Lionel Richie on We Are the World and Kenny Rogers

TL;DR

The lyrics of “We Are the World” remained relevant during the pandemic because they emphasize shared responsibility and saving lives. Lionel Richie also recalls creating playful invented lyrics, embracing his returning quarantine afro, recording “Lady” with Kenny Rogers, and supporting the NAACP’s response to the crisis affecting Black communities.

Transcript

My guest tonight is one of the greatest and most beloved American singer-songwriters. He, he says you, he says me, he says watch him on the season finale of American Idol Sunday night on ABC. Please welcome Lionel Richie. Hi, Lionel. How are you? Jimmy. Jimmy, how are you? I'm doing re- very well. I just, it's, I'm, I'm kind of honored to be, like,... Read More

Key Insights

• The invented phrase in Lionel Richie’s song has no literal translation. Richie says he created it after considering the many African dialects he might use, deciding that an original phrase could communicate the intended sense of fun through its sound alone.
• Lionel Richie’s quarantine afro was returning naturally while he stayed home. He joked that he was reluctant to cut it because doing so might ruin its progress, and he knew it had truly returned when his hair routine changed from combing to using a pick.
• Richie’s habit of pushing up his jacket sleeves comes from his personal style during the eighties. He describes the gesture as something that makes conversation feel more comfortable, much like crossing one’s legs, and identifies it as a recognizable part of his artistic image.
• “We Are the World” remained timely because its original lyrics addressed a distant problem that could eventually affect everyone. Richie says the pandemic made that warning feel immediate, while the song’s emphasis on collective responsibility and saving lives matched what he would write for the crisis.
• The planned “American Idol” finale performance included the contestants, Katy Perry, Luke, and other participants. Richie believed presenting the established song with the show’s cast felt appropriate because its lyrics already expressed the message needed during the pandemic.
• The songwriting of “We Are the World” was a collaboration between Lionel Richie and Michael. When Jimmy Kimmel jokingly suggested that Richie wrote nearly everything, Richie directly rejected the claim rather than taking sole credit for the song.
• Kenny Rogers approached the recording of “Lady” with renewed determination after Richie challenged his limited studio schedule. Rogers left to play tennis, returned later in tennis clothing, and continued working until they achieved the performance Richie believed could become a hit record.
• The NAACP was Richie’s chosen charity because Black communities had been devastated by the pandemic. He said substantial work remained necessary and viewed the organization’s partnership with BET as an appropriate place to direct the program’s charitable donation.

Questions & Answers

Q: What do Lionel Richie’s invented song lyrics mean?

Lionel Richie says the phrase discussed in the interview has no literal meaning or authentic translation. While creating the song, he considered the many African dialects he might choose and ultimately decided to invent his own phrase. He explains that its meaning comes from how it sounds and the feeling it creates. For him, the phrase simply communicates fun.

Q: Why did Lionel Richie perform “We Are the World” during the pandemic?

Lionel Richie believed “We Are the World” already contained the message he would have written for the pandemic. The song warns that a problem affecting people elsewhere can eventually reach everyone, and its lyrics call for shared action to save lives. Because that message matched the global crisis, he felt the existing song was more appropriate than writing a new one.

Q: Who joined the planned “We Are the World” performance?

The planned performance for the “American Idol” finale was designed to include the show’s contestants, Katy Perry, Luke, and the other people involved with the program. Lionel Richie said he was excited to present the idea to them. Bringing the group together around the song allowed its message of collective responsibility to be delivered by the wider “American Idol” community.

Q: How did Lionel Richie and Michael create “We Are the World”?

Lionel Richie describes “We Are the World” as a song that he and Michael wrote together. Its central warning was that failing to address a serious problem in another place could allow that problem to arrive closer to home. Richie rejects Jimmy Kimmel’s joking suggestion that Michael contributed very little, making clear that the work was collaborative rather than his alone.

Q: What happened when Lionel Richie recorded “Lady” with Kenny Rogers?

Kenny Rogers entered the session expecting to sing only briefly before leaving to play tennis. Lionel Richie challenged that plan by saying Rogers’s career and Richie’s reputation were involved, so they needed enough time to make a hit record. Rogers left, returned later with determination, and worked through an extended session until the performance was right.

Q: Why did Lionel Richie challenge Kenny Rogers in the studio?

Lionel Richie challenged Kenny Rogers because Rogers initially intended to sing only a few times and then leave for tennis. Richie believed the recording deserved more commitment, since its success would affect Rogers’s career and Richie’s reputation. Although the comment created silence in the studio, it prompted Rogers to return focused and remain until they achieved the desired result.

Q: How did Lionel Richie remember Kenny Rogers?

Lionel Richie remembered Kenny Rogers as a deeply important friend and a remarkably good person. Rogers liked to describe himself as Richie’s older brother, while Richie preferred to call him a father figure. Richie also emphasized Rogers’s strong sense of humor and recalled the recording of “Lady” as an example of their candid, affectionate, and productive relationship.

Q: Why did Lionel Richie choose the NAACP as his charity?

Lionel Richie chose the NAACP because he was concerned about the pandemic’s devastating effect on Black communities. He said there was substantial work to be done and stressed the importance of recognizing what was happening. With the NAACP and BET working together, he considered the organization an appropriate destination for the charitable donation connected to his appearance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Lionel Richie says the playful phrase in one of his songs does not belong to a real African dialect. Faced with many possible dialects while creating the song, he chose to invent a phrase instead. Its purpose is emotional rather than literal, expressing the sound and feeling of fun.

• Richie says “We Are the World” already contains the message he would want to express during the pandemic. He planned to perform it for the “American Idol” finale with the contestants, Katy Perry, Luke, and others because its appeal to collective action and saving lives suited the moment.

• Remembering Kenny Rogers, Richie describes challenging him during the recording of “Lady.” Rogers initially planned to sing briefly before playing tennis, but Richie insisted they continue until they had a hit record. Rogers returned in tennis clothes, worked with determination, and spent considerable time getting the performance right.