“Hello, is it me you’re looking for?”
This was the question posed by Lionel Richie when he started his concert held at the Araneta Coliseum last Saturday, April 5.
Lionel Richie was able to captivate Filipino audiences with his contagious smile and familiar aura. As a member of the '70s soul band The Commodores, Lionel was able to visit the Philippines in 1987. The singer exclaimed, "Manila! Back again in Araneta, I love it!"
For the Manila leg of his All The Hits – All Night Long concert, he started by performing his most memorable songs "Hello," followed by "Penny Lover."
“Tonight, we are going to play everything 'All Night Long!'” Lionel Richie promised with a wide grin.
Featuring a touch of pop and a hint of rock, Lionel's classic hits were expertly mixed with modern tunes. Backed up by a rockstar guitarist, bassist, pianist and drummer; sometimes coupled by the saxophone and harmonica, Lionel Richie is able to connect to his loyal fans and those from the new generation.
At one point, he even sat down on the piano and serenaded the crowd with his rendition of "Easy Like Sunday Morning." 
People of all ages could relate to the bittersweet lyrics of his songs that reflect a person’s love cycle. Through these three songs—"Still," describing a love that just went away; "Oh No," when the one who left you found someone new and "Stuck On You," when another romance begins—Lionel is able to capture the essence of a break-up and a blossoming happily-ever-after in every word and melody.
The track held the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard for many weeks. Millions of people fell in love with Lionel and the Commodores’ songs.
In front of his Filipino fans, Lionel said he had a special surprise for his loyal followers. He invited Diana Ross to sing a duet with him at his one-night concert!
Unfortunately, she declined. For this reason, Lionel asked the crowd to sing Diana’s parts for him. While thousands of Pinoys sang their heart out for the song "Endless Love," Lionel quipped: “Who needs Diana Ross?”
Celebrities such as Melanie Marquez and Korina Sanchez were shown on the big screen, singing along with everyone else. When upbeat songs started playing, we even saw Vice Ganda dancing to the rhythm. Right beside the comedian was the Diamond Star Maricel Soriano.
The songs "Dancing at the Ceiling," "Running With The Night" and "Dance For The World" turned the Coliseum into an '80s disco party venue.
“This can’t be Manila! This should be conservative Manila!” exclaimed the balladeer. He goes on to describe Manila as “loud and wonderful.”
“Unbelievable...! I have not seen something like that since 1983.”
It was definitely a night to remember. He even pointed at one girl in the audience and said she is “having the time of her life.”
He appreciated the enthusiasm of the crowd and jokingly told them how well they “rehearsed” for the concert.
The LED backgrounds were fully maximized as the designs added to the overall ambience of the concert.
The song "Truly" gave a dose of nostalgia especially since this established Lionel's solo career. Another song that brought back memories is what Lionel described as his favorite hit from The Commodores, "Lady You Bring Me Up."
He bid farewell after performing "All Night Long." However, the claps from the crowd didn’t end even when the lights started to dim. People stayed on until Lionel finally went back again on stage.
He exchanged his black leather jacket for a white coat. For his final song, he chose the song that he considers as one that "touched the entire world.” This is the song that he co-wrote with his dear friend Michael Jackson, "We Are The World."
“The whole world is in need of love,” declares Lionel Richie. Over the years, the balladeer has touched hearts with his soulful voice and endearings tracks about different kinds of love: the love for your wife, for your parents, for your lover, for a friend and for the world.
Heartaches, heartbreaks, hearts fluttering and hearts being stolen away—all these and more are tackled in Lionel Richie's timeless compositions.
As he succintly points out, “You rush home. You grab your CD, your cassette, your album, your 8-track and you call on Lionel Richie.”
VIEW PHOTOS Vice Ganda, Maricel Soriano, etc. watch Lionel Richie concert