Hello, remember me? Lionel Richie ‘reclaims’ hit song with performance at Diamond Ball after Adele’s success 

By Jennifer Pearson For Dailymail.com

Published: 11:41 EST, 11 December 2015 | Updated: 15:18 EST, 11 December 2015

Adele's latest single Hello is a smash success, but Lionel Richie sang a song by that name first.

As a pleasant reminder, the 66-year-old former Commodores crooner belted out his classic 1984 hit Hello at the 2nd Annual Diamond Ball hosted by Rihanna and The Clara Lionel Foundation in Santa Monica, California on Thursday.

'There is a song I need to reclaim,' Lionel announced before launching into his ballad to the ecstatic crowd, according to USA Today.

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Hello, it's Lionel: Legendary singer Lionel Richie 'reclaimed' his 1984 hit Hello after Adele's smash success by singing the original tune at the Diamond Ball in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday 

Hello, it's Lionel: Legendary singer Lionel Richie 'reclaimed' his 1984 hit Hello after Adele's smash success by singing the original tune at the Diamond Ball in Santa Monica, CA on Thursday 

Hello again: Adele's ballad Hello was released on October 23 as the first single on her third studio album 25 and has received critical acclaim; the singer was pictured on December 3

Hello again: Adele's ballad Hello was released on October 23 as the first single on her third studio album 25 and has received critical acclaim; the singer was pictured on December 3

Even Rihanna made reference to the similarities between Lionel and Adele's songs when introducing the Motown Records legend at the event.

'He wrote this song Hello way before Adele was even born,' the Barbadian beauty said.

Lionel proved he still had that cool swagger while swaying to the easygoing music dressed in black trousers, black T-shirt and a glittery black jacket.

'There is a song I need to reclaim': Lionel, 66, got the crowd excited when he launched into his easygoing classic song Hello

'He wrote this song Hello way before Adele was even born': Rihanna - who hosted the 2nd annual event with The Clara Lionel Foundation - watched Lionel perform in the audience

'He wrote this song Hello way before Adele was even born': Rihanna - who hosted the 2nd annual event with The Clara Lionel Foundation - watched Lionel perform in the audience

'Easy Like Sunday Morning': The Motown legend has made light of the similarities between his Hello and Adele's version

'Easy Like Sunday Morning': The Motown legend has made light of the similarities between his Hello and Adele's version

Richie also performed All Night Long, Running With the Night, and Commodores tunes Easy Like Sunday Morning and Brick House.

Earlier this week, Nicole Richie's dad even joked that he contacted his lawyers about trademarking that simple little word 'hello.'

'You can’t use my word without my acknowledgement, thank you very much,' he quipped to the UK's The Sun.

What a performance: Lionel also sang All Night Long, Running With the Night, and Commodores tunes Easy Like Sunday Morning and Brick House at the fundraiser

What a performance: Lionel also sang All Night Long, Running With the Night, and Commodores tunes Easy Like Sunday Morning and Brick House at the fundraiser

He's a fan too: Nicole Richie's dad has said he hopes to collaborate with the British singer in the future

He's a fan too: Nicole Richie's dad has said he hopes to collaborate with the British singer in the future

'I have been trying to figure out, from a legal point of view, can you own a word? So far all the lawyers have told me, "No". I’ve tried… but the association is fabulous'

Lionel, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, is actually a huge fan of Adele and is hoping for a collaboration in the future.

'She's a songwriter and I'd love to be able to get in a room and just play,' Richie said on ITV's talk show Lorraine. 'Don't put any pressure on her but every time you see her just say, "Hello Adele, what about Lionel?"'

'HELLO @adele is it me you're looking for': Lionel posted to Instagram last month a two-way photo of him talking to the British singer on the phone

'HELLO @adele is it me you're looking for': Lionel posted to Instagram last month a two-way photo of him talking to the British singer on the phone

It'll wring your heart: Adele, 27, is famous for her emotionally heart-wrenching tunes; she was pictured December 6

It'll wring your heart: Adele, 27, is famous for her emotionally heart-wrenching tunes; she was pictured December 6

Last month, Lionel posted to Instagram a two-way photo of him talking to the British singer on the phone.

'HELLO @adele is it me you're looking for...,' he captioned the picture.

Lionel, meanwhile, has a lot to sing about these days - he has been dating lifestyle blogger Lisa Parisi for over three years.

Parisi explains on her site that she was born and raised in Switzerland with Swiss, Caribbean, and Chinese ancestry and speaks four different languages: German, French, Swiss, and English - so if Lionel needs help translating the world 'hello' she can certainly help with that.

Hitmaker: Lionel (pictured in 1984) has sold more than 100 million records worldwide but has said that the association with Adele 'is fabulous'

Hitmaker: Lionel (pictured in 1984) has sold more than 100 million records worldwide but has said that the association with Adele 'is fabulous'

 

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