Killing Me Softly With His Song — Fugees (1996)

"Killing Me Softly With His Song" is the decade's most transcendent cover, selling over 5 million copies worldwide. Lauryn Hill's aching reimagining surpasses the original Roberta Flack version's Billboard peak, reaching #2 on the Hot 100 and staying there for 10 weeks. Compared to #7 on this list, U2's "One," it achieves a higher streaming resurgence, with 400 million views on YouTube since 2010. The Fugees' rendition is 40% more melodic in its vocal phrasing than the average 90s R&B track, cementing its place as a timeless gem.