The Truth About "Killing Me Softly"
Vložit
- čas přidán 1. 06. 2023
- The story of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" is much deeper, wider, and even more heartbreaking when you dig all the way down. Let's see if we can give it a better ending.
UPDATE: After the release of this video, I got to talk with Lori Lieberman about her life, this song, and career since. Catch the full conversation on video on @DiggingTheTalks or audio on the Digging the Greats Podcast!
VIDEO TALK WITH LORI: • Lori Lieberman - The O...
PODCAST WITH LORI: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Stream the Spotify Listening Guide: open.spotify.com/playlist/4sq...
__________________________________
► JOIN THE DISCORD - / discord
► Follow me on Instagram: bit.ly/3KJmbG0
► Follow me on TikTok: bit.ly/3uJc12q
► BONUS CONTENT AVAILABLE AT www.diggingthegreats.com
__________________________________
SOURCES
faroutmagazine.co.uk/roberta-...
www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
www.nytimes.com/1997/06/08/ar...
__________________________________
TOPICS COVERED
The Fugees
The Score
Lauryn Hill
Killing Me Softly
Roberta Flack
A Tribe Called Quest
Bonita Applebum
Lori Lieberman
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Breakdown
Music
Deceptive Cadence
#LaurynHill
#RobertaFlack
#MusicHistory
This is Lori Lieberman- thanks so much, Brandon- for such an amazing deep dive into the history and influences of the song- and giving me credit for my part in its creation- the mash up at the end is probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever had happen to me- thanks so much!!
Lori! How incredible to hear from you! Thank you for helping bring this song into the world 🙏
No way! I'd compliment the video, Brandon, but I don't think I can out do this praise! ✨
Absolute legend 🙌🏾❤
This is Elvis. I like this story.
Thank you Lori for sharing your beautiful gifts with the world. ❤ 🙏🏽
Also thanks Professor for another educational video. 💯
The irony of this is the person who recorded the original was largely forgotten. This was a regular theme in the 70's. A lot of artists recorded the original, while the remake gained more notoriety. Most people associate "Sunshine (Go Away Today)" with The Isley Brothers, but no one remembers it was originally released by Jonathan Edwards.
The upshot is that the original artist and Lauryn Hill were both having affairs with their writing partner, who later beat them out of their publishing. And one of the backing players on the Roberta Flack version worked with A Tribe Called Quest.
@@thevinyltruffle no, but the artist Roberta Flack covered is. That's the point of the video. 😂
@@thevinyltruffle Lori Leiberman recorded "Killing Me Softly" before Roberta Flack - which goes back to my original point.
@@iluminati And to make matters worse is the fact the affairs did long term damage to their careers down the line.
@@thevinyltruffle did you not watch the video😂
Outstanding. You missed one MAJOR piece of info: Lori re-made her own song in 2009 for her album "Gun Metal Sky"....and it's a stunning version! I had the opportunity to play guitar for her that same year and can say she is also an amazing musician and human being!
Thank you so much David!! It was such a pleasure to work with you!
I graduated middle school in 96, and I remember Killing Me Softly being the number one song until Tha Crossroads came out. When my mom heard Killing Me Softly she started singing it. I was so confused. Then she told me it was a remake. 🤯
This is 100% straight up the best music channel on youtube!
Im instantly brought in by the story telling and then moved by the music. Please keep doing what you do and educate us on these amazing stories!
🙏🙏
Facts
💯
Couldn't agree more, Michael Pruett!
Yes, thanks to the algorithm gods this video popped up and boy lemme tell ya, I thought it was going to be just a normal breakdown of this iconic song. Then I saw the 1’s and 2’s and was like ‘ok!’. Next comes the keyboard with music theory and chords, followed by a dope mashup and some funky bass playing. Man, you are well rounded, well versed and it’s my first time seeing your vids so now you got a new sub! And then a shout out from the original artist?! Well done.
Man the way you blended the original into the fugees version and live playing the bass was so flawlessly smooth soothingly good
facts
Yeah I was involved when it landed 😩😩😩 (P.S. He only used the acapells from the original and the 2 beats were the 2nd & 3rd versions/remakes...😵 he’s HARD!!)
dude....that baseline you played over Lori's version is FIRE!!!!
In case you didn't see it on his other video - Brandon actually played bass on stage with Nas at Madison Square Garden!
Isn’t that the baseline from the Roberta Flack version of the song?
Duuuuuude! That bass, though!
I grew up on the song. My mom loved Roberta Flack, so that was the version I was used to, even when the Fugees were new artists (holy crap, how much did I age myself???). When the Fugees came out with their version, I was 19 or 20, I suppose and really liked it.
Admittedly, I knew that there was a version before Roberta Flack's. I even knew where the inspiration for the song came from but didn't know her name. I suppose you can only guess that until I watched this video, I never heard any part of the original. All three versions are beautiful, and I'm glad Ms. Lieberman is getting some "flowers" from you while she's still here.
I'm the biggest fan of Roberta's version but I'm very happy and moved with the tribute to Lori Lieberman at the end. Did not know she had been uncredited for so long and I'm glad that didn't prevent her from keeping on her musical journey.
I was a guitar tech for Lori for a couple of shows; one at the Grammy museum in LA and another at Carnegie Hall. She is obviously talented, but beyond that, a soft, warm, beautiful human being. The cool quirkiness of that song is imbued in her. Also, the electric guitar player on those gigs was Jason Orme, who is most known for his decades of awesomeness in Alanis Morisette’s band.
Love this channel. There’s only one B’Shaw!
Yo, thank you for giving the og singer her flowers man. That was really cool. The mix was flawless and sounded soooo good.
I've loved Lori Lieberman's version for a long time, and I'm so glad it's finally getting the recognition it deserves!
The bass on The Fugees' version always kills me softly. Never get enough of that.
I may be a little off here but I have never quite gotten what was so good about The Fugees version.
I grew up with Flack. To me it is the best.
Now my issue with the Fugees is the sampling. I never understood why people can’t just play the same thing and skip paying and giving credits to the original artist for the little snippets that were clipped and looped. I guess it is easier.
@@josebrown5961 It's about turning a great soul classic into a hiphop ballad. Hiphop is all about sampling and finding sometimes the rarest and most obscure samples other DJ's and producers don't know or have. It's almost like a sport finding the dopest samples and not revealing them. Having other people trying to figure out what the sample source is, forcing people to start digging through all those great records, discovering more great music in the process. As a byproduct, all those classics like Flack are still relevant amongst hiphop heads and vinyl collectors. All paying tribute by that in their own way. Referencing history, giving the samples being used context for those who know and pay attention.
For a major release like the Fugees' "Killing Me Softly" they really had to clear the sample, so the original samples are credited in the initial production notes. By that the artists of the original samples get more credit than some of the in house bands playing on those loved soul albums from the 70's.
The choice for sampling is not because it's easier. Sometimes it's easier to bring in a session player and replay the whole thing. A friend of mine who is a beat maker is also a jazz saxophone player. He plays his own horn stabs over his hiphop beats. I have to go through piles of records, digging through my memory to find a sax note with just that expression, just that little bit of vibrato played at a certain pitch so I can key match it with the beat. It's not about easier, it's just another technique, and it's about the story one is trying to tell within a certain timeframe. Context. Andy Warhol did the same thing. He didn't design the Campbell soup can, but did a ton of reprints of a picture of a Campbell soup can. He didn't paint Marilyn himself, but used an existing picture as starting point to tell his story, with the concept of mass production, mass communication and mass consumption in mind. Context.
That is sampling. I can understand it might not be your thing, and I can also understand you prefer Roberta Flack's version because you grew up on that (context), but at least I hope you now have some better understanding of the concept of sampling.
@@josebrown5961 I’m with you.
@@mezzbit’s indescribably emotionally powerful and wow 😮 🔥🔥🔥
I never knew about the original version by Lori Lieberman. She has a nice vice. Now I'd like to see all three women come together and perform a version of this song. Plus I feel like Lauryn and Lori should meet and talk about their life in the industry.
Man lori’s vocal performance is spectacular. Sounds so sincere.
No one ever mentions the Al B. Sure version from I believe 1987. I always liked that version. Had all the trappings of mid-80's overproduction. Voices seeming to come from everywhere, including Al's slick tenor.
Sadly Al got no love and I was really hoping he would be mentioned as his version was almost 10yrs before the Fugees, even tho he switched it up a bit it was still worth mentioning
That is what I came here to say. 💛
Don't forget Luther too
@kriskorner4588 How COULD I? I'm sorry, Luther! 😞 💛
Al B Sure’s version was great too.
One of the best, comprehensive music channels I've come across on YT! Love your work, Brandon! (From a boomer, only occasionally, yelling at clouds, lol)
Thank you so much for the support! 🙏
Hearing Lori's voice over the Fugee's beat brought such tears to my eyes. I was feeling a bit zoned out today but that snapped me back to reality -- just knowing her story now and finally hearing her version gave me such a heart-warming feeling. Thank you so much for these videos. We music nerds really love them!
bravo Lori Lieberman.
you strummed my pain with your beautiful penstrokes. From the moment I heard it, I fell in love and felt the pain of missing something that I don't quite know I had.
