Killing Me Softly with His song - Wikipedia Killing Me Softly with His song `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The song was written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman, who recorded the song in late 1971. In 1973 it became a number - one hit in the US and Canada for Roberta Flack, also reaching number six in the UK Singles Chart. Many artists have covered the song ; the version by the Fugees won the 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Contents 1 Lori Lieberman version and disputed origins 2 Roberta Flack version 3 Cover versions 3.1 Chart performance 3.2 Weekly 4 Fugees version 4.1 Background 4.2 Composition 4.3 Critical reception 4.4 Music video 4.5 Bounty Killer remix 4.6 Track listing 4.7 Charts and certifications 4.7. 1 Weekly charts 4.7. 2 Year - end charts 4.7. 3 Sales and certifications 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Lori Lieberman version and disputed origins According to Lori Lieberman, who performed the original recording in 1971, the song was born of a poem she wrote after experiencing a strong reaction to the Don McLean song `` Empty Chairs '', writing some poetic ideas on a napkin at the Troubadour Club after seeing him perform the song, and then relating this information to Norman Gimbel, who took her feelings and converted them into song lyrics. Gimbel passed his lyrics to Charles Fox, who set them to music. According to Gimbel, he was introduced to the Argentinian - born composer Lalo Schifrin ( then of Mission : Impossible fame ) and began writing songs to a number of Schifrin 's films. Both Gimbel and Schifrin made a suggestion to write a Broadway musical together, and Schifrin gave Gimbel an Argentinean novel -- Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar -- to read as a possible idea. The book was never made into a musical, but in chapter two, the narrator describes himself as sitting in a bar listening to an American pianist friend `` kill us softly with some blues ''. Gimbel put the phrase in his `` idea book '' for use at a future time with a parenthesis around the word `` blues '' and substituted the word `` song '' instead. Don McLean said he did n't know the song described him and, when asked about it, said `` I 'm absolutely amazed. I 've heard both Lori 's and Roberta 's version and I must say I 'm very humbled about the whole thing. You ca n't help but feel that way about a song written and performed as well as this one is. '' Nevertheless, Fox repudiated Lieberman 's having input into the song 's creation, saying : `` We ( Gimbel and Fox ) wrote the song and ( Lieberman ) heard it and said it reminded her of how she felt at ( a Don McLean ) concert. Don McLean did n't inspire Norman or me to write the song but even Don McLean thinks he 's the inspiration for the song. '' McLean supported Lieberman, both on his website and from the stage of a concert which he invited her to attend in 2010. However, the matter only reached an unequivocal conclusion when contemporaneous articles from the early 1970s were retrieved, all of them vindicating Lieberman. In an April 5, 1973 article in the New York Daily News, Gimbel was quoted as follows : `` She ( Lori Lieberman ) told us about this strong experience she had listening to McLean ( ' I felt all flushed with fever / Embarrassed by the crowd / I felt he had found my letters / And read each one out loud / I prayed that he would finish / But he just kept right on ' ). I had a notion this might make a good song so the three of us discussed it. We talked it over several times, just as we did for the rest of the numbers we wrote for this album and we all felt it had possibilities. '' Roberta Flack version `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' One of A-side labels of U.S. vinyl single Single by Roberta Flack from the album Killing Me Softly B - side `` Just Like a Woman '' Released January 21, 1973 Format 7 - inch single Recorded November 17, 1972 Studio Atlantic, New York City Genre Soul Length 4 : 46 Label Atlantic Songwriter ( s ) Charles Fox Norman Gimbel Producer ( s ) Joel Dorn Roberta Flack singles chronology `` Where Is the Love '' ( 1972 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' ( 1973 ) `` Jesse '' ( 1973 ) Alternative release German single picture sleeve Audio `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' on YouTube Lieberman was the first to record the song in late 