Hello - Lionel Richie (1984) 11/21/23

Lionel Richie's album "Can't Slow Down" won the 1984 Grammy for Album of the Year...and for good reason: it was filled with Great Songs!

Today, we're highlighting "Hello," the second single from the album.

The song almost never saw the light of day.

It was autobiographical, based on the fact that when Lionel was young, he was tongue-tied around beautiful girls. He would think to himself: "Hello...is it me you're looking for?"

Obviously, he used that sentence in the song...but after that, he kept stalling...not really knowing where to go with it--and not really thinking it was a Great Song anyway.

One day, his producer, James Anthony Carmichael, stopped by to see him, and Lionel greeted with the lyric...to which James replied: "Yes. FINISH THE SONG!"

So Lionel knuckled down and completed it...but he still wasn't convinced it was any good. His wife Brenda, however, LOVED it, so Lionel went ahead and recorded it. Word has it that when he heard the final playback, he finally realized that it was actually pretty darn good.

And when it was released as a single, the proof was on the charts: #1 in 9 countries...including the US, where it was a triple Billboard chart topper: #1 on The Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and R&B/Hip-Hop Charts. Over in the UK, where it also reached #1, it became Motown's first million-selling single.

The only sour note was the video: It had little to do with the song, and Lionel complained loudly to no avail. It was later voted the "Worst Video of All Time" in the UK.

Betcha can't wait to click the link and watch it!

Regardless of the video, "Hello" by Lionel Richie is a Great Song of 1984! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHONNcZbwDY

Tomorrow's Forecast: Sunshine!