Love – the joy and the pain – two songs sung by Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack (b 1937) is an American singer, songwriter and musician known for her singing of jazz, soul, R&B and folk music. Her two best songs are probably these two, and they both won Grammy Record of the Year awards in 1973 and 1974. You may or may not like this style of music – but either way she is a very fine performer of it. In many people’s view no-one else ever comes close to her on these songs. Some say the song The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face works better when sung by a man*.
*It was written by Ewan McColl for his wife, Peggy Seeger. Ewan McColl was an English/Scottish folksinger, songwriter, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. Peggy Seeger was an important American folksinger.
You may need to adjust the volume control. This woman’s voice can fill a concert hall!
1 When did this person fall in love with someone?
2 Where did the sun rise?
3 What were the skies like?
4 How did this man seem to light up the sky?
5 What moved in her hand?
6 What was happening to the bird used in the simile?
7 What phrase in the song conveys the sense that the person could control what the other person felt or did?
8 What two convictions did the singer have about the joy she and her partner felt?
Click here for the answers!
Roberta Flack’s playing of classical piano won her a university place at the age of 15. During her music studies she changed her instrument from piano to voice. She has also worked as a conductor and has been recognised for her outstanding work in promoting music education.
This is a shorter exercise – after about halfway through the recording the singer sings several repeats of the chorus. If you have had enough by then, you could just stop!
1 What instrument was the person playing that the singer must have heard?
2 Who was the person she heard?
3 What is it that evoked memories for the woman of her lost love?
4 Why was she ’embarrassed’ in front of a lot of people?
5 What are the words that tell you he didn’t stop?
6 What made her feel as if he knew her personally, and about the way she had suffered?