Alan Thicke married actress Gloria Loring, known for starring in programs such as 'Days of Our Lives', in 1970, and he had the two sons Brennan Thicke and Robin Thicke. Half-brother Carter Thicke would become another member of the clan years later after Alan Thicke divorced and remarried. Brother Robin grew up in a household filled with music, with his dad being a singer (of tracks such as "Thicke of the Night") as well as a co-composer for several TV show theme songs and a seminal actor on both the big and small screens (examples being the shows 'Growing Pains' and 'How I Met Your Mother').
The young Robin Thicke taught himself to play piano at the age of twelve. Even at the age of fourteen, he found that he could play just about anything that he heard on the radio, feeling a drive to keep going further. Before his days as a singer-songwriter performing his own material,Robin Thicke wrote songs for the soul and pop groups 3T (with 1995's "Sexual Attention" bringing Thicke alongside Damon Thomas), Brownstone (with 1997's "Around You"), and Color Me Badd (an example being 1996's "Sexual Capacity"). He also collaborated with the acclaimed production duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on several songs for Jordan Knight's 1999 self-titled album. Thicke seemed to receive a great omen when Knight's album was certified Gold and gained huge fan acclaim.
In 2000, Thicke went to work on material for his debut album, which ended up being titled 'A Beautiful World'. The album focused more on blue-eyed soul than his pop-centered offerings for other artists, and he mixed in influences from eclectic funk (in the vein of the British group Jamiroquai) and and modern neo-soul music (in the vain of Canadian crooner Remy Shand). Thicke hoped that he was primed for huge things by late 2002 when the album became ready for release.
Thicke's lead single, called "When I Get You Alone", had a distinctive music video made for it. The disco and slick rnb fueled track sounded rather unlike the commercial pop ethos of the time, having a distinctive sampling of Walter Murphy's 70s dance music hit "A Fifth of Beethoven" (which itself had been inspired by Beethoven's Fifth Symphony). The video featured an unshaven Thicke, with long, grungy hair, as a courier racing through the streets of Manhattan on a bicycle. It received some rotation on MTV 2 and BET's "Rated Next", the song being spun moderately on urban radio. On the Hot 100, it reached #29 quite quickly, yet it fell out the chart just as fast. Globally, however, the song was quite popular. With his single peaking at #17 in Australia, #15 in Belgium, #15 in Italy, #8 in New Zealand, and #5 in the Netherlands, Thicke felt that he wanted another shot at the 'big time' in the U.S.
Devising the re-release of this album, which it then gaining its final title of 'A Beautiful World', Thicke added a few extra songs that he seemed confident of. Yet the album received very little corporate promotion, irritating Thicke despite the release of a second single, a Prince-like groove mixing funk with rock called "Brand New Jones". The album debuted at #152 in the Billboard 200 and didn't do much from there, selling a mere 59,000 copies. Still, his work ended up being received well by many critics and musical peers, with Trevor Nelson and Lil' Wayne (Weezy's 2005 release 'Tha Carter, Vol. 2' would even include some of Thicke's work) lauding Thicke's music, as well as many fans.
In 2004, artist Pharrell Williams asked Jimmy Iovine, CEO of Interscope, “What are you doing with Robin Thicke?” A few months later, Robin was recording a new single, titled “Wanna Love You Girl” with Pharrell in Miami, as a newly signed artist on Pharrell’s label, Star Trak Records. With the two musicians sharing the same love for genre-hopping, deliberately 'retro' music, the single immediately attracted the attention of radio and club DJs across the world after its August 2005 release. The song often given revamped names such as "Wanna Love U Girl", "Wanna Love You Girl (Feat. Pharrell)", and the like, it ended up doing very well in the U.K. in particular, hitting #5 on Trevor Nelson's BBC Radio 1 "Soul Nation" chart.
Now appealing more to the mainstream, Thicke cut off his trademark long hair in an attempt to further recreate himself. By October 2006, when his second album, titled 'The Evolution of Robin Thicke', came out in its entirely, he had built up a ton of momentum, and his work paid off. Thicke earned the #1 slot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and additional singles such as "Got 2 Be Down" and "Lost Without U" saw huge fan responses. As the months went by, his album even earned platinum certification by the RIAA.
Having 'made it' in the truest sense commercially as well as critically, Thick remarked, "My greatest desire with this album was to write songs that were completely honest and sing them with the emotion I was feeling when I wrote them, so that whoever listens to my music is brought as close to my experiences and life as possible."
With this intention, Robin created songs such as, “Lost without You” (the second single). An instant classic, this song is about Robin’s insecurities and his need to be desired and loved. With sweeping vocals over rhythmic Spanish guitar, this song takes you away and makes you sing along.
On the psychedelic, “High School Man” is where Robin infuses rock and hip-hop and poetically admits “I’m a hater” as he hates on those with more success than him realizing, ironically, he just wants what they have.
Finishing off The Evolution of Robin Thicke is the hopeful and encouraging “Thank You.” On this gospel inspired, piano ballad Robin sings, “maybe I’m the one who never gets up ‘till he falls,” making the discovery that he has to be thankful for everything that comes into his life…the tears, the joy, the failures and the successes.
Always carrying a heavy heart, Robin taught himself to play piano at the age of twelve so he could have an outlet to express himself. By the age of fourteen, he could play anything he heard on the radio. At sixteen, with no formal training, Robin began professionally writing and producing music for recording artists like Brandy and Brian McKnight. Over the years he has amassed dozens of gold and platinum records with artists including Usher, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera.
Reflective, redemptive, passionate and etched with a soulfulness that is undeniable, The Evolution of Robin Thicke is an imaginative and heart-felt album that you cannot help but be moved by, bob your head to and smile throughout.
The album was released on October 3rd, 2006 and includes songs with Lil Wayne and Faith Evans, as well as Pharrell. The song "Got 2 Be Down" featuring Faith Evans was recently leaked (June '06). There will be two to three more videos released before the album comes out. Lately, there was a Busta Rhymes remix video shot for "Wanna Love You Girl," a Lil’ Wayne feat Robin Thicke "Shooter" video, and Robin has released the video for "Lost Without You," making that song the official 2nd single of the album.
Blurred Lines
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody get up
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey (ah)
Hey, hey, hey (woo)
Turn me up
If you can't hear, what I'm tryna say (hey girl, come here)
If you can't read, from the same page
Maybe I'm going deaf (hey, hey, hey)
Maybe I'm going blind (hey, hey, hey)
Maybe I'm out of my mind (hey, hey, hey)
Everybody get up
Okay, now he was close
Tried to domesticate you
But you're an animal
Baby, it's in your nature (meow)
Just let me liberate you (hey, hey, hey)
You don't need no papers (hey, hey, hey)
That man is not your maker (hey, hey, hey)
And that's why I'm gon' take you (everybody get up)
Good girl
I know you want it (hey)
I know you want it
I know you want it
You're a good girl (oh yeah)
Can't let it get past me (oh yeah)
You're far from plastic (alright)
Talkin' about getting blasted
I hate these blurred lines
I know you want it (hey)
I know you want it (oh, oh, yeah yeah)
I know you want it
But you're a good girl (hey)
The way you grab me
Must wanna get nasty (hey, hey, hey)
Go ahead, get at me
Everybody get up (come on)
What do they make dreams for?
When you got them jeans on? (Why?)
What do we need steam for?
