Joshua Ray Walker is as real as they come.
He’s been known to write and sing songs so deep, they’ll have you getting sad drunk, while also occasionally adding some humorous twists.
Today, we get another taste of that “humor.”
The guy did a little cover of Lionel Richie’s hit song, “Hello,” but with this unique cover, Walker throws in some of that humor we all know and love.
Richie’s version is a slow paced, and almost dark kind of sound, but not Walker’s.
This version is an up tempo “country shuffle:”
“I arranged the cover a long time ago, and it’s one of the only songs that isn’t mine that gets requested regularly at shows. When I had the chance to cut it full band during the Glad You Made It sessions, I knew I had to.”
On top of this hilarious twist, he created a music video spoofing Richie’s cheesy yet iconic original video.
“The idea for the video came about during the pandemic. I was home alone trying to think of cheap things I could make to keep my audience engaged, and I had the idea to do a shot-for-shot remake of the iconic Lionel Richie music video on my iPhone.
With the help of Nathan Mongol Wells and a few mannequin heads, we did our best to recreate the ’80s magic. Making something with zero expectations was very freeing; the fact that anyone is going to see this is a miracle.
I’m excited for people to see a more lighthearted side of me that isn’t on display in my more despondent originals.”
So who did it best, Lionel or Joshua Ray?
Lionel’s version:
