The definitive version of First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack 1972

[neuronpie]

In my opinion, the best, the ultimate love song.

[Fitzwilliamdarcy1000]

Glee brought me here- and their version was great- but this version is just amazing! Voice of an angel!

[positivepressure]

Words etched in my forever and my now.

[claudya90]

Where can I get this version ???

[rhonda6004]

can't hear this without crying, its so beautiful.

[robroe2006]

She is one of a kind. You can see and feel her when she sings.. One of my lifes favorites

[ljr3000onforesthill]

The best song of Roberta. I had the pleasure of seeing her in concert. What a blessing!

[dorsiflector]

****** vids like this make me wish that YouTube had six stars.

[sinuar2]

Lykke Li suggested me this video from Ping

[checheveliz]

lykke li brought me here, fuck leona :)

[ClubAspahltBerlin]

Lykki Li knows what she's talking about!

[TheBeckyOfficial]

Lykke li sent me from twitter :)

[quovadis1952]

The best song EVER written and performed. Everything else is distant second...

[ShanewSxS]

matt cardle FTW

[LawReport]

Howard Taylor loves Paula Jackson

[Nfirstmom]

Stunning. I have always loved you Roberta and your beautiful voice.

Nobody will ever do it like U.

[ridge83]

It still makes me cry

[petrologyboy]

Easily the best vocal performance I've ever heard. Roberta, we love you.

[Babooshka1960]

Easily one of the most beautiful love songs ever written by the singer who sang it best, so understated, so perfect, so feeling. I prefer the slow version but still, it's beautiful

[themachinist1000]

@Babooshka1960 It was written by Ewan MacColl by the way, unless you meant him?

[localguy8]

this is pure feeling and passion what a singer .love it

[combandpaper283]

Just beautiful. I wish I had a voice like that

[enndia]

One of the most beautiful songs ever.

[1985Eazye]

Awesome!

[ROCUNTA]

@moonlitme :)

[loristroubledx]

The day my daughter was born, 23 years ago, rest her beautiful soul,

[PeterTattersall46]

@loristroubledx so sorry.

[flatjwl]

Incredible, moving, powerful, and beautiful. Absolutely the best version of this wonderful song, EVER! Only Celine Dion comes close to this.

[cherrybombsingsong]

acheingly beautiful

[quantro456]

will haunt me always. grand marnier, cheese and chess

[19755820]

lising to george michael sing this

[astronut66]

@19755820 no thanks

[ukdodger]

@astronut66 Yeah. No thanks

[xxxdokan]

@astronut66

hahaha

[thebaked]

everytime i sing this song in the shower i sound great.... and it reminds me.. of the 1st time with her...!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bamaboompa]

You are right. I had the vinyl version. Although it is great, this is a little faster paced and sounds better, even considering it's a live performance.

Thanks for the upload

[wllmclmnts]

Hats off to the songwriter..."first time singers become great!

[sharonthepixie]

amazing brings me close to tears

[FranchiseTV93]

i herd she was dedicating this song to her master and it wasnt God the hevenly father ....

[mrwebster2008]

Roberta , I fell in love with you when I first heard this performance! You have an amazing gift.

[patriot112258]

Roberta was a friend of my mother's . This is the only Love song I ever saw my parents dance to . The personal tie to this song make it an all time classic for me . It is now a song that I share with my futrure wife , one that we will play on our special day .

[jurbinsky77]

This is Dr. Roberta Flack.

[gulfgypsy]

Pure class and pure perfection!

[Whitewings2003]

what a voice, so pure....

[t33tman]

This is a rare classic -- an all time great that simply outclasses nearly all of the music heard today. Effortless and beautiful.

[mythicalbeast777]

I don't believe in God, but this song - this version - gives me religion. A truly sacred thing.

[kiljoy67]

first song i can remember

[FromCarol]

What can I add?.. but this song so epitomizes, the joy, the glory, the timidity, the requited unity of love. You can feel it in Roberta's voice. Thank you so much for

posting it. From Carol

[shatara3]

Great Song !!!