1971, releasing it in early 1972. Helen Reddy has said she was sent the song, but `` the demo... sat on my turntable for months without being played because I did n't like the title ''. Roberta Flack first heard the song on an airline, when the Lieberman original was featured on the in - flight audio program. After scanning the listing of available audio selections, Flack would recall : `` The title, of course, smacked me in the face. I immediately pulled out some scratch paper, made musical staves ( then ) play ( ed ) the song at least eight to ten times jotting down the melody that I heard. When I landed, I immediately called Quincy ( Jones ) at his house and asked him how to meet Charles Fox. Two days later I had the music. '' Shortly afterwards Flack rehearsed the song with her band in the Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, but did not then record it. In September 1972, Flack was opening for Marvin Gaye at the Greek Theater ; after performing her prepared encore song, Flack was advised by Gaye to sing an additional song. Flack later said, `` I said well, I got this song I 've been working on called ' Killing Me Softly... ' and he said ' Do it, baby. ' And I did it and the audience went crazy, and he walked over to me and put his arm around me and said, ' Baby, do n't ever do that song again live until you record it. ' '' Released in January 1973, Flack 's version spent a total of five non-consecutive weeks at # 1 in February and March, more weeks than any other record in 1973, being bumped to number 2 by the O'Jays ' `` Love Train '' after four straight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked it as the No. 3 song for 1973. Charles Fox suggested that Flack 's version was more successful than Lieberman 's because Flack 's `` version was faster and she gave it a strong backbeat that was n't in the original ''. According to Flack : `` My classical background made it possible for me to try a number of things with ( the song 's arrangement ). I changed parts of the chord structure and chose to end on a major chord. ( The song ) was n't written that way. ''. In actual fact the only chord changed by Flack was the chorus chord under `` Fingers '' which was changed from Major to Minor. Flack plays electric piano on the track. The bass is played by Ron Carter, the guitar by Hugh McCracken and the drums by Ray Lucas. The single appeared as the opening track of the album of the same name, issued in August 1973. Flack won the 1973 Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for the single, with Gimbel and Fox earning the Song of the Year Grammy. In 1996 a house remix of Flack 's version went to number one on the US dance chart. In 1999 Flack 's version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It ranked number 360 on Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and number 82 on Billboard 's greatest songs of all time. Cover versions This section may contain indiscriminate, excessive, or irrelevant examples. Please improve the article by adding more descriptive text and removing less pertinent examples. See Wikipedia 's guide to writing better articles for further suggestions. Artist Album Year Released Perry Como And I Love You So 1973 Vicki Lawrence The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia 1973 Frank Sinatra Forecast 1973 The Undisputed Truth Law of the Land 1973 Dottie West If It 's All Right With You / Just What I 've Been Looking For 1973 Johnny Mathis Killing Me Softly with Her Song 1973 Lynn Anderson Top of the World 1973 Bobby Goldsboro Summer ( The First Time ) 1973 Rusty Bryant For the Good Times 1973 Vikki Carr Ms. America 1973 Sergio Mendes & Brasil ' 77 Love Music 1973 The Ventures Only Hits ! 1973 Ellen Freckles 1973 John Holt 1000 Volts of Holt 1973 Anne Murray Danny 's Song 1973 Tim Weisberg Dreamspeaker 1973 Maynard Parker Midnight Rider 1973 The Hiltonaires Made in England 6 1973 Shirley Bassey Never, Never, Never 1973 Ray Conniff and The Singers You Are the Sunshine of My Life 1973 Clint Holmes Playground in My Mind 1973 Elaine Delmar Elaine Delmar 1973 New World Believe in Music 1973 Gianni Oddi Oddi 1973 Perry Como And I Love You So 1973 Andy Williams The Way We Were Petula Clark Come on Home Charlie Byrd Byrd by the Sea Janice Hoyte I 'm a Winner Ed Kilbourne Missionary Joy Fleming Live Frances Yip Frances Scores Hits Engelbert Humperdinck My Love Ohashi Junko Feeling Now Lena