When You Smile - Roberta Flack
3:44
Killing Me Softly, 1973
Written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter
Roberta Flack died yesterday. I really only know the one song everyone knows — which has its own interesting history as being written about Don MacLean and having the originator, Lori Lieberman denied credit — but never mind all that. Unlike most of Flack's slow-burning material, this song has a show-hall, New Orleans rag, almost burlesque vibe to it. It's a jazzy, brisk, brassy love song that makes big claims. "When you smile I can see you were born, born for me / And for me you will be do or die." I love this energetic side of Flack and wish she had more songs like this.
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