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Hello (Lionel Richie song)

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For other uses, see Hello (disambiguation).

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"Hello"
File:Lionel Richie Hello.jpg
Song by Lionel Richie
from the album Can't Slow Down
B-side"You Mean More to Me"
ReleasedFebruary 13, 1984 (1984-02-13)
GenreSoft rock[1]
Length4:14
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)Lionel Richie
Producer(s)
  • Lionel Richie
  • James Anthony Carmichael

"Hello" is a song by Lionel Richie. Taken as the third single from his second solo album Can't Slow Down, the song was released in 1984 and reached number one on three Billboard music charts: the pop chart (for two weeks), the R&B chart (for three weeks),[2] and the adult contemporary chart (for six weeks). The song also went to number one in the UK Singles Chart for six weeks.[3] The song later inspired a lawsuit by songwriter Marjorie Hoffman White, who accused Richie of plagiarizing her composition "I'm Not Ready to Go".[4]

Composition[]

The song is written in the key of A minor. The verses follow the chord progression of Am9—Cmaj7/G—Fmaj7—C6/G—Fmaj7. The chorus features a Neapolitan chord (Bb).[5]

Music video[]

The music video, directed by Bob Giraldi, features the story of Richie as a theater and acting teacher having a seemingly unrequited love for a blind student (Laura Carrington) until he discovers she shares the feeling as demonstrated by the discovery that she is sculpting a likeness of his head. The famous bust used in the video, which bears little resemblance to Richie, has been parodied in popular culture.[6][7] Richie himself complained to the video's director, Bob Giraldi, that the bust did not look like him.[8]

Pop culture[]

The song is memorable for the line "Hello, is it me you're looking for?". That phrase started the song's composition, as James Anthony Carmichael visited Richie, and after the singer greeted him that way, 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."[9]

The guitar solo on the song was played by session guitarist Louie Shelton. In pop culture, the song is featured in the films Bitter Moon, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Herbie: Fully Loaded, Scary Movie 4, Are We Done Yet?, Shrek Forever After, Hard Boiled, Colour Me Kubrick, Happy Feet, Paddington, Trolls, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. It has also featured in the television shows The Goldbergs, Family Guy, Seinfeld, Community, and Glee as well in commercials for companies like Yahoo! and IKEA.

Charts and certifications[]

Cover versions[]

  • Kikki Danielsson recorded the song as "Du" ("You"), with lyrics in Swedish by Keith Almgren, on her 1985 album Bra vibrationer.[46]
  • In 2011, American bachata singer Berto La Voz covered the song which was released as the first single from his debut album Llego La Voz.[47] This version peaked at #11 on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart.[48]
  • As a part of the tribute to Richie at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards on February 15, 2016, American singer Demi Lovato gave a rendition of the song.[49][50][51] Her cover version eventually peaked at 15 on the Billboard Twitter Top Tracks chart.[52]

See also[]

  • List of number-one singles of 1984 (Australia)
  • List of Belgian number-one singles of 1984 (Flanders))
  • List of number-one singles of 1984 (Canada)
  • List of number-one singles of 1984 (Ireland)
  • List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 1984
  • List of number-one singles in 1984 (New Zealand)
  • List of number-one singles of 1984 (Switzerland)
  • List of UK Singles Chart number ones of 1984
  • List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1984
  • List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1984 (U.S.)
  • List of number-one R&B singles of 1984 (U.S.)
  • List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1984

References[]

