On the new album, she interprets the works of the Beatles. I reviewed the excellent album back in February. Miriam Di Nunuzi (Chicago Sun-Times) interviewed Roberta this month:
Question: Were you a big Beatles fan growing up?
Roberta Flack: I still am. I was a teacher for a
part of my life, and when I was ready to move away from the classroom
the Beatles were very inspiring musically for me. Songs like “I Want to
Hold Your Hand,” “Love, Love Me Do,” all those early songs. It was new.
We were all singing them. To hear musicians from England singing those
[rock and roll] songs!
Q. How did their music inspire you?
RF: It was prophetic in a way. How could these
young guys who I couldn’t relate to, because I’m from Black Mountain,
North Carolina, be so inspiring? For some reason, I could relate to the
music but not the four young boys from England. I found something in the
songs that I could interpret vocally. It began to really live inside of
me. That they had the ability as young songwriters to really say
something with music to all people was inspiring. It was amazingly
mature, sincere, right on the money. All good songs are that. I studied
classical piano for years, so I’m very moved by great melodies.
Q. You really experimented with Beatles’ melodies for this album.
RF: Their music was very complex and simple at the
same time. You can get caught up in the melody of “Let It Be,” and that
can be something that plays over and over in your mind. But for me it
was the combination of the melody and the words that challenged me. It
represented something other than what people had heard over the years,
without doing something clever.
And Cheryl Wills interviews her for NY1 -- link is a little text and video.,
If you haven't heard the album yet, you should really give it a chance, it's one of the year's finest albums.
Closing with C.I.'s "
