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.
Mission
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been so long
Good to be home
Bring down the lights
Power down the phone
Or put it on vibrate
Call you all night and
Are you ready to go whoa oh
Makin' it my mission
Takin' it nice and slow
I just need your permission
But you seem already
All ready to go whoa oh
It's good to be back
Back in your arms
Here with my baby
Ridin' right along
Its good to be back
Ain't nuthin' change
I'm the same body
You want it
Makin' it my mission
Takin' it nice and slow
I just need your permission
Are you ready to
Are you ready to go whoa oh
Whatever you need
I got it
Just tell me
I got it
Your energy
I want it
You and me
Makin' it my mission
Takin' it nice and slow
I just need your permission
But you seem already
All ready to go whoa oh
Makin' it my mission
Takin' it nice and slow
I just need your permission
Are you ready to
Are you ready to go whoa oh
Eventually
I got it
Eventually
I got it
Eventually
I got it
You and me
Come make believe
I got it
Then we could love love love love
Eventually
You're gonna love
Makin' it my mission
Takin' it nice and slow
I just need your permission
But you seem already
All ready to go whoa oh
(Makin' it my mission)
When you get that energy
And your body's callin' me
First if I'm ready 'cause I
I wanna tell you alone
When you get that energy
When your body's callin' me
First if I'm ready 'cause I
I wanna pass it along
And on my bedside,(my bedside)
I'mma tear it up,(so tear it up)
So how can I love you
How can I love you babe
When you get that energy (oh whoa)
And your body's callin' me (oh whoa)
First if I'm ready 'cause I (oh whoa)
I wanna pass it along
Mission
Makin' it my mission
Takin' it nice and slow
I just need your permission
But you seem already
All ready to go whoa oh
The song "Mission" by Robin Thicke is about finally returning home and being reunited with his lover. The opening lyrics, "Oh, it's been so long, good to be home," indicate that the singer has been away for some time and is glad to finally be back. He wants the lights turned down and the phone to be silenced so he can focus on being with his partner. Thicke sings, "Makin' it my mission, takin' it nice and slow, I just need your permission, but you seem already all ready to go whoa oh," indicating that he is willing to take things slow and is asking for permission to proceed. However, it is apparent that his partner is already eager and ready to move forward.
As the song continues, Thicke emphasizes his desire to be with his lover, declaring that he is "back in [her] arms" and that "it's good to be back." He promises that he is still the same person, specifically singing "I'm the same body, you want it." In the latter part of the song, Thicke sings about his willingness to give what his lover wants and needs, saying "Whatever you need, I got it, just tell me, I got it, your energy, I want it, you and me."
Overall, the song "Mission" is a romantic declaration of the singer's love and desire for his partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh
Expression of excitement
It's been so long
Robin has missed his lover for a long time
Good to be home
Robin considers being with his lover home
Bring down the lights
Robin wants the environment to be intimate
Power down the phone
Robin does not want any distractions
Or put it on vibrate
Robin wants to be focused on his lover
Call you all night and
Robin wants to spend the night with his lover
Are you ready to go whoa oh
Robin is asking if his lover is ready for intimacy
Makin' it my mission
Robin is determined to make love to his lover
Takin' it nice and slow
Robin wants to take his time with his lover
I just need your permission
Robin wants his lover's consent
But you seem already
Robin's lover appears to be ready for intimacy
All ready to go whoa oh
Robin's lover is ready for intimacy
Back in your arms
Robin feels safe and loved in his lover's embrace
Here with my baby
Robin is back with his lover
Ridin' right along
Robin is enjoying the journey with his lover
Ain't nuthin' change
Robin still loves his lover the same way
I'm the same body
Robin is still the same person physically
You want it
Robin's lover desires him
Whatever you need
Robin is willing to provide for his lover
I got it
Robin has the resources to provide for his lover
Your energy
Robin wants his lover's passion and enthusiasm
I want it
Robin desires his lover's energy
You and me
Robin and his lover together
Eventually
Robin and his lover's love will eventually grow
Come make believe
Robin and his lover should pretend and fantasize
Then we could love love love love
Intimacy will follow after the pretending
When you get that energy
Robin's lover is desired by him
And your body's callin' me
Robin's lover is signaling to him
First if I'm ready 'cause I
Robin wants to take his time with his lover
I wanna tell you alone
Robin wants to communicate intimately with his lover
I wanna pass it along
Robin wants to respond to his lover's calling
Mission
Robin's mission is to make love to his lover
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ROBIN A. THICKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind