Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Lionel Richie, barring his success in the '80s with such hits as "Hello," "Running With the Night," and "All Night Long," has struggled to find his place in music after life with the Commodores. Renaissance, Richie's 2001 release, is another post-Commodores album that misses the mark. Most of the songs don't particularly fit any radio format, with the exception of adult contemporary, but that's not the problem. Lacking a radio home doesn't make for a bad recording. It's the material on Renaissance, which is uninteresting, and Richie's voice is often out of place with the music, as illustrated on "Angel." This song features a mild dance beat but Richie's voice is sorely incompatible with it. Elsewhere, there are nice Latin-flavored arrangements, such as on "Cinderella" and "Dance the Night Away." But, again, Richie's vocal delivery doesn't work with such musical styling. This clash between music and voice is a running theme on Renaissance. Lyrically, the album fails as well, and is rife with juvenile wordplay: "I held you close to me/Girl, you are my ecstasy/Your lips, and your hair/The way you touch me, girl I swear/Only you could take me there" -- from "Dance the Night Away." There are, however, some redeeming performances on Renaissance. "It May Be the Water" is the album's first of two winning moments where music, lyrics, and vocal delivery all meet to create successful synergy. The song is similar to a Boyz II Men track and should work on the radio. Richie should have applied whatever techniques he used on this track to the rest of this album, because all the pieces fit perfectly here. "Don't Stop the Music" is the other exception on Renaissance, and recalls the "All Night Long" party vibe. This song, similar to a Luther Vandross R&B jam, successfully captures a modern R&B/dance groove, unlike other tracks on this album that attempt to do the same. It really is sad because Lionel Richie has exhibited such talent in the past. It's painful to hear such floundering work by a performer who listeners know can do better.
© Liana Jonas /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From CA$ 10.83/month
Tracy Ackerman, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, Mixer, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Adam Phillips, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Jackson, Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Anderson, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Rawling, Producer - Jong uk Yoon, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dirk Vanoucek, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Alex Al, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Jackson, Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL STEWART, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Bias, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Dirk Vanoucek, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Raymond Brown, Horn, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Wolfe, Producer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jared Douglas, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - David Rideau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Reginald Young, Horn, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Cox, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kelly Wendell, Horn, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Billy Lawrie, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Rawling, Producer - Joe Wolfe, Producer, Additional Producer - Bill Lawrie, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DAVE WAY, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - WALTER AFANASIEFF, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Claytoven Richardson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lionel Richie, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Wolfe, Producer, Additional Producer - Skyler Jett, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Conesha Monet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
LaShawn Daniels, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Jerkins III, ComposerLyricist - Rodney Jerkins, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Joe Wolfe, Producer, Additional Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Wassim Zreik, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Joe Wolfe, Producer - David Rideau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gerald Cox, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tim Lauber, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lionel Richie, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lloyd Tolbert, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Wolfe, Producer, Additional Producer - David Rideau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Demetrius Harvey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
LaShawn Daniels, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Jerkins III, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Harvey Mason Jr., ComposerLyricist - Glen Marchese, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Joe Wolfe, Producer, Additional Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Wolfe, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Daryl Simmons, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer - Joe Wolfe, Producer, Additional Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer - Joe Wolfe, Producer, Additional Producer - Gerald Cox, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Blackwood, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mason Sylvia James, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Pascal Obispo, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, Author, MainArtist - Patrice Guiro, Author
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rick James, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - James Anthony Carmichael, Producer - Commodores, Producer - Joe Wolfe, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - David Rideau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - James Anthony Carmichael, Producer - Joe Wolfe, Producer, Additional Producer - Michael H. Frenchik Jr., ComposerLyricist - Carlos Manuel Rios, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Boogieman, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Rawling, Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Boogieman, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Rawling, Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer - Crash & Burn, Producer, Additional Producer, Remixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tracy Ackerman, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tracy Ackerman, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
David Lee, Producer, Additional Producer, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer - Gerald Cox, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Blackwood, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mason Sylvia James, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer - Gerald Cox, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Blackwood, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mason Sylvia James, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barry, ComposerLyricist - Mark Taylor, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Brian Rawling, Producer
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leslie Mandoki, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Laszlo Bencker, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Juliette, MainArtist
℗ 2001 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leslie Mandoki, ComposerLyricist - Laszlo Bencker, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Juliette, MainArtist
℗ 2001 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leslie Mandoki, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Laszlo Bencker, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Juliette, MainArtist
℗ 2001 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leslie Mandoki, ComposerLyricist - Laszlo Bencker, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Juliette, MainArtist
℗ 2001 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leslie Mandoki, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Laszlo Bencker, ComposerLyricist - Lionel Richie, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Juliette, MainArtist
℗ 2001 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Lionel Richie, barring his success in the '80s with such hits as "Hello," "Running With the Night," and "All Night Long," has struggled to find his place in music after life with the Commodores. Renaissance, Richie's 2001 release, is another post-Commodores album that misses the mark. Most of the songs don't particularly fit any radio format, with the exception of adult contemporary, but that's not the problem. Lacking a radio home doesn't make for a bad recording. It's the material on Renaissance, which is uninteresting, and Richie's voice is often out of place with the music, as illustrated on "Angel." This song features a mild dance beat but Richie's voice is sorely incompatible with it. Elsewhere, there are nice Latin-flavored arrangements, such as on "Cinderella" and "Dance the Night Away." But, again, Richie's vocal delivery doesn't work with such musical styling. This clash between music and voice is a running theme on Renaissance. Lyrically, the album fails as well, and is rife with juvenile wordplay: "I held you close to me/Girl, you are my ecstasy/Your lips, and your hair/The way you touch me, girl I swear/Only you could take me there" -- from "Dance the Night Away." There are, however, some redeeming performances on Renaissance. "It May Be the Water" is the album's first of two winning moments where music, lyrics, and vocal delivery all meet to create successful synergy. The song is similar to a Boyz II Men track and should work on the radio. Richie should have applied whatever techniques he used on this track to the rest of this album, because all the pieces fit perfectly here. "Don't Stop the Music" is the other exception on Renaissance, and recalls the "All Night Long" party vibe. This song, similar to a Luther Vandross R&B jam, successfully captures a modern R&B/dance groove, unlike other tracks on this album that attempt to do the same. It really is sad because Lionel Richie has exhibited such talent in the past. It's painful to hear such floundering work by a performer who listeners know can do better.
© Liana Jonas /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 35 track(s)
- Total length: 02:49:20
- Main artists: Lionel Richie
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Island Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2021 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.