Lionel Richie doesn't think Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus' songs will be remembered.
The legendary crooner has scored number one hits all around the world and has a back-catalogue of catchy tracks such as All Night Long and Dancing on the Ceiling, which still remain popular today.
Lionel thinks the trend for making music that never dates has long passed, and he predicts the songs put out by today's stars have a shelf life.
“Twenty years from now, let’s take anybody - where’s the body of work? I’m going to judge you not by your popularity but by your longevity, your staying records. I’m thinking about Miley, Justin Bieber," he explained, according to British newspaper London Evening Standard.
“We’ve made amateur music mainstream. There’s a difference between a stylist and a singer - everybody can sing! Go to karaoke - there are some guys seriously singing their asses off! But do they have a unique voice, or distinct voice?”
Lionel got his big break in the early '80s, releasing his self-titled debut album to widespread acclaim.
In today's climate, new stars are scouted on reality TV shows and the internet. Part of the problem for Lionel is the lack of originality and raw talent showcased today.
"The beautiful part of where we were - we had shock value. But what came with shock value was hit after hit after hit. Madonna was outrageous - but she had a catalogue of music that was unbelievable," Lionel mused, as he announced the European leg of his All the Hits All Night Long Tour.
"At the end of all the theatrics with Michael [Jackson], he had nothing but the most fabulous catalogue. Now, we’ve got a lot of theatrics - but where’s the song that is going to stick around forever?"
