Lionel Richie - First Direct Arena 4/3/2015 - A Legend in Action

Lionel Richie is many peoples guilty pleasure, he is also one of those artist that can surprise the casual fan with their depth of catalogue.

Since Lionel stepped forward from his position of saxophonist to become front man for the Commodores he has developed into one of the great showmen and kept the crowd in Leeds hugely entertained. His musical education segment – whereby he educates the younger ones in the crowd in how he can musically support you through a break up into a new relationship “when you’re in love and you want the world to know, who you gonna call – Lionel” leads us into a perfectly singalong Stuck On You.

We were promised All The Hits, All Night Long and promises weren’t broken. Easy (like Sunday Morning), Sail On, Three Times A Lady, all Commodores classics and all received last night like warmly welcome old friends and testing the vocal chords of the bottle of wine gaggles dotted around.

My Destiny started a run of huge hits that lit up the arena, as Say You Say Me prompted phones aloft, Dancing On The Ceiling had the whole place on its feet, Lionel offered temporary respite with the housewives favourite, Hello before delivering the killer blow with All Night Long

Returning to the stage for an encore, Lionel, now resplendent in white jacket spoke of the song he was most proud of… The USA For Africa song, We Are The World which he co-wrote with Michael Jackson. In another arms aloft moment, this closed the show to the audible surprise of the crowd.

Guilty pleasure maybe,but one I would happily repeat.

Lionel Played:



1.All Around the World
2.Penny Lover
3.Easy / My Love 
4.Ballerina Girl
5.Running With the Night
6.Truly
7.Still
8.Oh No
9.Stuck on You
10.Brick House / Fire
11.Three Times a Lady
12.Sail On
13.Lady (You Bring Me Up)
14.Endless Love
15.Just for You
16.Angel
17.Don't Stop the Music
18.My Destiny
19.Say You, Say Me
20.Dancing on the Ceiling
21.Hello
22.All Night Long (All Night)
Encore:
23.We Are the World