Lionel Richie at the Windsor Castle Coronation Concert on May 7, 2023
Photo: Getty Images, WPA Pool. All rights reserved.
Lionel Richie’s performance at the first-ever coronation concert on Sunday (07 May) elicited mixed reactions from fans.
Richie, 73, performed in front of 20,000 in London when Prince Charles was crowned King at Windsor Castle, singing two of his most famous songs: “Easy Like Sunday Morning” and “All Night Long,” and accompanied by an orchestra accompanied. This was followed by Katy Perry as another headliner.
Many opinions were expressed online about Richie’s performance – but not all had only positive things to say. Fans were particularly surprised by his voice:
“Whose voice is that coming out of Lionel Richie because it can’t be his own…” wondered one fan.
“Is anyone dressed as Lionel Richie? Because that’s not his voice! ‘ tweeted another.
Nonetheless, the show was admired and praised by many fans:
“I’ve seen Lionel Richie twice in concert and he’s a great showman,” recalled one viewer, adding, “He has a wonderful way of connecting with his audience.”
“He rocked it! I’m so proud that Lionel and Katy are representing America,” one American viewer wrote on social media.
With other acts such as Take That and a light show powered by drones, the coronation concert was a special spectacle. But whether such an event is appropriate at this point in time was questioned by The Cure singer Robert Smith, among others.