Cover Culture : Garnet Silk / Lori Lieberman – Killing Me Softly

COVER VERSION VS ORIGINAL SONG

Since the early 1960s and even prior, numerous iconic Jamaican hits were derived from popular foreign songs. The original pop and soul tracks were frequently embraced by audiences on the island, leading reggae artists to create their own renditions. Some of these artists gained fame by covering chart-topping songs, turning these adaptations into timeless classics.

For instance, American artist Bill Withers recorded the Grammy-winning song Ain’t No Sunshine, which Horace Andy later adapted, while Dennis Brown’s rendition of Black Magic Woman originally came from Fleetwood Mac. These two examples represent just a small fraction of the many covers that have emerged over the past sixty-five years.

Since the advent of these adaptations, both Jamaican and international reggae musicians have persistently reimagined pop and soul hits, continuing this tradition into the present. You’re welcome to listen to both the original and the cover versions to determine which one resonates with you the most.

GARNET SILK

In the early ’90s, Garnet Silk emerged as a promising talent, but his life was tragically cut short in 1994 when he attempted to rescue his mother from a house fire. He was born in Manchester, Jamaica, and kicked off his musical journey at just twelve years old, performing as a deejay known as Little Bimbo. His first recording came in 1985, but his debut single, Problem Everywhere, wouldn’t be released until two years later. In 1989, responding to advice from veteran artist Derrick Morgan, Garnet shifted from deejaying to singing, recording tracks at Bunny Lee’s studio. Among these initial songs was Killing Me Softly aka She Touch My Soul, produced under Morgan’s guidance.

LORI LIEBERMAN

Killing Me Softly is a song composed by Charles Fox, featuring lyrics by Norman Gimbel. These lyrics were written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman, who drew inspiration from a Don McLean concert in late 1971. Although Lieberman was denied writing credits by Fox and Gimbel, she released her version of the song in 1972 but it did not achieve chart success. Yet, the song found greatness through other artists, notably Roberta Flack and The Fugees. Flack’s cover reached No. 1 on the charts in the US, Australia, and Canada in 1973. In 1996, The Fugees’ rendition soared to the top, hitting No. 1 in twenty countries. In Germany, it became the first single to debut atop the chart.