Backstreet Boys Duet With Lionel Richie

By Lisa Taylor
He's known for smooth pop hits such as "All Night Long" and "Easy," but does
that qualify Lionel Richie as a modern-day popster? He sure hopes so, since
his upcoming album, Renaissance, features a duet with the Backstreet Boys.

Yes, you read that correctly. The former Commodore has recorded an up-tempo
track called "Cinderella" with the Boys, after meeting them during a tour
stop in Germany.

"It was so great. They showed up in the dressing room and the next sound I
hear is them singing 'Easy,'" Richie tells Wall of Sound. "I knew they were
fans, but they turned out to be real sweethearts. The song ["Cinderella"] is
perfect for them, we're a perfect combo. But above everything else, my
5-year-old son finally thinks Dad is doing OK."

Richie is currently earning glowing reviews for his stint opening for Tina
Turner — an interesting table-turning from when Turner opened for him during
her 1984 comeback tour. Once that run ends in June, Richie plans to take
three months off before embarking on a solo tour, preferably in arenas.

"This is like old-home week," Richie says of working with his longtime
friend Turner and of the screaming admiration that greets his opening set.
"I've found out in about five minutes that the fans haven't left at all. I
keep having to turn to the band and ask, 'What year is this?' When we get
into 'All Night Long,' my only problem is I have to announce to the
audience, 'Would you like to hear me sing?'"

At 50, Richie has achieved the type of long-running success most of today's
crop will never accomplish. He endured nasty tabloid accounts during the
breakup of his marriage, though he's since remarried and currently lives in
Los Angeles with his wife and their two children. But he's drifted out of
the spotlight for much of the '90s.

With Renaissance, Richie decided to take a lighter route, though stalwart
fans can rest assured that those trademark ballads will return.

"Whenever I do an album, the record company holds its breath," Richie says.
"When they asked me for a funky song, I gave them 'Three Times a Lady.' In
the funky era, I gave them 'All Night Long.' Now I've decided to take all of
my good feelings and go dancing, since everybody is in a dance frame of
mind. I've got a few [songs] on there that will make the weddings, but for
the most part, it's a party album."

Richie says his pairing with the Backstreet Boys could be the first release
from Renaissance, which is due in June.
 

Untiteled

From Ricky Nelson to the Backstreet Boys, teen idols have always been a part of rock and roll. This fall, the rock and roll hall of fame and museum will examine that phenomenon with a new exibit, Sealed with a kidd: Five decades of pop idols and teen dreams.

"Rock and roll is the music of the youth, and teen idols address the subject head-on" said Jim Henke, the Halll of fames vice president of exibitions and curatorial affairs. "they speak to the dreams and aspirations of youth people, and they address such universal themes of adolescene as love and romance, freedom and responsibility.
They're young, sexy and energetic-in other words, they epitomize youth culture".

The exibit will not only include artifacts like costumes and instruments from a wide rand of artists, but it will also feature lunch boxes, dolls, trading cards and other objects associated with teen idols. Sealed with a Kiss will be installed on the fifth and sixth floors of the museum.

As a preview to the exhibit, the Museum installed a Recent Acquistitions case featuring costumes from The Backstreet Boys, Hanson, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and 98 degrees.

Source: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Museum magazine - liner notes)

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