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.
Against The World
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone to love
Once you find them
You don't want to give up
And now I know that we're
Both alone in this
It's just me and you
And there's me
And there's you
It's just me and youÂ
Against the world
(Oh girl)
And, what am I supposed to do
The alarms are going off in my head
And It's dangerous
Yes It's complicated
We're the only ones who get it
The only ones that want this
The only ones who believe
In love
It's just the two of us
Getting into love
It take two of us
To change the world
I've got you
You've got me
It's just me and you
Against the world
Girl, you got me so crazy in longing
And I know it's wrong but so right
and I'm holding you
I have been dreaming
And I can't let you go
Now, you're mine
Girl, what am I supposed to do
The alarms are going off in my head
It's just the two of usÂ
Getting into love
It takes two of usÂ
To change the world
I got you
You got me
It's just me and you
Against the world
It's just the two of us
Getting into love
It takes two of us
To change the world
In "Against the World," Robin Thicke speaks about his love for someone who was meant to be with him. The lyrics reveal the challenges that the couple faces at the beginning, emphasizing how difficult it is to find love these days. The lyrics also highlight the importance of two people being together to face the world's challenges. The chorus shows that both of them are alone in the world, and they only have each other to rely on. The lyrics create a sense that despite the challenges, the couple is ready to face whatever comes their way.
Thicke's lyrics also contain elements of doubt and anxiety as though the closeness he feels towards his lover is also causing him to spiral out of control. The line, "The alarms are going off in my head and it's dangerous," indicates that being in love and so close to someone is unsettling, frightening, and can make one feel out of control. He is questioning what he should do while holding her, feeling like he is trapped in her presence, and doesn't know what is right or wrong but feels like she belongs to him. The lyrics indicate that this kind of closeness and togetherness can possibly be dangerous and anxious but it's worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
These days it's hard to find
In present times, it is difficult to discover
Someone to love
A person to be fond of
Once you find them
Once you come across such an individual
You don't want to give up
You would not want to lose them after discovering their uniqueness
And now I know that we're
Presently, I have the realization that we are
Both alone in this
Experiencing solitude in these circumstances
It's just me and you
Just you and me
Against the world
In conflict with everything else
And there's me
Additionally, there's me
And there's you
Furthermore, there's you
It's just me and you
Only the two of us
Against the world
In battle with the entirety of everything else
(Oh girl)
Addressed to the female partner
And, what am I supposed to do
Furthermore, what are my obligations in this matter?
The alarms are going off in my head
I am conflicted about my thoughts
And It's dangerous
The circumstance is hazardous
Yes It's complicated
Certainly, it is intricate
We're the only ones who get it
The two of us solely understand the situation
The only ones that want this
Nobody else desires this as much as we do
The only ones who believe
The two of us are the only believers
In love
Embracing in affection
It's just the two of us
Merely, the couple is in this instance
Getting into love
Falling in love
It take two of us
This involves the participation of two individuals
To change the world
In order to influence the universe
I've got you
I have found my partner in you
You've got me
You have discovered your counterpart in me
It's just me and you
None other than the couple themselves
Against the world
Amidst opposition from everything else
Girl, you got me so crazy in longing
Lady, your effect on me is intense longing
And I know it's wrong but so right
Although I identify the wrongdoing in this desire, it feels so right
and I'm holding you
As things are, I am in possession of you
I have been dreaming
I have been imagining
And I can't let you go
I am incapable of letting you leave
Now, you're mine
Presently, you belong to me
It takes two of us
Two people are crucial for this undertaking
To change the world
To make an impact on the universe
It's just the two of us
We are the only settlers here
Getting into love
Falling in love
It takes two of us
Two people are necessary
To change the world
In order to influence the universe
I got you
I have found my companion in you
You got me
You have discovered your partner in me
It's just me and you
There isn't anyone else but us
Against the world
Despite resistance from everything else in existence
Lyrics © Regard Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROBIN A. THICKE, USHER RAYMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nathan Jones
I love this song 🎶 Never gets old
Caroline De Leon
I freakin love this song!! It’s 2020 and it’s still not on Spotify like WHYYYYYYY
Charlie Moon
Facts this was the best part of that movie
Brenden Anderson
@Charlie Moon agreed ! Its when they learned to let go.
Matayis Smith
It’s not even on Apple Music which is sad bc this is my favorite song from the movie
LaKeisha Robinson
Likewise! March 2021! 😎😎
Sierra Anderson
Thisss omg was just looking for it
BozackJenkins
One of his best songs. Damn shame it isn't on Spotify.
RnBReworked
So beautiful. Been nearly 20 years since I first head this and it still gets me every time.
Buyani Mlambo
You can't hate this song never.. ♥️🔥