speak to listeners. "Strummin' my pain with his fingers/Singin' my life with his words/Killing me softly with his song."
Just as importantly, the song comes to life thanks to the incredible vocal performance given by Flack. Ranker users currently have her ranked as the 34th best female vocalist ever, and it is very easy to hear why. Able to sing with a level of emotion that most performers can only dream of imbuing a song with, Flack's singing played a pivotal role in the song's haunting and beautiful feel.
The track's undeniable quality earned it Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female wins during the 1974 Grammy Awards. It was also named as number 82 on Billboard's Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs list and number 273 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The fact that it is so beloved also led to it being covered by several other respected artists over the years. The members of The Fugees, Luther Vandross, and Tori Amos are all examples of highly respected artists who did a great job putting their stamp on the track.