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The former frontman of The Commodores is back with his latest offering and where some of his last releases might have only appealed to fans, “Coming Home” features a younger sounding Richie who might just win over a lot of today’s R & B fans not knowing Lionel turned 57 in June this year. Well-liked across the world (apparently when US reporters ask Iraqis what they like about America, they all answer Lionel Richie), this album should re-establish Lionel’s position as one of those “put this on and the night might just become steamy” artists.
Lead single “I Call it Love,” complete with catchy chorus and “Aah gee shucks, Yeah I do love you” lyrics” will even win over your typical love song cynics. “I look at you, you look at me… You can’t tell me you ain’t feelin butterflies.” Remember that feeling? It’s instantaneous… love at first sight… and Lionel captures it beautifully in this song.
But instead of just relying on the fact that his old fans will lap up his latest offering, Lionel decided to bring his R & B style into the 21st Century. Hey, he’s even got Wyclef Jean introduce him (like he needs introduction) on “I Apologize.” Lionel even manages to out-latino Ricky Martin on “Up All Night” on one of the naughtiest songs a 57-year old can sing… “All along I was thinking it was gonna be her plus two… Now they’re looking like Lionel the joke’s on you… Next thing I’m feeling is her up and down… While the girls are watching.” But he does it smilingly, jokingly…”She wanna keep me up all night… Damn she might kill me.” Whoa… slow down Grandpa.
It’s hard to pick a favourite song from this CD. But “Out of my Head” is Lionel’s new “Hello” or “Say You Say Me.” If you like your Lionel a tad faster, then you’ll be happy to know that “All Around the World” has all the makings of being 2006’s “Dancing on the Ceiling” with it’s synth horns and percussion making it one of the catchiest songs on “Coming Home.” And then of course, there’s “I’m Coming Home,” a song that’s basically saying “No matter what you go through in life, you’ve gotta come home to reality – that family and friends are the most important.” True.
So basically Lionel’s new album might as well be a soundtrack for Breakfast with Kieno and The Angels… It’s Naughty, But Nice
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