I think there’s little debate over whether Lionel Richie belongs in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but a better question is whether he should have made it as a member of the Commodores before (or instead of) making it as a solo artist.
To be fair, Richie has had a stellar solo career: five #1 hits, another eight in the top 10, two multi-platinum albums, one diamond album, and all of that in the course of just six years. He also had a beautiful blind woman create a photorealistic sculpture of his head in the oddly creepy video for ‘Hello.’
But Richie’s solo induction feels like it should have come after recognition for The Commodores, who have been eligible since 2000 but never nominated. The group has had a slew of hits as well, and most of them better received critically than Richie’s cheesier output.
Perhaps The Commodores will get their due in the coming years. In the meantime, we can celebrate the man whose pipes elevated their best material as well as his own slew of memorable songs.
Well, my friends, the time has come
To raise the roof and have some fun
Throw away the work to be done
Let the music play on (Play on, play on)
Everybody sing, everybody dance
Lose yourself in wild romance
[Pre-Chorus 1]
We’re going to party, karamu
Fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along
We’re going to party, karamu
Fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along
[Chorus]
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
Oh yeah
[Verse 2]
People dancing all in the street
See the rhythm all in their feet
Life is good, wild and sweet
Let the music play on (Play on, play on)
Feel it in your heart and feel it in your soul
Let the music take control
[Pre-Chorus 2]
We’re going to party
Liming, fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along
We’re going to party
Liming, fiesta, forever
Come on and sing my song
[Chorus]
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
[Verse 3]
Yeah, once you get started
You can’t sit down
Come join the fun
It’s a merry-go-round
Everyone’s dancing their troubles away
Come join our party
See how we play!
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
Tam bo li de say de moi ya
Yeah, Jambo, Jambo
Way to parti, o we goin’
Oh, jambali
Tam bo li de say de moi ya
Yeah, Jambo, Jambo
Oh, yes
We’re gonna have a party, yeah, uh
[Chorus]
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
[Pre-Chorus 1]
We’re going to party, karamu
Fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along
We’re going to party, karamu
Fiesta, forever
Come on and sing my song
[Chorus]
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
All night long (All night, all night)
[Outro]
Everyone you meet
They’re jamming in the street
All night long
Yeah, I said, everyone you meet
They’re jamming in the street
All night long
Feel good, feel good
Meet Me In Montauk 
I think the Commodores should have been inducted first, and I wonder if they will at all now that Richie has made it in.