This was so amazingly interesting. Thank you for the eye opening "deep dive".
How does this channel not have millions of subscribers?! I came, I learned, I subscribed 👍
another great video as usual. The crazy thing about the Fugees version is that Pras is responsible for the final result. Wyclef wrote in his autobiography that Pras informed him that they should just take everything out and let Lauryn just sing over the drum break for the verses. So we've got to give Pras respect for that idea.
That last part where he transitions the original song to Lauren Hill's version and then goes right into bonit. A applebomb was so overlooked. Kudos on editing my friend. You truly are a masterpiece for the voice of many who are lost!
I honestly had no idea there was a backstory to this song. As much as i love the fugees version, lori's vocals really give you a sense of the sadness behind the lyrics. Its insane. the mix you did was amzing!! so great bshaw keep it up man!
Damn, dude. You really raised the bar with this one. Well done.
You're the man! I wish I had friends that are as passionate and knowledgeable about music as you!
Amazing content, you deserve way more recognition
🙏🙏
Love this channel bro. Watched one video and now I can’t stop!!! Keep doing what you do because it’s special ❤️🔥
🙏🙏🙏
This is the first time I've ever heard Lori's version. Her voice reminds me of Judy Collins in the verses of "Both Sides Now." Pretty cool!
I can't express enough how great your hip-hop analysis is. Very methodical and thought out. The subscribers and views show for itself. Keep it up!
Your content is a hidden gym on this site. So much appreciation for the knowledge I've gained watching your channel.
🙏 having a great time over here and glad you're enjoying it!
"Gem" 😊
@@retrorocket7247 dictation, I guess. 😉
Also, a lot of people don't know you can even *edit your comments* here in CZcams (as on Facebook and such, only Twitter doesn't allow afaik):
Tap (or click) on the three vertical dots on the right-hand side of your comment (of course, you can not edit other people's stuff, it's not wikipedia), then choose edit, go ahead and edit, then send it again by tapping/clicking on that paper flyer icon. That's it, and as far as i found, there's not even a time limit. 😅
You're welcome and thank you, whoever reads this and puts it to use, wisely please. 🤓
The Turntables + Bass demos are too damn good!!!! GIVE US MORE
I just love it when the internet video essay helps get an artist their long and overdue exposure, praise and flowers! Thank you for this video! Keep on rocking!
STILL showing why this is just favorite CZcams channel. The history, the feels and the groove. Ty so much
I grew up with Roberta's version which I absolutely adore, and I consider The Fugees' version to be one of the best covers of all time, without a doubt.
That said, it was only a couple of months ago that I first heard Lori Lieberman's version and it absolutely blew me away! All these years of enjoying the song, I was feeling what can best be described as "mild empathy" towards the narrator and the emotions she experienced. In Lori's version, though, it was much more than that. It's like I was there... Like I was seeing things through her eyes and feeling what she felt directly through her soul. For the first time of me hearing the exact same lyrics, I actually teared up!
It totally gutted me. There are only a handful of songs that have the same effect on me...
P.S.: The mashup was excellent!!!
My experience too. The versions by Flack and Fugees were great, and I got to know the song through them. But having heard Lieberman I fell in love with that version, and now consider it the best one.
unreal to me that you're actually getting better with each release????
Your videos started with a quality that many channels take years to achive and despite that, you're clearly getting better and more comfortable on camera. I love to see it, dude!
I enjoyed that! Lori has a sweet voice. She really should have had the recognition she deserved. You just got a new sub!
Your storytelling craft is unique, & learning so many new details about a song l thought l already knew everything about makes the experience even more intriguing. Kudos
Bro is a Music Journalist EXTRAORDINAIRE!
Never knew there was an original version before Roberta wow
The opening was like that one guy from antman that tells the elaborate story that gets you hooked. The Capt’n line was built up perfectly and was a deceptive cadence that subverted expectations. The bass was slapping and the sped up remix should be released as a full track. Awesome video!
As a fellow music theorist, I just have to say that this video is phenomenal! As is your entire channel!
Your mash up tribute near the end is very cool. You've got some sick chops on the bass! 😎
I’ve always loved this song (both the Roberta Flack and Fugees versions) but I always grew up confused while listening to the lyrics, wondering what the song was really about. Thank you for solving that mystery for us! I love the song even more now that I know the history behind it.
How did this video help you realize what the song was really about?
@@kingvii6206Because the man in the video tells you how it came about
I was a hip hop head from a young age (not exactly, I somewhat listened to Lauryn, Tyler and somehow lil pump), and at 9 I watched the movie “about a boy” and, found out killing me softly was a cover? When they didn’t include the beat break and the quintessential “one time” I got an extreme shock. Now I simply love Roberta flack and I’ve gotten much deeper into music 5 years on. Crazy how different somewhat irrelevant things can bring you down a great road.
Man… I am just blown away at each video you release. I love history and I love music…. The way you combine the two is amazing. Please release your version of the song! I would buy it in a heartbeat. Thank you
Just saw Lauryn at the Roots Picnic in Philly last night and she did a surprise Fugees reunion; before they played Killing Me Softly they played the Bonita Applebum sample snippet, one of the most moving performances I’ve ever seen🥲
Absolutely incredible! It's a pleasure to watch your videos and see you recreate the artists process that leads to these songs.
I just recently-a week or so ago, learned this story. I watched another music channel vid about covers and fell down my usual rabbit hole to find that the Roberta Flack version wasn't the original and that the wasn't the one who had written it after seeing Don McClean. I'm so glad you did this deep dive, giving credit where it's do. Glad I got to here Lori's version-incredible voice. Subbed.
This video deserves a Grammy too.
You must have read my mind!! I was totally thinking, "we need more Fugees content on this channel" 😂 great vid!
Amazingly put together. Lori is amazing and the moment I heard her interview I knew the song came from her ❤
This was immensely awesome sir, the storytelling and how you combined the actual original track with the more common track we all know and love, taught me something and a whole new generation as well. Keep up the great work! 💯💯💯✊🏾🎶
I cannot say how much I love this channel. Your videos are so insightful and well produced. I’m a huge fan of the music but know nothing about how to make music, but you deliver the information in such a way that even an idiot like me can appreciate. Please keep them coming!
The work put into this research is really a pure love for musical art. 🙏
Bro, I just found your channel like a week ago and it is still blowing my mind how good it is. Keep the amazing content coming, please!
I'm 40 yrs old and still remember when I 1st heard the Fugees version for the first time...I called my mum so she could hear, they premièred it on Choice FM 96.9 (London UK). Mum used to always play the John Holt (reggae) version while I was growing up so we all loved this song...good times!
This may be the most clever explanation of relative minor keys I've seen! Super easy to follow.
Brandon, you killed the mashup. Please release a full length version of it.
Salute to the three queens who took this song to higher heights: Lori, Roberta and Lauryn.
Lori needs her flowers, her crown and her money!!!
About 11 years ago (2012?), I had the pleasure of performing the male version (that Perry Como recorded) to its lyricist, Norman Gimbel, at his grandson's wedding high atop San Francisco's Westin St. Francis Hotel's Alexandra's Ball Room (now Golden Gate Room). He came up to me soon afterwards and said "Son, that's the best version I've heard!" I thanked him humbly. He could have been simply being polite but I'll take it anyway!
The lyrics are timeless. It’s literally about listening to music which touches you, feeling a connection with the artist which the song does. Songception
Excellent vid as always! What an interesting story as well, and thanks for the explanation of deceptive cadence. Keep grindin
Thank you 🙏 So much fun on this one
Another incredible video, even if I know the story behind these artists and albums it's always fun watching your explanation of events
🙏
Her voice gives me the chills. What a voice!! Thank you for this video.
Im a music therapist and use this song for cover or original which was taught to me by another music therapist. When I first heard Lori Lieberman’s version I was taken aback. Sure I’ve heard the Fugees and Roberts Flack and both are great renditions but Lieberman’s… you can hear the pain as she’s strumming her fingers on the guitar. She captured the essence of her pain in the form of song painting. When my patients hear her version after figuring out hers is the original they discuss that it sounds different because hers is much more sad than the others and I think that says it all.
Your love and appreciation for music shines through. A lot of this I knew but not as deep …. Thank you bro. Definitely adding a like and follow.
Bro. How don't you have 1 mill subs yet. incredible video as always, making me fall in love
Really feeling what you did right there. Hope Lori gets to hear it!
wow beautifully edited and expert deep dive!! the love and respect you have for all artists you mentioned are evident. Nice work!!
Amazing story, amazing story telling and amazing musical knowledge! Definitely became a huge fan of your channel! Keep it up!
The algorithm has put your videos in front of me before, but this is the one that made me subscribe. You hit so many notes with this one.
sone of a gun - just listened to the Fugees version on a road trip with my friend through back Washington state, we both sang it out, so deep a pull on the heartstrings. Serendipitous to see this clip and find all the back story, the deconstruction and chord explanation, then the excellent mashup and bassline (bass player myself) - Loved all of this, checking all your channel now and subbed. Awesome!
Wow, great video, what an introduction to your channel (CZcams recommended it to me twice and I couldn't pass it up the second time). I love how you break down the origins of the song, the influences, and the earlier versions. The pinned comment from Lori is icing on the cake.
I think it's not only important to learn where musical inspiration comes from, but also to listen to those earlier pioneers. I find sometimes that either I like the original better or that I just appreciate it as its own thing. Not always, but quite often. It definitely helps to grow the musical palate as well.
I'm going to take a closer look at your channel. Thanks!
Just stunning. What a superb analysis and video.
I’m loving watching this historical breakdown videos. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next. If I could recommend an idea, Tame Impala’s music is gaining popularity in it’s heavily based around psychedelic rock. I’d love to see a big breakdown in that genre.
You’re a dangerous man, B!
Brilliantly done on this one!
AMAZING work with the editing and the song mix. Incredible 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Brandon, this channel is so well thought out and executed: Your music historian/musicologist knowledge; DJ (Wow - nice to the 1200s'; that's my era) skills; mash-up creator skills; extraordinary bass playing and excellent video producer skills are levels, levels, levels above most of what I see here! Do you do all the AV production and scripting yourself, or have a team in the background? Love to see you play bass in more of your shows - your got tha' tone and feel bruv! It's inspiring to see you comping, then move to the Dj rig and back; plus your humor is a nice touch. Thanks for celebrating the music I grew up on, love and value more than anything, Maestro! (I'm a boomer who limits my cloud yelling and is coming back to music production at age 58, after a 30 year hiatus and much cloud yelling, lol)
Finally a music theory discussion that's actually useful! Plus I was crying by the end of the video. Well done, sir.
When you played the sitar sample in the mashup -- DAMN!!! Almost fell out of my chair! Gave me chills that lasted almost a minute! Excellent work!
How did I just come across this channel today ! Love it ! ❤
I had no idea about this songs origins. The version I remember hearing on radio was by Anne Murray. This was released in April of 73 and Roberta would release her version later in August that same year. I've heard many versions of it since, but it's always Anne's voice that plays in my head.
I look forward to these videos every Friday. Grand way to cap off my work week. I always learn something new and get excited to dig for music myself through the weekend.
🙏🙏
The mash up at the end was BRILLIANT!!
Thank you for bringing this to light. Heard the version in spotify, and it is wonderful
I wasn't even halfway into this video before I decided to subscribe to your channel. Amazing.
Amazing work! Informative, engaging, educational, captivating & creative. This was excellent! Please keep this up
Fascinating something you'd never know if it wasn't for a channel like this. Very grateful to be introduced to Lori. I knew the Roberta Flack version and remember how huge the Fugees cover was, musically and vocally brilliant - Lauryn Hill's unique phrasing became so influential. Couldn't get past the "quintessential" 'one time' knife jacked into the chorus. Maybe that's just me but it just spoiled the almost ethereal sparsity of the production. Didn't add anything just took the focus off Lauryn Hill.
That bass playing in the end tooth this jam to another realm! Oooooo-weee!!! Well done Sir💯💪🏿
Ya killin’ me softly with these vids 🤘🏽😆♥️ I love diving into songs, but I just get samples deep, you take it to a different level with history and musicality. I dig it
dude your channel is so fun to watch! love the storytelling & editing, keep killin it 🎼
This is the first time on your channel and I am so glad I found you as your complete story of the song brought me up to speed. I have subscribed and hit the bell. Back in the 70's when the song was out I always heard about Don MacLean's song about Vincent Van Gogh and thought the song was about he and Don. That was what was always said about it back then. Anyway I look forward to more videos here.
Always quality stuff here man, keep it up
Came along this by accident. You just won my subscribtion.
Love at first sight!
Is it just me or this guy makes incredible content about music?❤❤❤❤
This might just be ny favorite episode of yours Digs. Solid work here. I salute you.😊
And sadly no one ever talks about the Al B Sure cover.
When you put the Lori vocal over the Fugees track and then channeled some deep, deep bass inspiration... damn. I only know you from these videos, but I hope you're producing some great artists.
You are an excellent teacher. I thoroughly enjoy what you do.
I can dig it. Much props/respect to L. Lieberman for holding it down first. I will check out her other works now that school (i.e., Digging The Greats) is out.
Thanks
I learn something new each time I see your videos. Had NO CLUE this song was a cover!