Vote-count all night long

Lionel Richie to start Israel show early so fans can watch exit polls

March 2 performance in Tel Aviv by 80s balladeer will start at 7 p.m. to let politically inclined concertgoers make it home in time for 10 p.m. TV surveys

By ToI Staff 15 December 2019, 1:13 pm 0 Edit

Lionel Richie launches his 2019 world tour, which includes a March 2020 stop in Israel, a first for the balladeer. (Courtesy Lionel Richie Facebook page)

Balladeer Lionel Richie has changed the start time of his March 2, 2020, performance in Israel to avoid a clash with 10 p.m. exit polls for the Knesset elections that will be taking place the same day.

The concert, originally planned to begin at 8:30 p.m., has been brought forward to 7 p.m.

“Vote, enjoy the day of holiday, and then go home and watch the exit polls,” the promoters said in a statement.

In June, the pop star announced his first performance in Israel, which was initially scheduled for September but then postponed to March 2 — the day that has now been set for an unprecedented third national election in less than a year, amid a severe political crisis.

The soulful singer is known for his string of 1980s hits, including “Hello,” “Endless Love,” “All Night Long” and “You Say Me.”

The former Commodores singer, who has recently turned 70, is on a world tour comprising 30 shows in the US, Canada and the UK.

Richie’s trip to Israel was put together by producer Marcel Abraham, who has brought Justin Bieber, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Jennifer Lopez to Tel Aviv.