[ebwAUS]

what can you say about this song just amazing

[tanglewood243]

aahhhhhhhhhhhh, words is enough???

[filigrant]

Celines version for me is much more intimate and tender...this one is a bit too fast

[andrejsify]

if I need to shed a tear... I listen to this

[LuvGothicgirl101]

My GOD! I love the way she sings this song!

[hunkleallan]

Wonderful !



[nesnejls]

Prefer the slightly slower version elsewhere on youtube (studio). but that's like saying there's a chip in the arse of Michelangelo's David. Beyond great.

[ls196xs]

Awesome what a voice what a song makes me wonder where the great songwritters have gone.

[jgmagoo1]

ABSOLUTELY the definitive version!!!

[robang702]

Quite possibly one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written and performed by an incredible artist. Gets me every time!

[sueharrison1968]

one one of the most brilliantly and beautifully inspired love songs, and performances I have ever experienced.

[WildeNotesMusic]

Roberta Flack's version is clearly the most commercially successful one and her voice and delivery are superb. However, I think Ewan McColl's original melody -- which differs from this only on the first line of the song -- is prettier than the way Flack's arrangement altered it. I also prefer hearing the song as the folk song it originally was, with simpler acoustic instrumentation. JMHO

[JohnnyBGood103170]

She's singing & playing double time in this one. I prefer her studio version. Although, I think she's a beautiful lady. hehe

[dennisallatt45]

probably the most beautiful love song ever performed.If your with the one you truly love

then treasure that person.

[MaceMn]

One of the very few #1 hits that deserved to actually be #1.

[rangvi]

Who are those 17 people who dislike this song ? Certainly people without heart or soul !

[mel73nic]

wonderful

[KetrinTramel8332]

its great.. but somehow i liked celine's cover better..

[pin28son]

I prefer this live version to the hit version, which I thought was tediously slow. This captures all the emotion and the gorgeous melody. For a different take on the song, try Peter, Paul & Mary's version.

[57mollie]

Fab

[bleachbred]

Breathtaking! Simply awesome!

[gummymonster1]

Roberta Flack One of the best singer’s performers the world will ever know.

[Horacechicken]

Wow. I'm a screaming metalhead, but this is just breathtaking....

[cherybomber]

17 people wouldn't know a great song if it hit them across the face. This is beautiful.

[LoveMyMusic65]

This brings back such fond memories that sacredly unfold whIle I listen to this wonderful masterpiece by Roberta Flack.

[rf2387]

107merk: surely you jest. It can't get any better than Roberta

[navvento]

awesome.

[Mauriemoto]

Even Renee herself would not challenge the great lady for the best rendition but comments flowing in suggest she is the closest thing the world has to offer and as a 20 year old, surely the best is yet to come. This is no imitation it is a whole new interpretation, not Roberta Not Celine but Renee. youtube.com/watch?v=4DAJl3_5-7­o or look for Naybaybay

[paulostroff99]

As good as it gets. TY astonut66 for posting.

[moonlitme]

personally, i believe anyone who wants to sing this song should...with all their heart...in the woods, in the car , in the shower, wherever...no matter how it sounds because it's a song that transforms your being. that being said...her version brings tears unbidden and long hidden....every time i am blessed to hear it. thanks for posting it.

[Nfirstmom]

@moonlitme OMG first she gives me goosebumps then I read what you wrote

and I get them all over again. What an amazing way to start out my day. Thanks

so much for that!! Oh, and for the person that posted it. Thank-You, Dawg and

I know I'm not hormonal. LOL

[moonlitme]

@Nfirstmom thank you...what a kind thing to say. blessed be.

[moonlitme]

@Nfirstmom woof (tail wagging)

[slmorganwalker]

@moonlitme Agreed that anyone should sing it, questionable whether they should get paid though.

[moonlitme]

@slmorganwalker agreed, in fact, whenever i sing ANYTHING people offer me money to STOP. i can't even hit a note passing by one....but i love to sing!

[suscpay]

This is such a beautiful and moving song, I love this song, one of my all time favorites. I agree that this song was meant for Roberta's voice and no one else. She sings this song with such emotion and it shows how true love is meant to be. Love it !!!!

[107Merc]

Roberta Flack is fantastic at singing this song...but it is but nothing once you hear Mary Travers sing it. You will be moved!

[janhope22]

This song, sung by Roberta Flack is so so beautiful in how it captures the essence of true love that it stops me in my tracks and moves me to tears.

Janet

[boggym1999]

Glasega ? Haa aa aa aa ... and haha

Beauty in a song and a voice to match is Roberta Flack's version. Some other good versions maybe but this one moves me

So it should, some may say

[Shuggydylan]

@boggym1999 =)



[Shuggydylan]

@boggym1999 Ah, ah like it, am man >Its molved a lot of people. Even ma cat LOL =)

[Shuggydylan]

I sing the "definitive" version. I sing it with more feeling, and don't fake an American accent. Even the Americans are faking this accent now!!. Roberta, listen and learn. it goes "haa, aa aa and aa a a a an aa a ahand", not "hand". So there. I'm frae Glasega,Scotland. I get any adverse comments, gI'm onna come and sort yous oot. Yuos are luck I am a pacifist Rock on!!

[heehawluck1]

@Shuggydylan Away an bile yer heid son !!! Y'r a manky midden.

[moonlitme]

oh my...

[Shuggydylan]

@moonlitme Shuggya comedy creation LOL. He's harmless =)

[moonlitme]

@Shuggydylan  huh???

[moonlitme]

@Shuggydylan no problems here. blessed be

[Shuggydylan]

@moonlitme Blessings right back at ya, moonltime. Shuggy Dylan is a comedy character, who parodies BOB . Shuggy is harmless , and means no offense!!. Just trying ta make people smile. Shuggy actually LOVED this song. Me too, I was old enough to play it on jukeboxes when a teenager.. Maybe Shuggy WAS annoyed at Ewan McColl's well documented crictciism of Shuggy's brother, BOB, back in 1960's. Eitehr way, God bless,moonlit,don't take the boy too seriously. He is harmless LOL , jamiegtr2007 (Jim)

[JGMagoo]

I AGREE 1000 percent!!

THE DEFINITIVE version!.

No other even comes close!

[Titos1481]

Sencillamente una mujer de espejos, quién no se puede ver ante sus canciones?

Roberto Mauviel Fayó.-

[confedman11]

what movie is this from?

[acecreativitycoach]

@confedman11

This was used by Clint Eastwood in the first film he directed, "Play Misty For Me." (1971) It was used as he was ... how to put this politely ... "going down" on his girlfriend played by Donna Mills.

[rvcrvc2]

I agree this is the definitive version, and the one that's reverberated in my memory since the early '70's. But I just heard a very moving version by Johnny Cash, not as ethereal but more wrenching, perhaps.

[ggrahamm17]

About as good as it gets

[kar399]

Class

[dirtyboy1111]

Beautiful....

[BanginMan100]

no one comes close to this version

[TheBecks3]

Thanks :)This song...this version in fact will always remind me of the most amazing person, my Favorite person. Love you ;)

[kathyscv1]

@TheBecks3 I too thank you and this Roberta us so Classy, deep. raw, pure,brilliant and beautiful women..And her voice is like an angel

[1961rody]

39 years ago when I first heard this song. I remember where I was, and where I shouldn't have been..Memories are enternal. Loved this sonf by Roberta..

[algarverules]

Kippenvel !!!!!! Een van de mooiste liedjes die ik ken.

[veronicathecow]

Hi, I must agree with loplover, a slower version is better, the one uploaded by unqpujavideos is my favorite although I believe there is a slightly better one out there but I cannot currently find it. A Fantastic song and thanks for putting it on it is nice to hear different versions

[MORGANTHEMOON1]

Nobody sings this song better

[loplover]

This version seems a bit too fast for to me - prefer the one with much less views uploaded by srsteele2002

[Stepper11]

Spellbinding.

[Sharron120]

Perfect

[clariecjt]

outstanding

[74XLR]

No one can hold a candle to Roberta Flack singing this song. PERIOD

[phillipgaley]

@74XLR In that, you lump together all assessment of the piece, necessarily, your opinion isolates itself as arbitrary: and for example, while Flack does what she can to render it in a unique expression, the turns of musical phrase are in an urgency which in this time, is rather common, also, as done by PP and M, I for one, like the staid rhythmical progression, and, in several places, the use metrical phrasing which better follows the lyric, and still today, is unique; so, . . .

[lepsu0176]

@74XLR I totally agree

[rvcrvc2]

Well said, astro66. Vocal gymnastics are for the amateurs on American Idol who are encouraged to disregard the fact that the song is the star, the performer simply its presenter.

[amaxx1]

@rvcrvc2 Well said.

[VanyaDevine]

I love metal music but this is the most touching and beutifull song i ever heard she is divine singer to

[WandaMaril]

my wedding song is 1979. Still my favorite

[TyroneGH]

One of the best all time songs

[amaxx1]

@TyroneGH One of many great songs.

[laurimiking]

love it, love it, love it

[amaxx1]

@laurimiking It's hard to hear when one's head is stuck so far up one's behind.

[SweetGeorgie25]

My dads fave song... its beautiful! shame to 16 ppl who don't agree booo x

[67Hazelnut]

Hi from germany. Me has a little story to this song and thats why its a part of my entire life. A close friend of mine become father and it was the time to christen his young born boy. A church, not a small chapel, its one of the 2 main churches in hometown, all family been there, tourists and guests. His wife holding the baby and this man, my friend, stood in front of altar and I frooze as he began to sing this song for his son. Imagine this scene, a voluminous mans voice, and a pipeorgan.

[aratunnie]

@67Hazelnut .....that is a beautiful story :)

[niceone69uk]

@67Hazelnut nice story, brought a tear to my eyes

[downhill240]

@67Hazelnut Thanks you so much for sharing this beautiful story.

[moonlitme]

@67Hazelnut thanks for sharing your story. there is a version of this song sung by johnny cash that carries a stark, clunky tension to it that is quite touching. check it out

[vanprooi]

Try listinging to this as a spiritual, too.

[tedayrom]

it was like yesterday i walked in to a cinema to watch play misty for me i was in san jose state 1972.i was only 20.

[tedayrom]

play misty for me.

[RichadTheLionHeat]

Ms. Flack's voice is pure beauty, how she expresses the emotions is truly a gift that only God can give a singer. I have loved this song since it was released back in 1972, I had to rush out and purchase the .45 rpm record, which I still own. I share this classic heartful music with my two young children. The softness in her voice, the deep emotions touches so many of us. What a voice! Thank you Ms. Flack. Be blessed

[jbibb66]

One of the best Love song of all times and Roberta did best

[grannywend]

My lovely new man sent this to me on my birthday. xxxxxxxxxx

[amaxx1]

@grannywend he's got good taste.

[shanae1976]

Roberta Flack is the only one who has ever been able to sing this beautiful song. It came from deep within her heart, that you could only feel by listening. No one has ever been able to surpass her and no one ever will. If I could sing it to my man this way, I would be thrilled because it's about him.

[IAmrtutor]

This is consider one of the quietest songs ever recorded and also one of the greatest stress relieving songs that I have ever heard. I was 6 when it hit Casey's American Top 40.

[owen85evans]

Stunning, purely stunning! I'm 25 and have just discovered this woman but what a voice, such soul and feeling go through the lyrics. Sitting looking at a picture of my boyfriend who's away at the moment and seeing his picture and these words has turned me into an emtional wreck! Thank you Roberta what a true talent .

[whatanightmare1]

@owen85evans Awesome post! And congrats on discovering the best music of the 20th century :~) Isn't it amazing? Hope you boyfriend makes it back safely to your arms.  I know how it is, my hubby is working in Iraq, of all places.

[sparks199]

@whatanightmare1 Heres to hoping both of your guys' make a safe return!

Roberta is amazing with this song!

[whatanightmare1]

@sparks199 Thank you! I got to have him home for a couple of weeks, but he had to go back on Valentine's Day. It was nice while it lasted :~) Listening to this beautiful song, I realize I'm so lucky to have the perfect love of my life, even if he is thousands of miles away. Many people go their whole lives and don't have that, I'm very lucky!

[amychubby]

what a beautiful song and voice - literally spine tingling, her voice is like sugar.

[skepticbloke]

wow! wow! I'm in love with this song!

[TheMoonlitKnight1963]

Brilliant!!! & i can't believe when i looked for this,i saw some x factor robot had covered this and his uploads have had 3m+ whilst the greatest and only version worth bending your ear to has only 400k ... wtf?

[pussypop100]

@TheMoonlitKnight1963 i agree some songs should never be covered and this is one of them why do these people with no talent think they can compare to a talent like this lady

[countceprano]

@pussypop100 :" some songs should never be covered and this is one of them"

Actually, Roberta's version IS a cover. Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary made this song first well known. And Gordon Lightfoot did an excellent cover of that. Very different from Flack's version, which is my favorite BTW. But the ones I mention are truer to original folksy song by Ewan McColl.

[tonybell7]

@pussypop100

this IS a cover

[amaxx1]

@pussypop100 Any song can be covered, the trick is if you're a seasoned singer to find your own truth in the lyric, it's about being honest. The genre or style of music makes no difference. However, a singer must understand what the song is asking of the artist in it's treatment of it, and equally important is to glorify the song because the music must be served. I know that this statement runs completely counter to what our culture espouses.

[GuitarLicksU]

This is what deep true Romantic Love is about . Roberta Flack and her beautiful voice made this song one of best songs ever written. I think because she sings from her heart and brings out the depth and meaning. Its not about Rose colored glasses. ......burningarrow13

[GuitarLicksU]

This is what deep true Romantic Love is about . Roberta Flack and her beautiful voice made this song one of best songs ever written. I think because she sings from her heart and brings out the depth and meaning. Its not about Rose colored glasses.

[Bellevueman1]

At first , when I heard this song in 1969, I didn't like it much but I soon realized that this song is one of the most beautiful songs ever written and sung.

No one, I mean no one, can do this song like Roberta Flack.... a true artist.

[xxForestetxx]

love this verson and  matt cardles <3

[conifer541]

Happy Birthday Roberta. (74)

[hirhodes]

@conifer541 Holy Cow! Roberta's 74? Damn I'm old. lol

[orrangem]

Roberta Flack sends chills down my spine. What an amazing voice. I'm convinced that she's changed my life for all the better by listening to her music when life was at it's darkest hour. Thanks for the help Roberta

[mexicanhoney1forrest]

WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL!

[1golfchap]

all time wonderfull classic,,love it.

[1golfchap]

all time wonderfull classic,,love it

[mtnhigh48]

cbolaurent....you're nuts!! NO ONE but NO ONE does this better than Roberta especially someone voted one of the top 10 singers you hate to hear, like Celine Dion. You have to be kidding!!

[cbolaurent]

a good draft, but versions of George Michael and Celine Dion are far far better, IMO

[stjimmy933499399493]

@cbolaurent troll alert

[doctorgolfer01]

Most beautiful & touching!!

[tbenkey]

I saw her do this at Carnegie hall when I was maybe 13 yrs old. In the middle of the song, I looked around at the audience and I swear everyone had their eyes closed like they were in a deep meditation. Roberta is a goddess of song, and I think this is her first and best psalm.

[1001bubicamala]

i look roses in your eyes my love when i look in you you make me happy

[1001bubicamala]

authentical

[amaxx1]

@1001bubicamala Good word I like it.

[Helwog]

this song is so beautiful and so amazing - reminds me of my first true love 

[Stealthtube1]

This song makes me cry :(