Original: "Killing me softly" (Lori Liebermann) [1972] (1)

When hearing the title "Killing me softly", names like Roberta Flack and Lauryn Hill from The Fugees come to mind, two famous black singers. And it seems the song was written for them. But did you know that the original version was sung by a white singer called Lori Liebermann?

Original [English]: Killing me softly (Lori Liebermann) [1972], M./T.: Charles Fox, Norman Gimble

Cover [English]: Killing me softly (The Fugees) [1996]

It’s one of those songs that earmarks a period in your life and immediately takes you back every time you hear it. “Killing Me Softly” is both elegant and raw, simple and magnificent, with its standard boom-bap hip-hop beat juxtaposed with intimate lyrics. A redux of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” which became a hit decades before, the Fugees’ 1996 cover version has emerged as a classic in its own right in the last 20 years. (Source)

Cover [Spanish / Puerto Rico]: Mátame suavemente (Kid Power Posse) [1997]

What's the name for this? I guess, this is the cover version of the cover version.

I left out the rap lyrics because it is mainly about the lyrics sung by the singers.

Strumming my pain with his fingers. Singing my life with his words. Killing me softly with his song. Killing me softly with his song. Telling my whole life with his words. Killing me softly with his song.	Tócame un vals con tus dedos. Pinta de azul mi canción. Mátame muy suavemente con tus palabras, rozando muy lentamente mis labios hasta perderme. Mátame.
I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style, and so I came to see him, and listen for a while. And there he was, this young boy, a stranger to my eyes.	Lo vi mientras cantaba, al fondo del salon, sintiendo de repente en mi alma un gran temor. Narraba con tonada mi vida en su canción.
Strumming my pain with his fingers. Singing my life with his words. Killing me softly with his song. Killing me softly with his song. Telling my whole life with his words. Killing me softly with his song.	Tócame un vals con tus dedos. Pinta de azul mi canción. Mátame muy suavemente con tus palabras, rozando muy lentamente mis labios hasta perderme. Mátame.
I felt all flushed with fever, embarrassed by the crowd. I felt he found my letters, and read each one out loud. I prayed that he would finish, but he just kept right on.	Sentí faltar el aire buscando la razón. Temí que había encontrado mis cartas de cajón. Leyendo fuerte y claro desnuda en su canción.
Strumming my pain with his fingers. Singing my life with his words. Killing me softly with his song. Killing me softly with his song. Telling my whole life with his words. Killing me softly with his song.	Tócame un vals con tus dedos. Pinta de azul mi canción. Mátame muy suavemente con tus palabras, rozando muy lentamente mis labios hasta perderme. Mátame.
Oh oh oh…	Oh oh oh…
Strumming my pain with his fingers. Singing my life with his words. Killing me softly with his song. Killing me softly with his song. Telling my whole life with his words. Killing me softly with his song.	Tócame un vals con tus dedos. Pinta de azul mi canción. Mátame muy suavemente con tus palabras, rozando muy lentamente mis labios hasta perderme. Mátame.

Muchas gracias, Sebastian Betti, thank you for helping me with the Spanish lyrics.

In my opinion, this Spanish cover version is as greast as the Fugees version if not better. What do you think?

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Original: "Vivo per lei" (O.R.O.) [1995] (1)

It is really, really interesting what you discover when you go on a search for cover versions. Never ever, not one moment I would have thought that "Vivo per lei" by Andrea Bocelli & Gorgia is already a cover version. Originally, the song was written and performed by the Italian band O.R.O., short for Ondo Radio Ovest (Valerio Zelli, Mauro Mengali, Mario Manzani). And actually, the original is a rock ballad. That was most surprising. To hear the song with guitar solo and the singers using their raspy voices - incredible.

Original: Vivo per lei (O.R.O.) [1995], M/T: Valerio Zelli, Mauro Mengali, Mario Manzani 

[Live in 2010]

Cover: I live for love (David Hasselhoff & Marilyn Martin) [1997], Lyrics: Mark Holden

But if that wasn't enough, I found this wonderful cover version by David Hasselhoff & Marilyn Martin from David Hasselhoff's 1997 album "Hooked on a feeling".

(normal = one singer starts; bold = the other sings; italics = they sing together)

Vivo per lei e non ho più Battiti regolari al cuore Solo una febbre che va su Fino a quaranta e più d'amore Non mi vergogno a dirlo sai Che da Natale scorso in poi Vivo per lei la notte e il giorno	I live for her with every breath Ever since she first entered my heart I don't remember where or when Nothing can stop what love has started There is a voice within my soul There is a part that makes me whole I live for her now and forever
Vivo per lei le sere che Studia e combatte con il sonno Poi si addormenta accanto a me Col libro aperto per inganno Io non esisto per i suoi Anche se sanno tutto ormai Sanno che canto, sogno E vivo per lei	I live for him you know I do No reason of rhyme for being jealous There is a part of me and you There is a light that shines within us Beyond the moon beyond the sun Love is a part of everyone For all the lost and lonely I live for him
Quante notti al pianoforte Dopo mille sere storte Da finire giù per strada gridando alla luna Io vivo per lei	She's the music of the sunshine He's the rhythm of the rain Melting violins that fly on the wings of an angel Yes I live for her
Vivo con lei ma la realtà È fare due conti in fondo al mese Poche lezioni e il piano bar Ci bastano solo per le spese	I live for him he makes me feel Sometimes sweet and sometimes fire Love can bruise and love can heal Love is the milk of my desire
Vivo per lei adesso che Sento un amore dentro me Forte gridare al mondo Io vivo	I live for her you know I do When I'm away I suffer too But at least she makes me feel I'm alive
Come un fiume verso il mare [Vivo per lei adesso che] Acqua dolce contro il sale  [Vive l'amore dentro me]	And I just can't live without him [In every lonely hotel room] He can give me so much pleasure [Beyond the sun beyond the moon]
Siamo corpi in un abbraccio, due fette Di pane, d'amore	She can fill me with the saddest emotions Give voice to the madness
Vivi di lei adesso che Vive l'amore dentro te Libera il cuore e grida Io vivo Io vivo per lei Sì, io vivo per lei	I live for her and nothing else What can I do can't help myself How many people can say as I do  I live for her I live for him
Lei è l'anima del sole [Vivo per lei adesso che] Una luce in pieno amore [Vive l'amore dentro me]	With my back against the wall [I live for him out on the edge] When tomorrow starts to fall [I live for him and nothing else]
Col respiro suo più interno mi scioglie l'inverno E vivo per lei	Everyday there is a battle that rages the conquest will always be love
Vivi una storia insieme a lei, E poi quando meno te l'aspetti Sei innamorato perso ormai Dei suoi dolcissimi difetti	I live for her right here and now No exit sign no other way out She is the music of my soul She is the child that lives within us
Se questo grande amore c'è Tu lascialo scorrere da sé Non vergognarti a dirle Io vivo Io vivo per te [Vivo per lei adesso che] Sì, io vivo per lei [Vive l'amore dentro me] Io vivo	I live for him because he gives Beauty and grace to every breath If there's another life to live I'd give it to him I live for him [She is the music of the night] I love for him [She is the music of my life] I live for him Yes, I love for her - I live for love

What do you think of this original if you haven't heard it before like me and do you like this cover version?

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... to be continued

Original: "Chiquitita" (ABBA) [1979] (1)

"Chiquitita", which is in Spanish a term of endearment for a woman meaning "little one", was released in 1979 by the Swedish pop group ABBA. Many prelimitary versions of "Chiquitita" exist, amongst them In the arms of Rosalita. (Source)

But I think we can all agree that the final version "Chiquitita" is the best English version, isn't it?

Original: Chiquitita (ABBA) [1979], Lyrics: Benny Anderson, Björn Ulvaeus

Happy Independence Day to India and Pakistan!

I want to celebrate this day with a Hindi-Urdu coverversion of "Chiquitita", an ABBA song from 1979. Actually in 1981, they released a whole cassette with ABBA songs in Hindi-Urdu, sung by Salma & Sabina Agha: "Salma & Sabina Sing the Hits of ABBA in Hindi".

"Chiquitita" is called "Abhilasha" and this is the first song I present to you.

Cover: Abhilasha (Salma & Sabina Agha) [1981], Lyrics: Amit Khanna

Quoted from the liner notes of the 1981 release Salma & Sabina Sing the Hits of ABBA in Hindi:

"This cassette contains the Hindi versions of the melodies of the World's number one pop group - ABBA. Their melodies are magic and their reproduction in any other language is a challenge which only the most talented and versatile musicians and singers can accept. This challenge was accepted by a group of people from the Indian Sub-continent and Europe. Amit Khanna, the writer of numerous Indian hits is the author of the Hindi lyrics on this cassette. He has not only managed to totally preserve the feel and atmosphere of ABBA but also given a new "Indo dimension" to the lyrics which are undoubtly the most beautiful songs ever written..." (Source)

Chiquitita ("Little one”)	Abhilasha (Desire)
Chiquitita, tell me what’s wrong? You’re enchained by your own sorrow. In your eyes, there is no hope for tomorrow. How I hate to see you like this. There is no way you can deny it. I can see that you’re oh so sad, so quiet.	Abhilasha hai yeh meri (This is what I desire) Teri hi main ban kay rahoon (That I devote myself to you) Yeh janam hai kam sanam (One life is not enough, my love) Har janam teray sang rahoon (Every rebirth I want to be with you) Jigyaasa hai yeh meri (This is my unusual wish) Pyaasi ban kay teri main mitoon (That I perish in your thirst) Har umang tarang ho sang (Every hope, every wish, I want with you) Har rang teray rang rahoon (And to colour myself with your colours)
Chiquitita, tell me the truth. I’m a shoulder you can cry on. Your best friend, I’m the one you must rely on. You were always sure of yourself. Now I see you’ve broken a feather. I hope we can patch it up together.	Abhilasha hai yeh meri Teri hi main ban kay rahoon Yeh janam hai kam sanam Har janam teray sang rahoon Aik hi aasha hai yeh meri (This is all I hope for) Teray sanchay main mein dhaloon (I mould myself just like you) Yeh umar ho yoon basar (I want to spend my lifetime) Hamsafar har safar main rahoon (As your companion for every journey)
Chiquitita, you and I know, how the heartaches come and they go and the scars they’re leaving. You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end, you will have no time for grieving.	Preetam yeh waada raha (This is my promise, my love) Sangam ab sadiyon kay premiyon kay prem ka ho ga yahan (Here will reunite lovers of centuries) Na mittein gay yeh nishan (These marks will never perish) Mit jaey chahay yeh khayal aur yeh dastan (Even if these thoughts, this legend perishes)
Chiquitita, you and I cry, but the sun is still in the sky and shining above you. Let me hear you sing once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita. Try once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita.	Preetam yeh waada raha (This is my promise, my love) Sangam ab sadiyon kay premiyon kay prem ka ho ga yahan (Here will reunite lovers of centuries) Milain gay zameen o aasman (The sky, the earth will meet) Ruk jaey ga phir yeh waqt ka karwan (And the caravane of time will stop) Hai yaqeen poora humko (I have complete faith) Hogi poori Abhilasha (My desire will be fulfilled)
So the walls came tumbling down and your love’s a blown out candle. All is gone and it seems too hard to handle. Chiquitita, tell me the truth, there is no way you can deny it. I can see that you’re oh so sad, so quiet.	Abhilasha hai yeh meri Teri hi main ban kay rahoon Yeh janam hai kam sanam Har janam teray sang rahoon Jigyaasa hai yeh meri Pyaasi ban kay teri main mitoon Har umang tarang ho sang Har rang teray rang rahoon
Chiquitita, you and I know, how the heartaches come and they go and the scars they’re leaving. You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end, you will have no time for grieving.	Preetam yeh waada raha Sangam ab sadiyon kay premiyon kay prem ka ho ga yahan Na mittein gay yeh nishan Mit jaey chahay yeh khayal aur yeh dastan
Chiquitita, you and I cry, but the sun is still in the sky and shining above you. Let me hear you sing once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita. Try once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita. Try once more like you did before, sing a new song, Chiquitita.	Preetam yeh waada raha Sangam ab sadiyon kay premiyon kay prem ka ho ga yahan Milain gay zameen o aasman Ruk jaey ga phir yeh waqt ka karwan Hai yaqeen poora humko Hogi poori Abhilasha Hai yaqeen poora humko Hogi poori Abhilasha

Looking at the English translation, Amit Khanna chose the words very intelligently. My focus is especially on the word "Abhilasha" what simply means "desire" but if you didn't know the meaning of the word, you would think - at least, I thought so as an European - it is a girl's name. It ends on "-a", like "Chiquitita", which could be a girl's name too but isn't.

Many thanks to Sabine Shah who helped me with the transliteration and the translation of the song.

What do you think of this version of "Chiquitita"? How does it sound to you?

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... to be continued