Martell That Wonderful Sound of Lena Martell Piet Noordijk Prototype Swingle II Words and Music Aura Oh, My Love Jr. Walker & The All Stars Jr. Walker & The All Stars Bobby Vinton The Bobby Vinton Show The Les Humphries Singers The Les Humphries Singers Live Peters & Lee Favorites The Geoff Love Singers Close to You Vince Hill Mandy The Singers Unlimited A Capella II Tuxen Smilin ' Steel Therapy Bringing the House Down Peter North Saxomania Sandra Reemer Trust In Me 1976 Cleo Laine & John Williams Best Friends 1976 The Brothers Four New 1976 Brenda Lee Just for You - Something Nice 1976 Val Doonican Some of My Best Friends Are Songs 1977 Rita Remington Magical, Musical, Memories 1978 Hampton Hawes At the Piano 1978 Howard Carpendale Und so geh'n wir unsere Wege 1978 Precious Wilson On the Race Track 1980 Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson Live & More 1980 Kimiko Kasai Love Talk 1984 The Eddy Starr Singers 28 Golden Love Songs 1984 Mina Finalmente ho conosciuto il conte Dracula vol. 1 1985 Al B. Sure ! In Effect Mode Casal Histeria Samurai & Hardbartle SynTronic MegaHits Linda Imperial Killing Me Softly ( Single ) 1991 Des'ree Why Should I Love You ? Päivi Mäkinen & Mökö Rakkaudesta elämään Amii Stewart Lady to Ladies 1994 Curiosity Back to Front 1994 Ron Sanfilippo Now and Then 1994 Luther Vandross Songs 1994 Extempo Channel 32 1995 Cassandra Wilson Spirit of ' 73 - Rock for Choice 1995 Fugees The Score Michelle Avex Reggae System Vol. 7 Destroy All Monsters Silver Wedding Anniversary The Spades Killing Me Softly ( Single ) Georgetown Phantoms Spank Your Eardrum 1997 Siiri, Boris Björn Bagger & the International Acoustic Band 1st Acoustic Grafitti 1997 Gitte Hænning My Favorite Songs 1998 Victoria Abril Enciende mi pasión 1998 Nils Landgren Ballads 1999 The BB Band That Soul Sound of the 70 's 1999 Cindy Scott Red Hot - Cindy Scott Captured Live in England 2002 Susan Wong Close to You 2002 Marianna Leporace Pop Acústico 2002 Chenoa Mis canciones favoritas - En concierto acústico 2003 Kimberly Caldwell American Idol Season 2 - All - Time Classic American Love Songs 2003 Cheryl Bentyne The Lights Still Burn 2003 Captain Smartypants Undercover Coco d'Or Coco d'Or 2 2006 Perpetuum Jazzile Čudna Noč 2006 Don Latarski and Marilyn Keller Nightingale 2006 Michael Sagmeister Soul Ticket 2006 The Mardi Gras Band Requests 2007 Georgeana Bonow Pop Bossa - When Pop Goes Bossa 2008 Deborah Sasson Pop Classics 2008 Layla Zoe Live at Errington Hall 2008 Starburkes & The Tea Leaf Acoustic Coffee House 2009 Colbie Caillat iTunes Session Shanti Snyder Born to Sing Chelsey Forrest, Kirk Smart Talk to Me Nice Soul Kitchen - Band feat. Gail Anderson 15 Years Soul Kitchen - The Band 2011 Virginia Belles Good Morning Mr. Jefferson 2011 Afro Blue The Sing - Off Season 3 Episode 6 - Hip Hop ( Album ) 2011 Harvard Opportunes Out Loud 2011 Joanie Samra - Jesse Green Serendipity 2011 Ruth Jacott Simply the Best - One Woman Show 2012 Katrina Parker The Voice - Killing Me Softly with His Song ( Single ) 2012 Sussan Kameron Romantic Nights 2012 Keiko Lee Keiko Lee Sings Super Standards 2 2012 Connie Evingson Sweet Happy Life 2012 Sydney Claire Rocks in My Bed 2012 Gary Brown Generations 2012 The Dear Abbeys Proclamation 2012 Miss Murphy The Voice ( AU ) - Killing Me Softly ( Single ) 2013 Keaira LaShae The Voice - Killing Me Softly with His Song ( Single ) 2013 Nancy Sinatra Shifting Gears 2013 Lulu Roman At Last 2013 Ale Vanzella Indie Bossa II 2015 Norah Benatia IDOL 2016 Topp 3 ( EP ) 2016 Joseph Vincent Killing Me Softly ( Single ) 2016 Scott & Ben Scott & Ben - Acoustic Cover Sessions Volume 2 2016 Meg Birch Acoustic Covers Pop 2017 Scary Pockets feat. India Carney Nu Funk 2017 Alyssa Bernal Killing Me Softly ( Single ) 2017 Nicole Cross Shapeshifter 2018 Chart performance Weekly Chart ( 1973 ) Peak position Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 19 Canada ( RPM ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) 30 Ireland ( IRMA ) 10 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 32 UK Singles ( The Official Charts Company ) 6 US Billboard Hot 100 US Hot R&B Singles US Hot Adult Contemporary Singles Fugees version `` Killing Me Softly '' Single by Fugees from the album The Score Released May 31, 1996 Format CD single Recorded 1995 Genre R&B hip hop soul Length 4 : 58 ( album version ) 4 : 16 ( radio edit ) 4 : 00 ( radio edit : without intro ) Label