Lionel Richie – Endless Love ft. Shania Twain

About the song

“Endless Love,” a timeless ballad penned by Lionel Richie, epitomizes the essence of enduring romance through its poignant lyrics and soulful melodies. Originally recorded as a duet between Richie and the illustrious singer/actress Diana Ross, the song captures the heartfelt declaration of “endless love” between two souls deeply in love.

Richie and Ross collaborated on “Endless Love” for Motown Records, where it served as the theme song for Franco Zeffirelli’s film adaptation of Scott Spencer’s novel of the same name. The song, produced by Richie himself and arranged by Gene Page, was released in 1981 as a single from the film’s soundtrack. While the movie “Endless Love” enjoyed moderate success at the box office, the song soared to become the second-best-selling single of the year in the United States, only surpassed by “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for an impressive nine weeks, from August 15 to October 10, 1981, and also secured the number one position on the Billboard R&B chart and Adult Contemporary chart. In the United Kingdom, it reached a respectable number seven on the charts, solidifying its international acclaim.

Critically acclaimed as a “super ballad” overflowing with both drama and tenderness, “Endless Love” became Diana Ross’s biggest-selling single and her 18th and final career number-one hit in the USA, encompassing her work with The Supremes. For Lionel Richie, the song marked his most successful charting single at the time, launching a series of hits for him throughout the 1980s.

The song’s profound impact extended beyond its chart success; it garnered a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Richie and won the 1982 American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single. Diana Ross later recorded a solo rendition of the song for her RCA Records debut album, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” while Richie’s solo version was released as part of a remastered edition of his 1982 album.

“Endless Love” remains a quintessential duet of the rock era, surpassing historical classics with its enduring appeal and emotional resonance, cementing its legacy as one of the greatest love songs ever recorded.

Video

Lyrics

My love, there’s only you in my life
The only thing that’s right

My first love,
You’re every breath that I take
You’re every step I make

And I, I
I want to share
All my love with you
No one else will do

And your eyes
Your eyes, your eyes
They tell me how much you care
Ooh yes, you will always be
My endless love

Two hearts, two hearts that beat as one
Our lives have just begun

Forever (oh) I’ll hold you close in my arms
I can’t resist your charms

And love oh, love
I’ll be a fool for you I’m sure
You know I don’t mind
Oh, you know I don’t mind

‘Cause you,
You mean the world to me
Oh I know
I’ve found in you
My endless love

Oh, and love oh, love
I’ll be that fool for you I’m sure
You know I don’t mind
Oh you know, I don’t mind

And, yes you’ll be the only one
‘Cause no one can deny
This love I have inside
And I’ll give it all to you
My love, my love, my love
My endless love