LONDON -- So Adele's new song "Hello" came out Friday morning, and despite Lionel Richie having approximately zero to do with it, the song has got everyone talking about him.
The clue is in the new song's name, and the fact that Richie has basically had a singing monopoly on that simple greeting ever since his version of "Hello" first caressed our eardrums back in 1984.
To make matters worse, the opening line of Adele's song starts with her singing "Hello... it's me," and when you've already got Lionel Richie on the brain that line becomes even more evocative of his classic line: "Hello... is it me you're looking for?"
Quite a few people have been making the connection.
Playing Adele's new song at the same time as Lionel Richie. Sounds like two people having a conversation with really poor reception.— James Martin (@Pundamentalism) October 23, 2015
Lionel Richie did it better #Adele— Drumley (@CharlesDrumley) October 23, 2015
Adele: Hello? Lionel Richie: Is it me you're looking for? pic.twitter.com/oRXvkG0jDr— malu (@drunkcabello) October 23, 2015
To avoid confusion with Lionel Richie, I'd feel safer if Adele's new song was called 'Hiya'.— Eve Barlow (@Eve_Barlow) October 23, 2015
Pretty soon there were calls for a mashup...
Someone needs to do a mashup of Adele & Lionel Richie on 'Hello' #Adele #Hello #lionelrichie— Sophie Austin (@LDNPhilosophie) October 23, 2015
*fingers crossed for a bad Lionel Richie/Adele Hello mashup* Internet, make it happen!— Ina (@pissedachios) October 23, 2015
If the Internet hasn’t mashed up Adele and Lionel Richie’s “Hello”s by the time I wake up, I’ll be disappointed by it.— Daniel Fienberg (@TheFienPrint) October 23, 2015
...and, obviously, the Internet delivered.
Everyone else thinking of Lionel Richie when listening to Adele singing Hello. https://t.co/1zD92eGtQU— Brett Cullen (@iambrettcullen) October 23, 2015
Admittedly, that version is fairly brief, but we're pretty sure there'll be a full length one up on YouTube within the next few hours (and if there isn't then the Internet has definitely failed us all).
"Hello" is a track from Adele's upcoming album "25," which will be released Nov. 20.