Ruffhouse Songwriter ( s ) Charles Fox Norman Gimbel Producer ( s ) Fugees Fugees singles chronology `` Fu - Gee - La '' ( 1996 ) `` Killing Me Softly '' ( 1996 ) `` Ready or Not '' ( 1996 ) Audio `` Killing Me Softly '' ( audio ) on YouTube Hip hop group Fugees covered the Flack version of the song ( as `` Killing Me Softly '' ) on their album The Score ( 1996 ), with Lauryn Hill singing the lead vocals. Their version became a hit, reaching number two on the U.S. airplay chart. The song topped the charts in the United Kingdom, where it became the country 's biggest - selling single of 1996. It has since sold 1.36 million copies in Britain. The Fugees recording won the 1997 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and their video earned the MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B Video. This version sampled the 1990 song `` Bonita Applebum '' by A Tribe Called Quest ( ATCQ ) from their debut album People 's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. ATCQ themselves had sampled the riff from the song `` Memory Band '' from psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection 's 1967 eponymous debut album. The Fugees single was so successful that the track was `` deleted '' and thus no longer supplied to retailers whilst the track was still in the top 20 so that attention could be drawn to the next single, `` Ready or Not ''. Propelled by the success of the Fugees track, the 1972 recording by Roberta Flack was remixed in 1996 with the vocalist adding some new vocal flourishes : this version topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart. Flack and the Fugees have performed the song together since then. In 2008, `` Killing Me Softly '' was ranked number 25 on VH1 's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop and number 44 on its list of the `` 100 Greatest Songs of the ' 90s ''. Background `` Killing Me Softly '' was the last song the Fugees recorded for The Score, after member Pras Michael made the suggestion to cover it. They wanted to `` see how we can create break beats. And of course, we all love A Tribe Called Quest and we went in like ' Okay, let 's cut that sample. ' '' They then added a bass reggae drop. Initially, the Fugees wanted to change the lyrics of the song to make it anti-drugs and anti-poverty but the songwriters, Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox, refused. Composition The Fugees ' version features `` percussive rhythms '' with `` a synth sitar sound, Wyclef 's blurted chants, Hill 's vocal melisma on the scatted bridge, and a bombastic drum - loop track ''. Critical reception In January 1997, Spin called the song `` an instant classic, pumped out of every passing car from coast to coast, with Lauryn Hill 's timeless voice never losing its poignant kick ''. Celebrating the album 's 20th anniversary in February 2016, Billboard reviewed the song, saying : `` It 's a lovely cover that maintains the spirit of the original while taking the material in new directions. '' Music Video The video, directed by Aswad Ayinde and based on Lauryn Hill 's ideas, never came out commercially in America. It features Roberta Flack. Bounty Killer remix The Fugees recorded a dancehall version with Bounty Killer rapping and Hill singing a rewritten chorus. However, they did not receive permission to release it on The Score. Track listing UK CD1 `` Killing Me Softly '' ( Album Version W / Out Intro ) -- 4 : 03 `` Killing Me Softly '' ( Album Instrumental ) -- 4 : 03 `` Cowboys '' ( Album Version ) -- 3 : 35 `` Nappy Heads '' ( Remix ) -- 3 : 49 UK CD2 `` Killing Me Softly '' ( Album Version With Intro ) -- 4 : 16 `` Fu - Gee - La '' ( Refugee Camp Global Mix ) -- 4 : 15 `` Vocab '' ( Refugees Hip Hop Mix ) -- 4 : 07 `` Vocab '' ( Salaam 's Acoustic Remix ) -- 5 : 54 Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 1996 -- 1997 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 6 Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) 6 Canada Dance / Urban ( RPM ) Czech Republic ( IFPI CR ) Denmark ( IFPI ) Europe ( Eurochart Hot 100 ) Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) France ( SNEP ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) Hungary ( Mahasz ) Iceland ( Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Italy ( Hit Parade Italia ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Scotland ( Official Charts Company ) Spain ( AFYVE ) 8 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) UK R&B ( Official Charts Company ) US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 30 US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) 20 US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) 48 US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) US Radio Songs ( Billboard ) Year - end charts Chart ( 1996 ) Position Australia ( ARIA ) Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 43 Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) 72 Canada Dance / Urban ( RPM ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) Italy ( Hit Parade Italia ) 6 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Sales and certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Australia ( ARIA ) 4 × Platinum 280,000 Austria ( IFPI Austria ) Platinum 50,000 France ( SNEP ) Platinum 500,000 Germany ( BVMI ) 2 × Platinum 1,000,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) 2 × Platinum 1,200,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone See also List of number - one singles in Australia during the 1970s List of RPM number - one singles of 1973 List of number - one singles in 1973 ( New Zealand ) List of Hot 100 number - one singles of 1973 ( U.S. ) List of number - one singles in Australia during the 1990s List of number - one hits of 1996 ( Austria ) List of Dutch Top 40 number - one singles of 1996 List of European number - one hits of 1996 List of number - one hits of 1996 ( France ) List of number - one singles of 1996 ( Ireland ) List of number - one singles in 1996 ( New Zealand ) List of number - one singles from the 1990s ( UK ) List of number - one dance singles of 1996 ( U.S. ) List of Mainstream Top 40 number - one hits of 1996 ( U.S. ) List of Billboard Rhythmic number - one songs of the 1990s References Jump up ^ `` The `` Killing Me Softly '' Story ``. 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Select Platinum in the Certification field. Enter Killing Me Softly in the search field and then press Enter. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Roberta Flack Studio albums First Take ( 1969 ) Chapter Two ( 1970 ) Quiet Fire ( 1971 ) Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway ( 1972 ) Killing Me Softly ( 1973 ) Feel Like Makin ' Love ( 1975 ) Blue Lights in the Basement ( 1977 ) Roberta Flack ( 1978 ) Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway ( 1980 ) I 'm the One ( 1982 ) Born to Love ( 1983 ) Oasis ( 1988 ) Set the Night to Music ( 1991 ) Roberta ( 1994 ) The Christmas Album ( 1997 ) Holiday ( 2003 ) Live albums Live & More ( 1980 ) At Her Best -- Live ( 2008 ) Soundtrack albums Bustin ' Loose ( 1981 ) Compilation albums The Best of Roberta Flack ( 1981 ) Greatest Hits ( 1984 ) Softly with These Songs : The Best of Roberta Flack ( 1993 ) The Very Best of Roberta Flack ( 2006 ) Singles `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' `` Where Is the Love '' `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' `` Feel Like Makin ' Love '' `` The Closer I Get to You '' `` If Ever I See You Again '' `` Making Love '' `` Tonight, I Celebrate My Love '' `` Oasis '' `` Uh - Uh Ooh - Ooh Look Out ( Here It Comes ) '' Related articles Discography Donny Hathaway Best - selling singles by year in the United Kingdom 1952 -- 1969 1952 : `` Here in My Heart '' -- Al Martino 1953 : `` I Believe '' -- Frankie Laine 1954 : `` Secret Love '' -- Doris Day 1955 : `` Rose Marie '' -- Slim Whitman 1956 : `` I 'll Be Home '' -- Pat Boone 1957 : `` Diana '' -- Paul Anka 1958 : `` Jailhouse Rock '' -- Elvis Presley 1959 : `` Living Doll '' -- Cliff Richard ( UK ) 1960 : `` It 's Now or Never '' -- Elvis Presley 1961 : `` Wooden Heart '' -- Elvis Presley 1962 : `` I Remember You '' -- Frank Ifield ( UK ) 1963 : `` She Loves You '' -- The Beatles ( UK ) 1964 : `` Ca n't Buy Me Love '' -- The Beatles ( UK ) 1965 : `` Tears '' -- Ken Dodd ( UK ) 1966 : `` Green, Green Grass of Home '' -- Tom Jones ( UK ) 1967 : `` Release Me '' -- Engelbert Humperdinck ( UK ) 1968 : `` Hey Jude '' -- The Beatles ( UK ) 1969 : `` Sugar, Sugar '' -- The Archies 1970 -- 1989 1970 : `` The Wonder of You '' -- Elvis Presley 1971 : `` My Sweet Lord '' -- George Harrison ( UK ) 1972 : `` Amazing Grace '' -- Royal Scots Dragoon Guards ( UK ) 1973 : `` I Love You Love Me Love '' -- Gary Glitter ( UK ) 1974 : `` Tiger Feet '' -- Mud ( UK ) 1975 : `` Bye Bye Baby '' -- Bay City Rollers ( UK ) 1976 : `` Save Your Kisses for Me '' -- Brotherhood of Man ( UK ) 1977 : `` Mull of Kintyre '' / `` Girls ' School '' -- Wings ( UK ) 1978 : `` Rivers of Babylon '' / `` Brown Girl in the Ring '' -- Boney M. 1979 : `` Bright Eyes '' -- Art Garfunkel 1980 : `` Do n't Stand So Close to Me '' -- The Police ( UK ) 1981 : `` Tainted Love '' -- Soft Cell ( UK ) 1982 : `` Come On Eileen '' -- Dexys Midnight Runners ( UK ) 1983 : `` Karma Chameleon '' -- Culture Club ( UK ) 1984 : `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' -- Band Aid ( UK ) 1985 : `` The Power of Love '' -- Jennifer Rush 1986 : `` Do n't Leave Me This Way '' -- The Communards ( UK ) 1987 : `` Never Gonna Give You Up '' -- Rick Astley ( UK ) 1988 : `` Mistletoe and Wine '' -- Cliff Richard ( UK ) 1989 : `` Ride on Time '' -- Black Box 1990 -- 2009 1990 : `` Unchained Melody '' -- The Righteous Brothers 1991 : `` ( Everything I Do ) I Do It for You '' -- Bryan Adams 1992 : `` I Will Always Love You '' -- Whitney Houston 1993 : `` I 'd Do Anything for Love ( But I Wo n't Do That ) '' -- Meat Loaf 1994 : `` Love Is All Around '' -- Wet Wet Wet ( UK ) 1995 : `` Unchained Melody '' -- Robson & Jerome ( UK ) 1996 : `` Killing Me Softly '' -- Fugees 1997 : `` Something About the Way You Look Tonight '' / `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' -- Elton John ( UK ) 1998 : `` Believe '' -- Cher 1999 : ``... Baby One More Time '' -- Britney Spears 2000 : `` Can We Fix It ? '' -- Bob the Builder ( UK ) 2001 : `` It Was n't Me '' -- Shaggy featuring Rikrok ( UK ) 2002 : `` Anything Is Possible '' / `` Evergreen '' -- Will Young ( UK ) 2003 : `` Where Is the Love ? '' -- The Black Eyed Peas 2004 : `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' -- Band Aid 20 ( UK ) 2005 : `` Is This the Way to Amarillo '' -- Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay ( UK ) 2006 : `` Crazy '' -- Gnarls Barkley 2007 : `` Bleeding Love '' -- Leona Lewis ( UK ) 2008 : `` Hallelujah '' -- Alexandra Burke ( UK ) 2009 : `` Poker Face '' -- Lady Gaga 2010 -- present 2010 : `` Just the Way You Are '' -- Bruno Mars 2011 : `` Someone Like You '' -- Adele ( UK ) 2012 : `` Somebody That I Used to Know '' -- Gotye featuring Kimbra 2013 : `` Blurred Lines '' -- Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams 2014 : `` Happy '' -- Pharrell Williams 2015 : `` Uptown Funk '' -- Mark Ronson ( UK ) featuring Bruno Mars 2016 : `` One Dance '' -- Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla ( UK ) 2017 : `` Shape of You '' - Ed Sheeran ( UK ) Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1959 − 1980 `` Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu ( Volare ) '' by Domenico Modugno ( 1959 ) `` Mack the Knife '' by Bobby Darin ( 1960 ) `` Theme from A Summer Place '' by Percy Faith ( 1961 ) `` Moon River '' by Henry Mancini ( 1962 ) `` I Left My Heart in San Francisco '' by Tony Bennett ( 1963 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' by Henry Mancini ( 1964 ) `` The Girl from Ipanema '' by Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz ( 1965 ) `` A Taste of Honey '' by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass ( 1966 ) `` Strangers in the Night '' by Frank Sinatra ( 1967 ) `` Up, Up and Away '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) ( 1968 ) `` Mrs. Robinson '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) ( 1969 ) `` Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In '' by The 5th Dimension ( Billy Davis Jr., Florence LaRue, Marilyn McCoo, Lamont McLemore, Ron Townson ) ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon ) ( 1971 ) `` It 's Too Late '' by Carole King ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' by Roberta Flack ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' by Roberta Flack ( 1974 ) `` I Honestly Love You '' by Olivia Newton - John ( 1975 ) `` Love Will Keep Us Together '' by Captain & Tennille ( Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille ) ( 1976 ) `` This Masquerade '' by George Benson ( 1977 ) `` Hotel California '' by Eagles ( Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Randy Meisner, Joe Walsh ) ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' by Billy Joel ( 1979 ) `` What a Fool Believes '' by The Doobie Brothers ( Jeffrey Baxter, John Hartman, Keith Knudsen, Michael McDonald, Tiran Porter, Patrick Simmons ) ( 1980 ) 1981 − 2000 `` Sailing '' by Christopher Cross ( 1981 ) `` Bette Davis Eyes '' by Kim Carnes ( 1982 ) `` Rosanna '' by Toto ( Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, David Hungate, Steve Porcaro ) ( 1983 ) `` Beat It '' by Michael Jackson ( 1984 ) `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' by Tina Turner ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' by USA for Africa ( 1986 ) `` Higher Love '' by Steve Winwood ( 1987 ) `` Graceland '' by Paul Simon ( 1988 ) `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' by Bobby McFerrin ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' by Bette Midler ( 1990 ) `` Another Day in Paradise '' by Phil Collins ( 1991 ) `` Unforgettable '' by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole ( 1992 ) `` Tears in Heaven '' by Eric Clapton ( 1993 ) `` I Will Always Love You '' by Whitney Houston ( 1994 ) `` All I Wanna Do '' by Sheryl Crow ( 1995 ) `` Kiss from a Rose '' by Seal ( 1996 ) `` Change the World '' by Eric Clapton ( 1997 ) `` Sunny Came Home '' by Shawn Colvin ( 1998 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' by Celine Dion ( 1999 ) `` Smooth '' by Santana ( Rodney Holmes, Tony Lindsay, Karl Perazzo, Raul Rekow, Benny Rietveld, Carlos Santana, Chester Thompson ) featuring Rob Thomas ( 2000 ) 2001 − present `` Beautiful Day '' by U2 ( Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. ) ( 2001 ) `` Walk On '' by U2 ( Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. ) ( 2002 ) `` Do n't Know Why '' by Norah Jones ( 2003 ) `` Clocks '' by Coldplay ( Guy Berryman, Jon Buckland, Will Champion, Phil Harvey, Chris Martin ) ( 2004 ) `` Here We Go Again '' by Ray Charles and Norah Jones ( 2005 ) `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' by Green Day ( Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Frank Edwin Wright III ) ( 2006 ) `` Not Ready to Make Nice '' by Dixie Chicks ( Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison ) ( 2007 ) `` Rehab '' by Amy Winehouse ( 2008 ) `` Please Read the Letter '' by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant ( 2009 ) `` Use Somebody '' by Kings of Leon ( Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill, Nathan Followill ) ( 2010 ) `` Need You Now '' by Lady Antebellum ( Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood ) ( 2011 ) `` Rolling in the Deep '' by Adele ( 2012 ) `` Somebody That I Used to Know '' by Gotye featuring Kimbra ( 2013 ) `` Get Lucky '' by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers ( 2014 ) `` Stay with Me '' ( Darkchild version ) by Sam Smith ( 2015 ) `` Uptown Funk '' by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars ( 2016 ) `` Hello '' by Adele ( 2017 ) `` 24K Magic '' by Bruno Mars ( 2018 ) Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1959 − 1980 `` Volare '' -- Domenico Modugno ( songwriter ) ( 1959 ) `` The Battle of New Orleans '' -- Jimmy Driftwood ( songwriter ) ( 1960 ) `` Theme from Exodus '' -- Ernest Gold ( songwriter ) ( 1961 ) `` Moon River '' -- Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini ( songwriters ) ( 1962 ) `` What Kind of Fool Am I ? '' -- Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley ( songwriters ) ( 1963 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' -- Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini ( songwriters ) ( 1964 ) `` Hello, Dolly ! '' -- Jerry Herman ( songwriter ) ( 1965 ) `` The Shadow of Your Smile '' -- Paul Francis Webster & Johnny Mandel ( songwriters ) ( 1966 ) `` Michelle '' -- John Lennon & Paul McCartney ( songwriters ) ( 1967 ) `` Up, Up, and Away '' -- Jimmy Webb ( songwriter ) ( 1968 ) `` Little Green Apples '' -- Bobby Russell ( songwriter ) ( 1969 ) `` Games People Play '' -- Joe South ( songwriter ) ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' -- Paul Simon ( songwriter ) ( 1971 ) `` You 've Got a Friend '' -- Carole King ( songwriter ) ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' -- Ewan MacColl ( songwriter ) ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' -- Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox ( songwriters ) ( 1974 ) `` The Way We Were '' -- Alan and Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch ( songwriters ) ( 1975 ) `` Send In the Clowns '' -- Stephen Sondheim ( songwriter ) ( 1976 ) `` I Write the Songs '' -- Bruce Johnston ( songwriter ) ( 1977 ) `` Evergreen ( Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) '' -- Barbra Streisand & Paul Williams ( songwriters ) / `` You Light Up My Life '' -- Joe Brooks ( songwriter ) ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' -- Billy Joel ( songwriter ) ( 1979 ) `` What a Fool Believes '' -- Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald ( songwriters ) ( 1980 ) 1981 − 2000 `` Sailing '' -- Christopher Cross ( songwriter ) ( 1981 ) `` Bette Davis Eyes '' -- Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon ( songwriters ) ( 1982 ) `` Always on My Mind '' -- Johnny Christopher, Mark James & Wayne Carson ( songwriters ) ( 1983 ) `` Every Breath You Take '' -- Sting ( songwriter ) ( 1984 ) `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' -- Graham Lyle & Terry Britten ( songwriters ) ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' -- Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie ( songwriters ) ( 1986 ) `` That 's What Friends Are For '' -- Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager ( songwriters ) ( 1987 ) `` Somewhere Out There '' -- James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil ( songwriters ) ( 1988 ) `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' -- Bobby McFerrin ( songwriter ) ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' -- Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar ( songwriters ) ( 1990 ) `` From a Distance '' -- Julie Gold ( songwriter ) ( 1991 ) `` Unforgettable '' -- Irving Gordon ( songwriter ) ( 1992 ) `` Tears in Heaven '' -- Eric Clapton & Will Jennings ( songwriters ) ( 1993 ) `` A Whole New World '' -- Alan Menken & Tim Rice ( songwriters ) ( 1994 ) `` Streets of Philadelphia '' -- Bruce Springsteen ( songwriter ) ( 1995 ) `` Kiss from a Rose '' -- Seal ( songwriter ) ( 1996 ) `` Change the World '' -- Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick & Tommy Sims ( songwriters ) ( 1997 ) `` Sunny Came Home '' -- Shawn Colvin & John Leventhal ( songwriters ) ( 1998 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' -- James Horner & Will Jennings ( songwriters ) ( 1999 ) `` Smooth '' -- Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas ( songwriters ) ( 2000 ) 2001 − present `` Beautiful Day '' -- Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson ( songwriters ) ( 2001 ) `` Fallin ' '' -- Alicia Keys ( songwriter ) ( 2002 ) `` Do n't Know Why '' -- Jesse Harris ( songwriter ) ( 2003 ) `` Dance with My Father '' -- Richard Marx & Luther Vandross ( songwriters ) ( 2004 ) `` Daughters '' -- John Mayer ( songwriter ) ( 2005 ) `` Sometimes You Ca n't Make It on Your Own '' -- Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson ( songwriters ) ( 2006 ) `` Not Ready to Make Nice '' -- Emily Burns Erwin, Martha Maguire, Natalie Maines Pasdar & Dan Wilson ( songwriters ) ( 2007 ) `` Rehab '' -- Amy Winehouse ( songwriter ) ( 2008 ) `` Viva la Vida '' -- Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion & Christopher Martin ( songwriters ) ( 2009 ) `` Single Ladies ( Put a Ring on It ) '' -- Thaddis `` Kuk '' Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart ( songwriters ) ( 2010 ) `` Need You Now '' -- Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott ( songwriters ) ( 2011 ) `` Rolling in the Deep '' -- Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth ( songwriters ) ( 2012 ) `` We Are Young '' -- Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess ( songwriters ) ( 2013 ) `` Royals '' -- Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor ( songwriters ) ( 2014 ) `` Stay with Me '' ( Darkchild version ) -- James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith ( songwriters ) ( 2015 ) `` Thinking Out Loud '' -- Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge ( songwriters ) ( 2016 ) `` Hello '' -- Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin ( songwriters ) ( 2017 ) `` That 's What I Like '' -- Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip ( songwriters ) ( 2018 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Killing_Me_Softly_with_His_Song&oldid=853526460 '' Categories : 1971 songs 1973 singles 1996 singles Soul ballads Pop ballads Fugees songs Songs with lyrics by Norman Gimbel Songs with music by Charles Fox ( composer ) Roberta Flack songs Billboard Hot 100 number - 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Question: who sang killing me softly with his song first
Answer: Lori Lieberman