Hello (Lionel Richie song)


"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, the R&B chart, and the adult contemporary chart. The song also went to number one in the UK Singles Chart for six weeks.
The song later inspired a lawsuit by songwriter Marjorie Hoffman White, who accused Richie of plagiarizing her 1978 composition "I'm Not Ready to Go".

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. The song ends on a Picardy third

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 until he discovers she shares the feeling as demonstrated by the discovery that she is sculpting a likeness of his head, but in clay.

Pop culture

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."
The guitar solo on the song was played by session guitarist Louie Shelton.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

All-time charts

Certifications

Cover versions