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.
What Would I Be
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What would I
What would I be
Without you lovin' me
I'd be bad and sad and lonely
Tryin' to get you back to me
Oh, I wake up every morning
The same things, troubling my mind
It's only just a matter of time
But the cold winds blow
And the hard rains fall
And there's only one reason
I can stand through it all
What would I
What would I
What would I be
Without you lovin' me
Simply put, I'm all messed up
Selfishness and guilt got in my blood
And I'm tryin' baby (tryin' so hard)
Trying to clean myself up
But with out you
I'm so blue
Seeing red
Thinking bad
Nightmares, morning sweats
Foolish regrets
What would I
What would I
What would I be
Without you lovin' me
Just when I think I can't make it
Oh you kiss me on the lips
You say don't you worry baby
You're the one, the only one
To silence the clouds, and bring out the sun
The only one that makes me makes, me feel like I can be someone
(Yeah, oh)
Come on now
What would I
What would I
What would I be
Oh yeah yeah
What would I
What would I be
What would I be without your love
I'd be bad and sad and lonely
I'd be so bad and so sad and so lonely
Only tryin' to get you back to me baby
Tryin' to get you back to my love
Tryin' to get you back to my heart
The lyrics to Robin Thicke's "What Would I Be" are a reflection of the singer's realization that he was lost and miserable without the love of his significant other. The song starts with the question "What would I be without you loving me?" This line suggests that Robin Thicke cannot even imagine a life without his lover, and that he would be "bad and sad and lonely" if he lost her.
In the second verse, Thicke sings about how he wakes up every morning with the same troubling thoughts on his mind. He acknowledges that he has made mistakes and that he feels guilty about them. The chorus repeats the question of what he would be without love, emphasizing the importance of the love he shares with his partner.
Thicke's lyrics show that he is struggling to move on from his past mistakes and behavior. He is trying to clean himself up, but he cannot do it alone. He needs the love and support of his significant other to make him feel whole again. The only thing that keeps him going through the tough times is the knowledge that he is loved, and that he has someone to turn to when things get rough.
Overall, the song is a testament to the power of love, and to the idea that having someone to love and support you can make all the difference in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah yeah,
A cheerful tone sets the mood for what's to follow.
What would I
The singer wonders about his own existence and identity.
What would I be
The singer would be incomplete and lacking without his partner.
Without you lovin' me
The singer's partner's love is his source of happiness and meaning in life.
I'd be bad and sad and lonely
The singer would have a negative outlook and a dismal life.
Tryin' to get you back to me
The singer would constantly struggle to win back his partner's love.
Oh, I wake up every morning
The singer describes his daily struggle to cope with his situation.
The same things, troubling my mind
The singer's thoughts are clouded by the same uncertainties.
I say to myself, come on now
The singer is trying to motivate himself towards a better life.
It's only just a matter of time
The singer believes that things will eventually get better.
But the cold winds blow
The singer faces hardships that threaten to consume him.
And the hard rains fall
The hardships are relentless and unyielding.
And there's only one reason
The singer has a single source of strength that helps him through the tough times.
I can stand through it all
The singer has resilience and willpower to overcome the difficulties.
Simply put, I'm all messed up
The singer admits to his faults and mistakes.
Selfishness and guilt got in my blood
The singer's personality traits have caused him to hurt his partner.
And I'm tryin' baby (tryin' so hard)
The singer is exerting tremendous effort to change himself and make amends.
Trying to clean myself up
The singer wants to purify himself of his negative traits.
But without you
The singer acknowledges that he cannot do it without his partner.
I'm so blue
The singer feels deeply sad and dejected without his partner.
Seeing red
The singer is experiencing intense emotions of anger and frustration.
Thinking bad
The singer is having negative thoughts that are consuming him.
Nightmares, morning sweats
The singer's mind is plagued by disturbing thoughts that haunt him even in his sleep.
Foolish regrets
The singer is full of remorse for his past mistakes.
Just when I think I can't make it
The singer is at the brink of giving up.
Oh you kiss me on the lips
The singer's partner shows him affection and reassurance.
You say don't you worry baby
The singer's partner comforts him and gives him hope.
You're the one, the only one
The singer's partner is his soulmate and the only one he loves.
To silence the clouds, and bring out the sun
The singer's partner has the power to bring positivity into his life.
The only one that makes me makes, me feel like I can be someone
The singer's partner gives him confidence and makes him feel worthy and successful.
(Yeah, oh)
The singer expresses his appreciation and passion.
Come on now
The singer urges himself to keep moving forward.
What would I be
The singer continues to ponder his own existence without his partner.
Oh yeah yeah
The cheerful tone returns to the end of the song.
What would I be
The singer's question remains unanswered.
What would I be without your love
The singer's partner's love is still his lifeline.
I'd be bad and sad and lonely
The singer concludes that he would be lost without his partner.
I'd be so bad and so sad and so lonely
The singer emphasizes his negative state of mind.
Only tryin' to get you back to me baby
The singer reaffirms his commitment to winning back his partner.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ROBIN A. THICKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind