Lionel Richie’s Coronation Performance Disappoints Fans with ‘Awful’ Renditions of Hit Songs
4 min read
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Fans were disappointed with Lionel Richie’s Coronation performance, as he sang his hit songs in a manner that reminded them of drunk people karaoke-ing. Yesterday (Sunday 7 May), Richie was among a number of famous faces who took to the Union Jack-shaped stage to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation. Katy Perry, Nicole Scherzinger, Take That, and Olly Murs also performed on the bill. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the stage with other musicians at the coronation concert will be an honor and a celebration,” Richie said. The show began with a performance of ‘Easy’, which was followed by ‘All Night Long’, a dancefloor classic. With the band gearing up for the second tune, Richie shouted to the audience: Are you ready? What do you think? Are you readaaay? The time has come, I want you all… for the whole night!
While he even got the new King on his feet dancing, the performance wasn’t quite as memorable for people watching at home. According to one tweeter, Lionel Richie sings like a drunk uncle at a karaoke bar when he’s drunk. Another person said that Lionel Richie sounds like everyone at karaoke on a Friday night when they are drunk. It’s awful. I think it’s fitting. A third person wrote: Is Lionel Richie no longer able to sing? I hate the way he sounds. According to a fourth user, Lionel Richie couldn’t hear himself or the music, while another asked: Were you disappointed by Lionel Richie’s performance at the Coronation Concert as well? During Richie and Perry’s performance on American Idol, Charles decided to return the favour by making a surprise appearance.
Lionel Richie -performing All Night Long at the King's Coronation Concert. Excellent performance! pic.twitter.com/E3K5NCVnPM
— fms (@Richiefan55) May 7, 2023
Fans Are Disappointed By Lionel Richie’s Coronation Performance
During King Charles’ coronation concert, Lionel Ritchie’s ‘awful’ per formance was compared to ‘karaoke in the pub’ by TV viewers. The 73-year-old Motown legend was accused of ‘butchering’ his own songs by concertgoers wondering what happened to his voice. The singer performed alongside pop icons like Katie Perry and Take That to millions of viewers. There were 20,000 spectators at the concert, including the Royal Family and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Singer’s ‘ropey’ performance at Windsor Castle, where he performed his 1983 chartbuster ‘All Night Long’ and Commodores’ classic ‘Easy’, baffled viewers. The Alabama-born musician was repeatedly criticized on social media, with some even saying they regretted watching. Lionel Ritchie’s voice was also mocked by disappointed onlookers, with one even comparing it to Kermit the Frog’s.
Viewers of the show were more blunt, claiming Lionel Ritchie’s performance at the crowning ceremony “wasn’t very good.” Lionel Ritchie supporters also rushed to the internet to express they wouldn’t be seeing him live in the future and were relieved they hadn’t purchased tickets to his shows. One admirer even stated that he intended to cancel his tickets to see the singer after seeing his performance at the Windsor Castle concert. Lionel Ritchie sounded like a ‘club singer,’ according to viewers, who accused him of butchering his own iconic tunes. Nonetheless, some viewers were more compassionate, claiming that it should be evident that Lionel Ritchie doesn’t sound the same as he did 40 years ago. Others applauded the artist for singing live rather than miming his songs, saying it was impressive that the R&B legend was still performing in person. The performance at Windsor Castle was held to commemorate King Charles III’s coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
Did they think we wouldn’t see this?!
— Snow (@Lookinupatstars) May 8, 2023
In return for Katy Perry & Lionel Richie agreeing to perform at the coronation concert, Charles & Camilla had to do a turn on American Idol.
Desperate stuff. Cringe me a river 😬😬😂#Coronation #notmykingorqueen
pic.twitter.com/GL2IfF2IGP
Lionel Richie at the kings coronation concert be like 😬…… #kingscoronation2023 pic.twitter.com/UImZk1LRwT
— MrDazzy (@punkpitphotos) May 7, 2023
Lionel Richie just got everyone dancing like 1989 #CoronationConcert #KingCharlesIII #LionelRichie #allnightlong #windsor #Coronation #princeofwales #windsorcastle pic.twitter.com/Wz7Sq4lwyK
— Bill (@bedzrah) May 7, 2023
Not sure how many he sang at the coronation but I saw him here in Oz and he took 4 or 5 songs to warm up and then he was great, but murdered the first few.
— Ellen O'Donovan (@folzey) May 8, 2023
He was so bad, as were Katy & Mark Owen. But on the whole everyone was great & it was a fantastic concert.
— Pen (@penbuz2) May 8, 2023
He’s had a lot of throat surgeries but I agree he didn’t seem quite as in key. He still has his smooth soul in his melody though what can you do he’s almost 80 he’s still got the soul it wasn’t up to scratch tho
— 😇🐯🍕🏺MAHARANI 🐯🍕🏺🐯🍕🏺💕Mother of Eden💕 (@JupiterGemma1) May 8, 2023
It was soooooooo bad. Omg I love him but that was not his voice.
— monaa (@Amitttty) May 8, 2023