You the hottest bitch in this place
I feel so lucky (hey, hey, hey)
You wanna hug me (hey, hey, hey)
What rhymes with hug me? (Hey, hey, hey)
Hey (everybody get up)
Okay, now he was close
Tried to domesticate you
But you're an animal
Baby, it's in your nature (uh huh)
Just let me liberate you (uh huh)
You don't need no papers (uh huh)
That man is not your maker (uh huh)
And that's why I'm gon' take you (everybody get up)
Good girl
I know you want it
I know you want it (hey)
I know you want it
You're a good girl
Can't let it get past me (hey, hey)
You're far from plastic (oh)
Talkin' about getting blasted (everybody get up)
I hate these blurred lines (hate them lines)
I know you want it (I hate them lines)
I know you want it (I hate them lines)
I know you want it
But you're a good girl (good girl, yeah)
The way you grab me (Hustle Gang, homie)
Must wanna get nasty (lego) (ay say Rob)
Go ahead, get at me (let me holla at 'em real quick)
One thing I ask of you (okay)
Let me be the one you back that ass up to (come on)
Go from Malibu to Paris, boo (yeah)
Had a bitch, but she ain't bad as you (uh-uh, ey)
So, hit me up when you passin' through
I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two
Swag on 'em even when you dress casual (oh, oh, oh)
I mean, it's almost unbearable (ey, ey, ey, ey) (everybody get up)
In a hundred years not dare would I
Pull a Pharcyde, let you pass me by (uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh)
Nothin' like your last guy, he too square for you
He don't smack that ass and pull your hair for you (like that)
So I'm just watchin' (just watchin') and waitin' (and waitin')
For you to salute the true big pimpin'
Not many women can refuse this pimpin' (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
I'm a nice guy, but don't get confused, get pimpin' (everybody get up)
Shake your rump
Get down
Get up
Do it like it hurt
Like it hurt
What, you don't like work?
Hey (everybody get up)
Baby, can you breathe?
I got this from Jamaica
It always works for me
Dakota to Decatur (uh huh)
No more pretending (hey, hey, hey) (uh huh)
'Cause now your winning (hey, hey, hey) (uh huh)
Here's our beginning (hey, hey, hey) (uh huh) (uh)
I always wanted a
You're good girl, oh yeah-yeah (everybody get up)
I know you want it (hey)
I know you want it
I know you want it
You're a good girl (yeah yeah)
Can't let it get past me (oh yeah)
You're far from plastic (alright)
Talk about getting blasted
I hate these blurred lines (everybody get up)
I know you want it (hey)
I know you want it (oh oh, yeah yeah)
I know you want it
But you're a good girl (hey, hey)
The way you grab me
Must wanna get nasty (hey, hey, hey)
Go ahead, get at me
Everybody get up
Everybody get up
(Hey, hey, hey)
(Hey, hey, hey)
(Hey, hey, hey)
The lyrics to Robin Thicke's song "Blurred Lines" are controversial, as they have been criticized for promoting objectification of women and the normalization of sexual harassment. The song features sexually suggestive lyrics such as "I know you want it" and "You're a good girl, I know you want it," which have been criticized for promoting rape culture. The lyrics also suggest that the woman in question is an animal who needs to be "liberated" and that the man taking her is "gonna take you." The lyrics have been interpreted as promoting the belief that women are objects to be controlled and dominated by men.
Despite the controversy surrounding the lyrics, "Blurred Lines" was a massive commercial success, topping the charts in over 20 countries and becoming the best-selling song of 2013. The song's popularity was further boosted by a controversial music video featuring topless models and Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I. dancing around them. The video was criticized for its objectification of women and has been accused of perpetuating rape culture.
Aside from its controversial lyrics and music video, "Blurred Lines" has been recognized as a catchy pop song with a memorable hook and upbeat rhythm. The song's success led to numerous parodies and covers, including a popular version by feminist group Objectify A Man in which the lyrics were altered to reverse the gender roles and highlight the absurdity of the original lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody get up
Encouraging everyone to stand up and join in
Hey, hey, hey
Exclamation to grab attention
Turn me up
Asking the music to be turned up louder
If you can't hear, what I'm tryna say (hey girl, come here)
If you're having trouble understanding me, come closer
If you can't read, from the same page
If you're not on the same page as me
Maybe I'm going deaf (hey, hey, hey)
Possibly he isn't hearing things correctly
Maybe I'm going blind (hey, hey, hey)
Possibly he isn't seeing things correctly
Maybe I'm out of my mind (hey, hey, hey)
Possibly he is crazy
Okay, now he was close
The singer almost had the girl hooked
Tried to domesticate you
He tried to tame her wild side
But you're an animal
But she is a wild, untamable natural creature
Baby, it's in your nature (meow)
Being wild is a part of her natural state
Just let me liberate you (hey, hey, hey)
Let me help you set your wild side free
You don't need no papers (hey, hey, hey)
She doesn't need written documentation to be considered free and liberated
That man is not your maker (hey, hey, hey)
He is not in control of her anymore
And that's why I'm gon' take you (everybody get up)
He wants to take her away from her previous life and start anew
Good girl
She is a good person
I know you want it (hey)
He knows she desires him
Can't let it get past me (oh yeah)
He can't let this opportunity go
You're far from plastic (alright)
She is a real person and not fake
Talkin' about getting blasted
Talking about getting drunk or high
I hate these blurred lines
He hates when there is confusion or ambiguity
The way you grab me
He is enjoying her physical touch
Must wanna get nasty (hey, hey, hey)
She might want to do something dirty or sexual
Go ahead, get at me
She should make a move on him
What do they make dreams for?
Why do people have dreams?
When you got them jeans on? (Why?)
Why dream when he can see her in those sexy jeans?
What do we need steam for?
Why use steam?
You the hottest bitch in this place
She is the most attractive person in the room
I feel so lucky (hey, hey, hey)
He feels lucky to be near her
What rhymes with hug me? (Hey, hey, hey)
He is trying to find a word that rhymes with 'hug me'
One thing I ask of you (okay)
He has one request for her
Let me be the one you back that ass up to (come on)
Let him be the one she twerks on
Go from Malibu to Paris, boo (yeah)
He wants to travel with her around the world
Had a bitch, but she ain't bad as you (uh-uh, ey)
He had a girlfriend before, but she wasn't as good as her
So, hit me up when you passin' through
She should contact him when she's in the area
I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two
He has something huge to show her
Swag on 'em even when you dress casual (oh, oh, oh)
He has style, even when he's dressed casually
I mean, it's almost unbearable (ey, ey, ey, ey)
His style is almost too much to handle
In a hundred years not dare would I
He would never dare
Pull a Pharcyde, let you pass me by (uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh)
He wouldn't let her get away like the rapper Pharcyde did
Nothin' like your last guy, he too square for you
He is nothing like her previous partner, who was too dull to hold her interest
He don't smack that ass and pull your hair for you (like that)
Her previous partner wasn't rough or wild enough for her
So I'm just watchin' (just watchin') and waitin' (and waitin')
He will wait and observe for the right moment
For you to salute the true big pimpin'
For her to acknowledge his great skills as a player
Not many women can refuse this pimpin' (hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey)
Most women can't resist his charm
I'm a nice guy, but don't get confused, get pimpin' (everybody get up)
He may appear nice, but he's still a player
Shake your rump
Move your butt rhythmically
Get down
Dance energetically
Do it like it hurt
Dance like you are in pain but enjoying it
What, you don't like work?
A challenge for her to keep up with him
Baby, can you breathe?
Making sure she's doing okay
I got this from Jamaica
Referring to the strains of marijuana he has
It always works for me
It always makes him feel good
Dakota to Decatur (uh huh)
He has influence and reach all over the place
'Cause now your winning (hey, hey, hey) (uh huh)
She is winning with him by her side
Here's our beginning (hey, hey, hey) (uh huh) (uh)
This is the start of something new for them
I always wanted a
He always wanted her
You're good girl, oh yeah-yeah (everybody get up)
She is a good person and everyone should stand up
I hate these blurred lines (everybody get up)
He hates when things are unclear and wants everyone to stand up
The way you grab me
He enjoys her physical touch
Must wanna get nasty (hey, hey, hey)
She might want to do something dirty or sexual
Go ahead, get at me
She should make a move on him
Everybody get up
Encouraging everyone to stand up and join in
Lyrics © Regard Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Pharrell Williams, Clifford Harris, Robin Thicke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind