Top singles from the past

9 June 2026

Hip-rap-hop trio FUGEES, fronted by masterful voice Lauryn Hill
were at the top seat of the American Singles Chart with their cover
of KILLING ME SOFTLY.

A song with a long history.

It was written by veteran songwriter Norman Gimbel upon indication
of an idea by 20-year-old singer Lori Lieberman after she witnessed a
Don McLean concert, performing a song named Empty Chairs.

Composer Charles Fox put the lyrics to music. The song was named
Killing Me Softly and Lieberman recorded and released it in 1972, but
it didn’t chart.

The following year, soul star Roberta Flack released her version.
It became a worldwide hit with the #1 seat in the US, Australia,
Canada and New Zealand, and #6 in the UK.

Then in 1996, Fugees covered the tender ballad and scored
their first #1 UK hit. It topped the charts in no less than
20 countries.

LORI LIEBERMAN

ROBERTA FLACK

FUGEES