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.
Million Dolla Baby
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
God, I need a friend to help me get along
I need my baby, gotta get her back
I need lady luck to get her from where I'm at
Gotta make it rain, million, million dollar baby
Make it rain, million dollar baby
Make it rain, million dollar baby
I lost my soul out on that road
Sat in the darkness, ain't leading me home
I need my baby, my lover, my muse
Hold on to me, baby; don't let my hand go
Gotta make it rain, million, million dollar baby
Make it rain, million dollar baby
Make it rain, million dollar baby
Luck be a lady, luck be a lady tonight
Got me singing, yeah, yeah, hoo
I'm hot at the tables, I'm seven-eleven
I'm playin' four hours, I'm bettin' on even
The waitress is rockin'
I need some more deuce, please, now
I'm doubling up--I have money to spend
And I look at the dealer, thinking should I hit it?
And I'm shaking my hands
And I could see you bet good now
Make it rain, million dollar baby
Make it rain, million dollar baby
Make it rain, million dollar baby
Luck be a lady, luck be a lady tonight
In Robin Thicke’s “Million Dolla Baby,” the artist reflects on losing his way and doing wrong in life. He pleads for a friend and seeks luck in finding his way back to love. He longs for his partner, muse, and lover and hopes not to lose her. Thicke’s desire for a turn of fortune is emphasized by the repetitive chorus that sends out the wish to ‘make it rain, million-dollar baby’. The allusion to ‘Luck Be a Lady Tonight’ adds another layer to the song, as it is a reference to the popular 1950s musical “Guys and Dolls”. The song is sung in that musical by Sky Masterson, who is a gambler, similar to how Thicke is portrayed in this song at the casino.
Apart from the chorus, Thicke’s lyrics are melancholic and showcase a sense of regret and desperation. The opening lines ‘I lost my way, I did so much wrong. God, I need a friend to help me get along’ set the tone of remorse and wanting to leave behind the past. The verse ‘I lost my soul out on that road, sat in the darkness, ain't leading me home’ strongly depicts this. The artist’s concern is not only in seeking redemption, but also in finding love once again: ‘I need my baby, my lover, my muse. Hold on to me, baby; don't let my hand go.’
Line by Line Meaning
I lost my way, I did so much wrong
I have made several mistakes and I am currently feeling lost.
God, I need a friend to help me get along
I am in need of assistance and support from a friend or a higher power.
I need my baby, gotta get her back
I am in search of my loved one and I need to reconcile with them.
I need lady luck to get her from where I'm at
I require some good fortune and a chance at success to win back my lover.
Gotta make it rain, million, million dollar baby
I need to gamble big to win back my love through an abundance of wealth.
Make it rain, million dollar baby
I must achieve success and lavish my lover in money and gifts to win them back.
Luck be a lady, luck be a lady tonight
I am emphasizing the need for some fortune and luck to aid me in my quest to find my love.
I lost my soul out on that road
I have been on a journey and allowed my mistakes to define me, causing me to feel empty and lost.
Sat in the darkness, ain't leading me home
I have been in a dark place and I need guidance to find my way back home to where I belong.
I need my baby, my lover, my muse
I require the support and inspiration of my loved one who has always been a source of creativity in my life.
Hold on to me, baby; don't let my hand go
I am asking my companion to stand by me and never let me go as they are the source of my happiness.
Got me singing, yeah, yeah, hoo
I am expressing my joy and enthusiasm for reuniting with my lover.
I'm hot at the tables, I'm seven-eleven
I am on a winning streak at the casino, feeling like a lucky man.
I'm playin' four hours, I'm bettin' on even
I have been playing casino games for a long time and I am continuing to bet on my chances of success.
The waitress is rockin'
The waitress serving me is attractive and impressive in her work.
I need some more deuce, please, now
I require more playing cards to help me in my game and I am requesting assistance from the dealer.
I'm doubling up--I have money to spend
My fortune is on the rise, and I am increasing my betting size to maximize my chances of winning.
And I look at the dealer, thinking should I hit it?
I am contemplating my chances of success and considering whether I should continue betting or not.
And I'm shaking my hands
I am anxious and restless as I await the outcome of my bets.
And I could see you bet good now
I am watching my competitor and noticing their notable skills and moves during the game.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN GAYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind