Between them, they have had 25 number 1 records in the United States.
Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie alone are music powerhouses. Put them together and you get a memorable evening of music and entertainment.
The pairing were supposed to go on tour earlier this year; however, it had to be delayed after Lionel underwent knee surgery. They finally got things underway on July 21 in Oakland and, on Monday (July 31) night, the show came to the Hollywood Bowl.
Carey has been the bigger recording artist of the two, accounting for 18 of the 25 number 1’s; however, she has been opening the show with a twelve song set that, quite frankly, is baffling. The name of the tour is “All the Hits”, so why would almost half her set be rarities, album tracks and even a song originally done by Busta Rhymes where she provided support.
Mariah recently did a residency in Las Vegas that was full of her biggest records. She’s now doing an “all the hits” tour and has dropped the majority of them for songs that only appeared on the British edition of an album. The fans deserve much, much better.
The set list:
Heat (from British edition of E=MC², 2008)
I’m That Chick (from E=MC², 2008)
Heartbreaker (from Rainbow, 1999)
Touch My Body (from E=MC², 2008)
I Know What You Want (from Busta Rhymes’ It Ain’t Safe No More, 2003)
My All (from Butterfly, 1997)
Always Be My Baby (from Daydream, 1995)
Don’t Forget About Us (from The Emancipation of Mimi, 2005)
It’s Like That (from The Emancipation of Mimi, 2005)
Vision of Love (from Mariah Carey, 1990)
We Belong Together (from The Emancipation of Mimi, 2005)
Hero (from Music Box, 1993)
On the other hand, Lionel Richie knows how to live up to the title and give the fans what they want. Every song was a major hit, either for the Commodores or from Lionel’s solo career, with the exception of a short cover of the Ohio Players’ Fire, which he has been including in Brick House for years.
Main Set
Medley:
Easy (from the Commodores’ The Commodores, 1977)
My Love (from Lionel Richie, 1982)
Running With the Night (from Can’t Slow Down, 1983)
Penny Lover (from Can’t Slow Down, 1983)
Truly (from Lionel Richie, 1982)
You Are (from Lionel Richie, 1982)
Stuck on You (from Can’t Slow Down, 1983)
Dancing on the Ceiling (from Dancing on the Ceiling, 1986)
Three Times a Lady (from the Commodores’ Natural High, 1978)
Sail On (from the Commodores’ Midnight Magic, 1979)
Medley:
Fancy Dancer (from the Commodores’ Hot on the Tracks, 1976)
Sweet Love (from the Commodores’ Movin’ On, 1975)
Lady (You Bring Me Up) (from the Commodores’ In the Pocket, 1981)
Just to Be Close to You (from the Commodores’ Hot on the Tracks, 1976)
Medley:
Brick House (from the Commodores’ The Commodores, 1977)
Fire (Ohio Players cover)
Hello (from Can’t Slow Down, 1983)
Say You, Say Me (from Dancing on the Ceiling, 1986)
We Are the World (single, 1985)
Encore
All Night Long (All Night) (from Can’t Slow Down, 1983)
