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.
Sidestep
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sidestep
Hey, don't you sidestep my love
They say it ain't about your car and your house
Or the money you make and how it all goes down
I think that its about keepin' ones you love near
Maybe I should hurry up get by your side
Follow you around just be on your time
Or maybe I should just leave you behind
Maybe I'm keeping you from a chance at a better life
Then I call you and I come out and tell you straight up
Baby I, I need your love
And you go sidestep, pull me around
Put out your hand, put me on down and I
Wanna know why, why you don't need my love
Then you go sidestep, swing me around
Put out your hand, put me on down and I
Wanna know why, why you ain't in no hurry for my love
You ain't in no hurry
Baby
That makes me worry
On the telephone telling me tired of being alone
But we staying up all night
Talking about I ain't doing right
Baby come on
Oh and when I open up and straight up tell you
Baby
A man needs love too
Then you go sidestep
Spin me around, put out your hand
Put me on down and I, wonder why you ain't
Ain't in no hurry for my love
Come on now
Oh
Hey baby
Sidestep
Hey
Come on baby
Come on now
Hey sidestep hey
Don't you sidestep my love
Come on baby
I drop everything and cancel my plans, uh
And I come to you hat in my hand
Hoping we can find a new way to understand babe
And maybe we can be a better woman and man
Come on now
Oh I need you cause you're my best friend
But I can't believe it, here we go again
When you go sidestep
Pull me around, put out your hand
Put me on down and I, wanna know why
Why you don't need my love
Then you go sidestep
Swing me around, put out your hand
Put me on down and I, wanna know why
Why you don't need my love
Sidestep
Swing it around, put out your hand
Put me on down and I, wonder why you ain't
Ain't in no hurry for my love
Come on baby
Yeah all right
Oh sidestep huh
Come on baby
Come on now
Sidestep hey
Swing it around, pull it on down
Come on
Don't you sidestep my love
Come on baby
Sidestep
Hey sidestep my love
Pull me around, open your heart baby
Don't you sidestep me
Sidestep my love
Come on now
Come on baby
The song "Sidestep" by Robin Thicke is a plea from a man who wants desperately to be with the woman he loves. He tries to convince her that what really matters in a relationship is being together and supporting each other, not material possessions or social status. The man wonders if he should either follow her around or let her go, in case he is keeping her from having a better life without him. He calls her to express his love but she sidesteps his advances, which causes him to worry that she doesn't need him. However, the man tries to make amends by cancelling his plans and reaching out to her with the hope of finding a new way to understand each other.
The song's lyrics suggest that the man is introspective, realizing that he may be bringing his own unfulfilled needs and insecurities into the relationship. He acknowledges that he needs love too and portrays a willingness to work with the woman to create a better life together. The chorus line, "Don't you sidestep my love," is a recurring plea from the man to the woman to not avoid his love and push him away.
Overall, "Sidestep" is a touching song about the complexity of relationships and the struggle to communicate effectively. It highlights the importance of perseverance, vulnerability, and open communication in finding true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on baby, come on now
Encouraging the listener to engage in the following conversation
Sidestep
The act of avoiding or not reciprocating love in a relationship
Hey, don't you sidestep my love
Asking the listener to be open and honest about their feelings in the relationship and not avoid it
They say it ain't about your car and your house
Society claims that material possessions are not the most important factor in a relationship
Or the money you make and how it all goes down
It is irrelevant how much money you make, or how you spend it
I think that its about keepin' ones you love near
The key to a successful relationship is being close to the people you love
That's why I'm on the hop thinking you should be here
Thinking about the importance of being close to the one he loves
Maybe I should hurry up get by your side
He should prioritize being with his partner to strengthen their relationship
Follow you around just be on your time
He should spend more time with his partner and prioritize their needs
Or maybe I should just leave you behind
The thought of leaving his partner to give them a chance at a better life
Maybe I'm keeping you from a chance at a better life
He thinks that his presence is preventing his partner from having a better life
Then I call you and I come out and tell you straight up
He directly tells his partner how he feels over the phone
Baby I, I need your love
Expressing his need for his partner's love
And you go sidestep, pull me around
His partner avoids and rejects his love by rejecting him and moving away
Put out your hand, put me on down and I
She is physically resisting and rejecting his advances
Wanna know why, why you don't need my love
Asking his partner why she doesn't want his love
Then you go sidestep, swing me around
His partner continues to sidestep and avoid his love
Put out your hand, put me on down and I
She continues to reject and push him away with her physical actions
Wanna know why, why you ain't in no hurry for my love
Asking his partner why she isn't excited or rushing to be with him
You ain't in no hurry
His partner is not in a rush to be with him or receive his love
Baby
Affectionately calling out his partner's name
That makes me worry
Expressing his concern and worry because of his partner's lack of interest
On the telephone telling me tired of being alone
His partner shares that she is tired of being alone
But we staying up all night
They are staying up late, talking on the phone
Talking about I ain't doing right
Discussing how he's not doing the right things in the relationship
Oh and when I open up and straight up tell you
When he openly and honestly talks to his partner
A man needs love too
Men also have the need for love and affection in a relationship
I drop everything and cancel my plans, uh
He makes his partner his priority by cancelling plans for her
And I come to you hat in my hand
He approaches his partner in a humble manner, symbolized by saying he is carrying his hat
Hoping we can find a new way to understand babe
Wishing for a new way to reconnect and fix their relationship
And maybe we can be a better woman and man
Hoping that they can be better partners to each other
Lyrics © Regard Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Missing Link Music
Written by: GREG MALONE, LARRY COX, LAWRENCE BREAUX JR., ROBIN A. THICKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind