killing me softly

Lieberman was the first to record Fox and Gimbel's song, in 1971, but it became a bigger hit when covered by Roberta Flack in 1973, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Hip-hop group The Fugees covered the song in 1996, with Lauryn Hill singing the lead vocals. Their version reached number two on the U.S. airplay chart, and had similar success in the U.K., reaching number one and selling over a million copies. Propelled by the success of the Fugees track, the version by Flack was remixed in 1996 and topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Other major artists to cover the song include Engelbert Humperdinck, Frank Sinatra, Tori Amos, Eva Cassidy, Perry Como, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Toni Braxton, Alicia Keys, Jaco Pastorius, Al B. Sure! and Shirley Bassey. At Last established their sound when practicing this song.^[1]

The song was prominently featured in the 2002 film About a Boy in which the boy of the title, Marcus, is ridiculed by classmates for singing the song, a favourite of his mother's, at his school talent show because of its feminine associations and romantic, emotional lyrics.

Cover versions in other languages

References

1. ^ "Wikinews interview with America's Got Talent finalist At Last", Wikinews, 2 September 2006.