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.
2 The Sky
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the truth out there is cold
And nothing to keep you warm
Jealousy and lies within me
I got a feeling the sun won't shine today
Oh, and I gotta know right now
Will I be rich, have everything I want?
I stop myself and look to the sky
Oh, I got to give myself up to the sky
The only truth is in the sky
Nobody else can tell 'cause I'm stuck in a spell
Of greed, and anger, and hate
Ooo, I tried, I tried, I tried to rise above it
But it comes right back
Creeps up on me, and it hits me
Double time
This can't be my fate
It's never too late
I wake up holding on to this pain
And there's nothing else I can do
But to give myself up to the sky
Save me
Take me to the...
To the sky
Save me
Take me, take me
To the sky
Oh, it's so wrong out here
I need the sky
So cold out here
Come and save me
I need to fly
Oh, I gotta give myself to the sky
Ooo, baby, oh
(Oh, oh
Hold me, love me, want me deeply
Take me to the sky
To the sky, ooo
To the sky
Hold me, love me, want me deeply
Take me to the sky, ooo
Oh, oh)
When you ask yourself
Hey, why me, and why not me?
When you're down on your knees
Hey, look to the sky
Just look to the sky
You don't need no faster car
Or no bigger house
All you really need is friends and love
Hey, come on home, woo
Throw up your hands
Just throw up your heart
All you really need is love, ooo
I'm comin' home
Come on home
Ooo
The lyrics to Robin Thicke's song "2 The Sky" address themes of darkness, truth, jealousy, and the struggle to rise above negative emotions such as greed, anger, and hate. The singer seems to be searching for answers about their fate and desires, questioning whether they will be able to attain everything they want in life. The chorus emphasizes the importance of turning to the sky as the only source of truth and salvation from these struggles. The final verse encourages listeners to prioritize love and friends over material possessions, and to always look to the sky for guidance and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
It's amazing the way the darkness falls
It's incredible how abruptly the darkness descends in life, leaving us lost and stranded.
And the truth out there is cold
The reality outside is quite harsh and ruthless.
And nothing to keep you warm
There's no one to provide comfort or solace to you in such situations.
Jealousy and lies within me
I am consumed by envy and falsehoods that exist within me.
I got a feeling the sun won't shine today
I sense that things won't get better for me today or in the near future.
Oh, and I gotta know right now
I'm desperate to know whether I'll ever achieve materialistic success and satisfaction in life.
Will I be rich, have everything I want?
I wonder if I'll ever become wealthy enough to attain everything I've ever desired.
I stop myself and look to the sky
I pause for a moment and search for hope or answers in the vastness of the sky.
Oh, I got to give myself up to the sky
I need to surrender myself to the possibility of a better future, often represented by the limitless sky.
The only truth is in the sky
The sky represents the only truth that can provide unbounded hope or possibilities.
Nobody else can tell 'cause I'm stuck in a spell
Since I am gripped by an emotional spell (such as jealousy or hate), I cannot understand what others feel or advise.
Of greed, and anger, and hate
I'm overwhelmed by the negative feelings of greed, anger, and hate.
Ooo, I tried, I tried, I tried to rise above it
I've attempted multiple times to overcome these negative emotions.
But it comes right back
However, these emotions keep resurfacing in my mind.
Creeps up on me, and it hits me
These emotions sneak up on me and hurt me unexpectedly.
Double time
These feelings hurt me twice as much as they did before.
This can't be my fate
I refuse to believe that an unpleasant destiny awaits me.
It's never too late
I still have time to turn things around and live a better life.
I wake up holding on to this pain
I wake up every day feeling the same agony or sadness that I hold deep inside.
And there's nothing else I can do
I've tried everything to escape my suffering, but it's no use.
But to give myself up to the sky
Hence, I need to surrender myself to the vastness of the sky and hope for a better future.
Save me
I need someone to rescue me from this mental agony.
Take me to the...
Lead me to a better place, away from my problems.
To the sky
Let me visualize the limitless possibilities and hope represented by the sky.
Oh, it's so wrong out here
The current situation is amiss or unsuitable.
I need the sky
I need to look towards the sky for inspiration or comfort.
So cold out here
It's unbearable and chilling outside.
Come and save me
Please rescue me from this torment.
I need to fly
I desire to elevate myself from this current depressing situation.
When you ask yourself
When you find yourself pondering
Hey, why me, and why not me?
You might question why others around you succeed and why you don't.
When you're down on your knees
When you hit rock bottom, seeking for help.
Hey, look to the sky
You should seek inspiration or hope in the limitless sky.
Just look to the sky
Glance at the sky and believe that possibilities exist.
You don't need no faster car
You don't require expensive possessions to feel happy or successful.
Or no bigger house
You don't need a large home and material goods to feel content.
All you really need is friends and love
To lead a happy life, you only need someone to care for you and build connections with others.
Hey, come on home, woo
Encouraging someone to come back to where their heart belongs.
Throw up your hands
Raise your arms, expressing your emotions or as a sign of surrender.
Just throw up your heart
Surrender to the emotions, and accept the will of destiny or fate.
All you really need is love, ooo
Love can heal everything in life and is the only thing that matters.
I'm comin' home
I'm returning to a place or a state of mind that brings happiness and fulfillment.
Come on home
Inviting someone to return to where they feel happy or empowered.
Ooo
Expressing acquiescence, sorrow or happiness.
Lyrics © Regard Music, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: GREG MALONE, II LARRY COX, JUSTIN DERRICO, ROBIN A THICKE, RONNIE BREAUX JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind