“I was your James Taylor guy, you know? I was your Carole
King guy. I was your Marvin Gaye guy. Very sensitive. One of the things I heard
growing up was, 'Mr. along with Mrs. Richie, the problem with Lionel can be
he's too sensitive.' And, of course, all that meant was that I was a
songwriter. I was not a football player, along with I was not going to be a
hunter. I'm the guy that shot a bird one time and cried over the bird for the
next two days, you know? That's just who I am.”—R&B singer-songwriter
Lionel Richie quoted in Alex Pappademas, “Pull Up a Seat, the Professor Is In,” The
New York Times, Mar. 11, 2018
I don’t hate Lionel Richie, mind you—I just find his
music bland (even though, indisputably, he has written songs that worm their
way into your ears and won’t come out).
Although I’m not sure I could listen to his music
all day long, I’m quite sure that I can listen to him talking all day long. Based on the interview with The New York Times quoted above, Mr.
Richie—who turns 69 today—is a brilliant raconteur, insightful and funny. Click
on the title link above and see if you don’t agree with me.
(This photo of Lionel Richie was taken at the U.S.
Department of State in Washington, D.C. on December 2, 2017.) [State Department
Photo/ Public Domain]
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