Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” (All Night) is a feel good song. In the music video for this song, Richie incorporates a variety of people who appear to be enjoying themselves to demonstrate that this song is meant to get everyone on their feet and dancing in the streets. He presents a multitude of different races, age groups and professions all being brought together by the music. The wide selection of crowd demonstrates that the song is also meant to entertain and amuse because everyone is getting along and dancing together though they come from different backgrounds.

                At the beginning of the music video the instruments are playing pianissimo and the tempo is quite slow. As a result, the people in the music video are walking slowly in the streets. As the first verse begins, the beat picks up and the sound crescendos, the music brings the dancers to life. This strategy communicates that the song generates amusement and fun by showing the contrast from pianissimo and dead to fortissimo and living.

                The crowd of people dancing in the street is additionally very diverse. There are numerous children, countless integrated couples and many people with different professions all joined together by the music. There are doctors, students, policemen etc. dancing in the streets to the rhythm of the music.  This is another strategy that develops Richie’s intent. The diversity of the crowd shows the songs power to bring not just one age, ethnicity or occupation together but rather creates an assortment of them all. There are ballerinas, break dancers, tribal dancers and interpretive dancers all dancing in unison until the sun comes out. The video highlights the diversity using brief clips showing an array of contrasting people distinguished by age and race but also by the clothes they are wearing.

                In addition to the diversity, Richie adds specific instances in which people are added into the fun. First, the camera focuses on a little girl who is sitting alone in a car. Richie goes to pick her up and begins dancing with her. They both smile and laugh as they dance. In another instance, a police officer comes to break up the street dancing but he too gets caught up in the rhythm. He then begins to dance to the music as well. This strategy correlates with the idea that Richie’s intent is to entertain a variety of people using his music. This video exhibits that once one hears the rhythm of this catchy tune it is almost impossible to stay away.

                This video is so cute and fun. Lionel Richie himself even joins in the party. The video illustrates that as long as the music is playing anyone and everyone can and should join in to have a good time.