The United Nations and Lionel Richie have a lot to talk about because apparently, the 66-year old 'Hello' singer is responsible for the massive spike in global population" "I've populated the planet. So many people have walked up to me and gone, 'Lionel, five kids, six kids'.
"I only get nervous when they go, 'I named them Lionel'."
The suave crooner's claim during an ITV interview that his music has helped many a couple to set the mood for procreation may not be at all an empty claim. Dr. Brian Abrams, an associate professor of music and the coordinator of music therapy at Montclair State University, explains that music possesses such healing capabilities. Long years of training and supervision have, in fact, been essential for music therapists to be able to work effectively and competently with music.
"It's inaccurate to say music is innocuous. Music is a powerful medium and, as such, has the potential to help as well as harm, and is therefore not strictly benign. Moreover, it is inaccurate to call music non-invasive. Music penetrates us. It involves deep parts of ourselves, physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally."
Happily, music has indeed had a pervading influence on human consciousness for thousands of years now. Hence, the Lionel Richie-inspired population.
Richie is quite the funny guy joking about having contemplated to sue Adele for 'Hello': "You can't use my word without my acknowledgement, thank you very much... I have been trying to figure out, from a legal point of view, can you own a word? So far all the lawyers have told me, 'No'. I've tried... but the association is fabulous!"
It has actually been fabulous as Adele's hit from '25' brought fresh attention to Lionel's 1984 Billboard chart topper.
As an update to the much-anticipated duet between them, the veteran once again resorts to humour: "She has her hands full as she needs to promote my song, sorry, her song, Hello. I don't own the word Hello so she got away with that!"
"But she's a songwriter and I'd love to be able to get in a room and just play. Don't put any pressure on her but every time you see her just say, 'Hello Adele, what about Lionel?'."