  1. ↑ "VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. May 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 492.
  3. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 434–5. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ "A Long Island song writer has filed a $1..." UPI.
  5. ↑ "Unsupported Browser or Operating System". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ Mathieson, Jack (May 23, 2014). "Student blindfolds himself as he bids to recreate famous Lionel Ritchie sculpture from 1984". dailyrecord.
  7. ↑ Kiernan Maletsky and Gavin Cleaver. "Lionel Richie's "Hello" is the Most Confusing Music Video of All Time". Dallas Observer.
  8. ↑ "Lionel Richie on Hits Tour, Commodores Reunion and the Legend of 'Hello' - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone.
  9. ↑ "Lionel Richie recalls early distaste for 'Hello' as hit song turns 30". CTVNews.
  10. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Lionel Richie – Hello" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  12. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Lionel Richie – Hello" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "Radio 2 Top 30" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6741." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6748." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  16. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Lionel Richie – Hello" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  17. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Lionel Richie". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  18. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Lionel Richie – Hello" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 15, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  20. ↑ "Charts.nz – Lionel Richie – Hello". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "Topp 20 Single uke 25, 1984 – VG-lista. Offisielle hitlister fra og med 1958" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Lista Przebojów Programu 3". LP3. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  23. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Acts R". The South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Lionel Richie – Hello". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  25. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Lionel Richie – Hello". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  26. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  27. ↑ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  28. ↑ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  29. ↑ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  30. ↑ CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MAY 12, 1984 at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 September 2012(Timestamp length)). Cash Box magazine.
  31. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 Singles 1984". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1984". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Ultratop Jaaroverzichten 1984". Ultratop 50 (in Dutch). Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9638." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  35. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts 1984". GfK Entertainment Charts (in German). Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Dutch Charts Jaaroverzichten Single 1984". Single Top 100 (in Dutch). Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1984". Swiss Singles Chart (in German). Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  39. ↑ 1984 in British music#Best-selling singles
  40. ↑ "Volume 96 No. 51, DECEMBER 22. 1984" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. December 22, 1984. p. TA-19. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Volume 96 No. 51, DECEMBER 22. 1984" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. December 22, 1984. p. TA-25. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Volume 96 No. 51, DECEMBER 22. 1984" (PDF). Billboard. New York, NY, USA. December 22, 1984. p. TA-21. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  43. ↑ The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1984 at the Wayback Machine (archived September 11, 2012(Timestamp length)). Cash Box magazine.
  44. ↑ [[[:Template:Certification Cite/URL]] "[[:Template:Certification Cite/Title]]"] Check |url= value (help). Recording Industry Association of America. URL–wikilink conflict (help) If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  45. ↑ [[[:Template:Certification Cite/URL]] "[[:Template:Certification Cite/Title]]"] Check |url= value (help). British Phonographic Industry. URL–wikilink conflict (help) Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Hello in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  46. ↑ "Bra vibrationer" (in Swedish). Swedish mediadatabase. 1985. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
  47. ↑ "Llego La Voz - Berto La Voz". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved June 17, 2012.
  48. ↑ "Latin Tropical Airplay 2011-12-31". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 17, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  49. ↑ Robinson, Joanna (February 15, 2016). "Watch Demi Lovato Rock a Musical Tribute to Lionel Richie". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  50. ↑ Ng, Philiana (February 15, 2016). "Demi Lovato Delivers Show-Stopping GRAMMYs Performance of 'Hello' During Lionel Richie Tribute". Entertainment Tonight. CBS Corporation. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  51. ↑ Bell, Crystal (February 15, 2016). "Demi Lovato's Fire Cover of Lionel Richie's 'Hello' Will Give You Chills". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  52. ↑ "Billboard Twitter Top Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.

External links[]

  • Template:MetroLyrics song
Preceded by
"Footloose" by Kenny Loggins 		Australian Singles Chart number-one single
4 June 1984 – 18 June 1984 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"It's Just Not Cricket" by The Twelfth Man
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"Love Is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar 		Ultratop 50 Flanders number-one single
21 April 1984 – 14 May 1983 (5 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"To All the Girls I've Loved Before" by Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias
Preceded by
"Got a Hold on Me" by Christine McVie 		Canadian "RPM" Adult Contemporary Chart number-one single
28 April 1984 - 5 May 1984 (2 weeks)
Preceded by
"To All the Girls I've Loved Before" by Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias 		Canadian "RPM" Singles Chart number-one single
2 June 1984 (1 week) 		Succeeded by
"Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper
Preceded by
"99 Red Balloons" by Nena 		Irish Singles Chart number-one single
31 March 1984 – 21 April 1984 (4 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" by Phil Collins
Preceded by
"Love Is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar 		Single Top 100 number-one single
7 April 1984 – 21 April 1984 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Ik voel me zo verdomd alleen" by Danny de Munk
Dutch Top 40 number-one single
14 April 1984 – 5 May 1984 (4 weeks)
Preceded by
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper 		New Zealand Singles Chart number one single
27 May 1984 (1 Week) 		Succeeded by
"Footloose" by Kenny Loggins
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"Big in Japan" by Alphaville 		Schweizer Hitparade number-one single
20 May 1984 – 17 June 1984 (5 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Self Control" by Laura Branigan
Preceded by
"99 Red Balloons" by Nena 		UK Singles Chart number-one single
24 March 1984 – 28 April 1984 (6 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"The Reflex" by Duran Duran
Preceded by
"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" by Phil Collins 		Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
12 May 1984 - 19 May 1984 (2 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams
Preceded by
"Got a Hold on Me" by Christine McVie 		Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one single
7 April 1984 – 12 May 1984 (6 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"The Longest Time" by Billy Joel
Preceded by
"She's Strange" by Cameo 		Billboard Hot Black number-one single
5 May 1984 – 19 May 1984 (3 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Don't Waste Your Time" by Yarbrough & Peoples
Preceded by
"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" by Phil Collins 		Cash Box Top 100 number-one single
12 May 1984 – 19 May 1984 (2 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Let's Hear It for the Boy" by Deniece Williams

Template:Lionel Richie

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