Before there were antidepressants, there was “All Night Long.” It doesn’t matter how sour and cynical, or just plain sad, a mood you may be mired in—the infectious, joyful Caribbean vibe of this song will lift your spirits. Dancing one’s troubles away might seem like a Pollyannaish idea, but it’s release, and it’s real: think of the old photographs of people dancing at USO parties during WWII, at juke joints in the Jim Crow south, Fred and Ginger spinning during the Great Depression. Lionel Richie caught lightning in a bottle with this danceable mega-hit. Let the music take control.

“All Night Long (All Night),” written and performed by Lionel Richie, 1983.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to May 31, 2025.

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