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.
exhale
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes it's wrong, sometimes it's right
For every win, I'm gonna fail
But there comes a point when
When I'll exhale
Say Shoop now (Shoop Shoop)
Shoop Be Doo (Shoop Shoop)
Shoop Be, all you got to do is say
Shoop Be Doo (Shoop Shoop)
Shoop Be Doo, my all babe (Shoop Shoop)
Shoop Be, Shoop (Shoop Shoop)
Shoop Be Doo
Sometimes you'll laugh, sometimes I cry
Life never told me, the when's and why's
But see I've got friends to wish me well
So here's the day when
When I'll exhale
Say Shoop Be Doo (Shoop Shoop)
Say Shoop, say Shoop now (Shoop Shoop)
Say Shoop, Sh-Doop (Shoop Shoop)
Shoop, say Shoop now (Shoop Shoop)
Say Shoop now, say Shoop now (Shoop Shoop)
Shoop (Shoop Shoop, Shoop Be Doo)
Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry
Love never tells me, the when's and why's
But when I've got friends to wish me well
There'll come a point when
When I'll exhale
Say Shoop now (Shoop Shoop)
Say Shoop, say Shoop now (Shoop Shoop)
Shoop Be Doo
Thank you
The lyrics to Robin Thicke's song Exhale is a reflection on the ups and downs of life. It is an acknowledgment that everyone falls down sometimes and that both success and failure are part of life. The song encourages the listener to keep going and to reach a point where they can exhale, or take a breath and relax. The repetition of the phrase "shoop be doo" throughout the song adds to the upbeat, hopeful message that Thicke is trying to convey.
The lyrics speak to the human experience of experiencing both joy and pain, laughter and tears. It acknowledges that life can be unpredictable and that we may not always understand the "when's and why's" of the things that happen to us. However, the song also emphasizes the importance of having a support system of friends who will wish us well and help us to keep going. In the end, the message of the song is one of resilience, hope, and the promise of a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone falls, falls down sometime
No one is perfect, we all make mistakes and fall at some point in our lives.
Sometimes it's wrong, sometimes it's right
Our choices may not always be the best, but we have to learn and grow from them.
For every win, I'm gonna fail
Success comes with failure, and we have to learn from our failures to achieve our goals.
But there comes a point when, when I'll exhale
At some point, we have to let go of our worries and just breathe.
Say Shoop now (Shoop Shoop)
The repetition of 'Shoop' serves as a sort of meditative mantra.
Shoop Be Doo (Shoop Shoop)
The words 'Shoop Be Doo' serve as a rhythmic accompaniment to the mantra.
Shoop Be Doo, my lord now
The singer is reaching a state of peace and surrender to a higher power.
Shoop Be, all you got to do is say
The simplicity of the mantra is emphasized, showing that finding peace can be accessible to anyone.
Sometimes you'll laugh, sometimes I cry
Life is full of ups and downs, and we can experience both joy and sorrow.
Life never told me, the when's and why's
We don't always understand the reasons for the things that happen in our lives.
But see I've got friends to wish me well
Having supportive friends is crucial when dealing with life's challenges.
So here's the day when, when I'll exhale
The singer is reaching a turning point where they can let go of their worries and find peace.
Say Shoop Be Doo (Shoop Shoop)
The repetition of the mantra continues to serve as a calming presence.
Say Shoop, say Shoop now (Shoop Shoop)
The repetition of 'Shoop' encourages the singer to keep breathing and find peace.
Shoop Be Doo
The singer is finding calm and surrendering to a higher power.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kenneth Edmonds
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jessica Vieira
His version is beautiful. I love this rendition. Whitney's smiling down on this ❤👍
High Vibes Only
Me too nice
Brandon Penson
What an incredible tribute to Whitney Houston. LOVE this! ☺ ❤
Jay-R L
Forgot about this and how much it moves me. I love this cover! Well done Robin! RIP Whitney!
CLEO RIBEIRO
Linda homenagem, não poderia ser diferente vindo de Robin. Icones são eternos, não tem tempo, não tem lugar, não tem hora, serão sempre lembrados. Descanse em paz querida Whitney.
Rudy frutilly69
Pode crê
RicRugerFlare
A fitting tribute and song to cover in honor of the late Whitney Houston. I like the gospel feel that he brought into his interpretation.
TALON
Revisiting this fantastic rendition. Best natural feeling cover I've ever heard of Whitney's song. Beautifully done.
Jay Zemmour
true bro' !
Royaltee
I truly love Robin Thicke for all the messages he sends to the world! He has a soul of hope, peace, and love. I wish you well Robin Thicke.