Hello (1983) – Lionel Richie

40 years ago since its release, this classic 80’s ballad still hits close to my heart. Hello is my number 1 go-to song in my scarce opportunities to practice Karaoke. It’s one of the few songs I can sing pretty well. There’s even a nice family video I have singing it with the kids a couple of Christmas’ ago.

Anyhows, if you haven’t seen it already, I recommend you watch the official video of the song below and realise how problematic such a video would be in these modern times. It features the story of Richie as a theater and acting teacher having unrequited love for a blind student.

Hello is the third single from Lionel Richie’s second solo album Can’t Slow Down (1983) and reached number one on three Billboard music charts. According to wikipedia – The song is memorable for the line “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?” The phrase started the song’s composition, as when James Anthony Carmichael visited Richie, the singer greeted him that way, to which Carmichael replied, “Finish that song.” Richie initially felt that the song was “corny” but ultimately “by the time I finished the verse, I fell in love with the song again.”

Can’t Slow Down is the second solo studio album by American recording artist Lionel Richie. It sold over 20 million copies, and is Richie’s best-selling album of all time. Five singles were released from Can’t Slow Down, all of which hit the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including two that reached No. 1: “All Night Long (All Night)” and today’s track “Hello“. The album also won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1985.

Reference:
1. Hello (Lionel Richie song) – Wikipedia

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“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand