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.
The Opposite of Me
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All that she wants is the opposite of me
All that she wants is someone who doesn't hurt
All that she wants is the action, not the words
Oh, the action, not the words
It's the action, not the words
If she ever knew that I would never be the man
If she ever knew that
I was gonna be running around, she would've never stayed
All that she needs is a good man
All that she needs is another try
All that she needs is something that
I can't give her I just can't give her
'Cause all that she wants is the honesty
All that she wants is the opposite of me
All that she wants is someone who doesn't hurt
All that she wants is the action, not the words
The action, not the words
Oh the action, not the words
The action, not the words
Oh the action, not the words
All that she needed was a true friend
All that she received was a troubled man
And she couldn't be with something like her dad
And I just rewarded he with my drunken rants
And all that she needs is a good man
All that she needs is another try
All that she needs is something that
I couldn't give her I just can't give her
'Cause all that she wants is the honesty
All that she wants is the opposite of me
All that she wants is someone who doesn't hurt
All that she wants is the action, not the words
Oh the action, not the words
It's the action, not the words
Oh the action, not the words
It's the action, not the words
In Robin Thicke's "The Opposite of Me," the song's speaker reflects on his failed relationship and his own shortcomings as a partner. Throughout the song, he posits that his former lover is seeking qualities in a mate that he cannot provide, such as honesty and the ability to show his love through actions rather than words.
The opening lyrics express the woman's simple desires: honesty and someone who won't hurt her. In contrast, the singer reveals that he is fallible and can't live up to the promises he made to her. He acknowledges that if she knew his true nature, she would have never stayed with him.
The following lyrics describe the woman as in need of a good man, friendship, and a fresh start. However, the singer concedes that he is not the man that can provide these things. He recognizes that it's not enough to just say that he will be better, but the woman needs to see it through his actions.
Overall, "The Opposite of Me" touchingly illustrates the singer's desires to change but acknowledges that his mistakes may have already pushed his lover away.
Line by Line Meaning
All that she wants is the honesty
She desires complete truth and transparency in her relationships
All that she wants is the opposite of me
She desires someone who is not like me in terms of honesty and trustworthiness
All that she wants is someone who doesn't hurt
She desires someone who is loving and kind, not someone who causes her pain or heartache
All that she wants is the action, not the words
She values actions over empty promises or words
Oh the action, not the words
Reiterating that actions speak louder than words
It's the action, not the words
Actions are more important than words
If she ever knew that I would never be the man I promised I would be
If she found out that I am not the man I claimed to be, she would be disappointed or angry with me
If she ever knew that I was gonna be running around, she would've never stayed
If she knew I was going to be unfaithful, she would have left me sooner
All that she needs is a good man
She requires a partner who is trustworthy, dependable and reliable
All that she needs is another try
She wants to start over with someone who will treat her better and meet her needs
All that she needs is something that I can't give her
She needs something that I am unable or unwilling to provide
I just can't give her
I am unable to give her what she needs
All that she received was a troubled man
She was in a relationship with someone who had personal problems or unresolved issues
And she couldn't be with something like her dad
She didn't want to be with someone who reminded her of her father, possibly because of past trauma or negative experiences
And I just rewarded her with my drunken rants
She had to deal with my intoxicated and irrational behavior, which is not what she deserved
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ROBIN A. THICKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind