The tour was called All the Hits, All Night Long and Lionel Richie delivered on his promise.
At his Dubai Media City Amphitheatre concert on Thursday, Richie greeted the audience with “Yalla habibi” – a statement of intent as his energy rarely let up.
The opener, 2002’s swooning Just for You, was the only song from this century that made it onto the set-list. The rest focused on his golden years from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s.
The first half of the show was dedicated to some of Richie’s classic ballads. His silky voice was in top form in Penny Lover before taking the piano and leading his five-piece band on Easy, which came with an extended reggae break down.
The sonic extras were done away with in Truly. Over a gentle piano, Richie stood front and centre and delivered that towering chorus with conviction.
The romantic vibe of the show then made way for a lively middle section where the band showed their worth. Beginning with an energised take of Running with the Night – the awful synthetic drums of the recording were fortunately banished with the live percussion – Richie went all funky with a smattering of Commodores hits.
In terms of danceability, it was the best 30 minutes of the set, with the standout being the one-two punch of Fancy Dancer and Rapid Fire, which boasted some wicked sax grooves.
Richie rounded off the show with the killer trio of Hello, Dancing on the Ceiling and All Night Long.
Before his encore of the classic charity single We Are the World, he promised Dubai he’ll be back.
sasaeed@thenational.ae