Killing Me Softly With His Song - Other Versions

Other Versions

Other major artists to cover the song include Johnny Mathis, Carly Simon, Teresa Teng, Cleo Laine, Blossom Dearie, Al B. Sure!, Carole King, Frank Sinatra, Herb Alpert, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tori Amos, Alison Moyet, Perry Como, Harry Connick, Jr., The Jackson 5, Mina, Anne Murray, Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '77, Luther Vandross, Colbie Caillat, Susan Boyle, Toni Braxton, Céline Dion, Alicia Keys, Anastacia, Jaco Pastorius, The Plain White T's, The Youngblood Brass Band, Shirley Bassey, John Holt, Vicki Lawrence, Usha Uthup, Gene Pitney, Allison Iraheta, Eva Avila and the Singers Unlimited, Pandora, The Ventures, Milton Nascimento, Neal Schon, The Undisputed Truth. Some versions performed by male artists reverse the gender pronouns (with notable exceptions Luther Vandross, The Jackson 5, and the Plain White T's).

In 1975, an instrumental version of "Killing Me Softly" served as the main musical theme of the film The Drowning Pool, starring Paul Newman. Charles Fox received credit as composer and conductor.

In April, 1976. This song covered by Teresa Teng in her album—World of Love (愛之世界).

R&B artist Al B. Sure was the next to cover the song in 1988 on his debut album In Effect Mode... and experienced some success with it. He was voted the top new Male R&B solo artist in 1989.

A Eurodance version was covered by Brazilian singer Regina Saraiva in 1996. This version went on to be a club hit across Europe.

A live instrumental version was recorded by Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers in 1998.

In 1999, Susan Boyle, an amateur singer who quickly rose to fame on the internet and in the news media after her appearance on Britain's Got Talent in 2009, used "all her savings" to pay for a professionally cut demo tape, which she later sent to record companies, radio talent competitions, local and national TV and which has now been released on the Internet. It consisted of "Cry Me a River" and her version of "Killing Me Softly with His Song". Boyle gave away a few copies to her close friends.

In 2001, Neal Schon performed an instrumental version on the album Voice.

In 2002, Kimberly Caldwell performed the song during the second season of American Idol.

The song was used heavily in the 2002 film About a Boy. when Nicholas Hoult's character sings a terribly off key version of it at a talent show.

Bassist Marcus Miller covered the song live on two of his albums, the first being The Ozell Tapes: The Official Bootleg (2003), and the second is Master of All Trades (2007) with special guest Roberta Flack.

In 2008, saxophonist Jazz Hamilton cover the melody on the album My Soul as a Smooth Latin Jazz Ballad.

In 2012, Katrina Parker performed the song for the semi-final round of NBC's The Voice. The accompanying single peaked at 25 in the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.

Jahmene Douglas covered the song on the X Factor UK week 4 of season 9.