Early years and formation of the Miracles
Robinson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and was nicknamed "Smokey" as a child, because of his love of westerns. The name originally came when an uncle (who would take a young Robinson to see westerns) gave him the name "Smokey Joe", Robinson began being called "Smokey" whilst in his teens. In 1955, Robinson founded a group he called "The Five Chimes" with his best friend Ronnie White, and Northern High School classmates Pete Moore, Clarence Dawson, and James Grice. By 1957, the group was called "The Matadors" and included cousins Bobby Rogers and Claudette Rogers in place of Dawson and Grice. With Robinson as lead singer, the Matadors began touring the local Detroit venues. In 1958, Robinson met songwriter Berry Gordy, Jr., who co-wrote for them the single "Got a Job," an answer song to The Silhouettes' hit single "Get A Job." The group renamed itself The Miracles, and issued singles on both End Records and Chess Records before Robinson suggested to Berry Gordy that he start a label of his own.
In 1959, Gordy founded Tamla Records, which he soon reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles were among the label's first signees. Gordy and Robinson had a synergistic relationship, with Robinson providing a foundation for Motown's hit-making success and Gordy acting as a mentor for the budding singer and songwriter. By 1961, Gordy had appointed Robinson vice-president of Motown Records, a title Robinson held for as long as Gordy remained with the company.
Motown and The Miracles
The 1960 single "Shop Around" was Motown's first #1 hit on the R&B singles chart, and the first big hit for The Miracles. They scored many more hits over the years, including "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962), "Mickey's Monkey" (1963), "Ooo Baby Baby (1965), "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965), "Going to a Go-Go" (1965), "More Love" (1967), and "I Second That Emotion" (1967).
Besides penning hits for his own group, Robinson also wrote and produced hits and album tracks for other Motown artists. Mary Wells had a big hit with the Robinson-penned "My Guy" (1964), and Robinson served as The Temptations primary songwriter and producer from 1963 to 1966, penning hits such as "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "My Girl," "Since I Lost My Baby," and "Get Ready." Among Robinson's numerous other Motown compositions are "Still Water (Love)" by The Four Tops, "Don't Mess With Bill" by The Marvelettes, "When I'm Gone" by Brenda Holloway, "Ain't That Peculiar" and "I'll Be Doggone" by Marvin Gaye, "My Guy" by Mary Wells and "First I Look at the Purse" by The Contours.
Fellow singer/songwriter Bob Dylan described Robinson as "America's greatest living poet." Robinson's hit ballads also earned him the title "America's poet laureate of love." Over the course of his almost 50-year career in music, Robinson has over 4,000 songs to his credit.
After marrying Claudette Rogers, Robinson started a family, and named both of his children after Motown: his son was named Berry after the company's founder, and his daughter was named Tamla after the Motown imprint for which Robinson and The Miracles recorded.
The Miracles remained a premier Motown act through most of the 1960s. Albums were released as "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles" after 1965. By 1969, the group's fortunes began to falter, and Robinson decided to quit The Miracles so that he could remain at home with his family and concentrate on his duties as vice president. The group stopped recording and Robinson prepared to leave the group. Unexpectedly, however, their 1966 recording of "The Tears of a Clown" was released as a single in 1970, and became a #1 hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Due to the surprise success of "Tears of a Clown," Robinson was convinced to remain with The Miracles for a few more years. In 1972, he followed through on his original plans to leave the group, and The Miracles began a six-month farewell tour. On July 16, 1972, Smokey and Claudette Robinson gave their final performances as Miracles at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Washington, DC, and Robinson introduced the group's new lead singer, Billy Griffin. The Miracles went on for a while, even having another #1 hit, "Love Machine," in 1976.
Successful solo career
Smokey Robinson began a low-key solo career while concentrating on his duties as vice-president of Motown, releasing his first solo LP, Smokey, in 1973. His first hit single, "Sweet Harmony" (1973), was dedicated to The Miracles.
In 1975, Robinson's solo career went into full-drive after the success of the #1 R&B hit "Baby That's Backatcha." Robinson's 1976 single "Quiet Storm" and its accompanying album typified a smooth, slow style of R&B that is today called "quiet storm." Other Robinson solo hits include "Cruisin'" (1979), "Being With You" (a UK #1 hit) (1981), "Tell Me Tomorrow" (1982), and "Ebony Eyes," a duet with labelmate Rick James (1983). He also recorded the soundtrack to the film Big Time (1977).
Spokesmanship
Smokey Robinson is the spokesman of the Great American Smokeout, which takes place annually one week before Thanksgiving. It's a day when smokers quit smoking for at least a day. In 2006, It takes place on November 16th.
Later years
During the mid-1980s, Robinson fell victim to cocaine addiction. His recording slowed, and his marriage to Claudette faltered; the two were divorced in 1986. Robinson eventually overcame the addiction and revitalized his career, scoring hits in 1987 with "Just To See Her" and "One Heartbeat." Also in 1987, British band ABC scored a US and UK hit with their tribute to Robinson, entitled "When Smokey Sings". In 1988, Robinson published his autobiography, Smokey, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Upon Motown's sale to MCA in 1988, Robinson resigned from his position as vice-president. After one last album for Motown, Love, Smokey (1990), Robinson departed the company. He released one record for SBK Records, Double Good Everything (1991), the same year he won a Soul Train Music Award for Career Achievement. Eight years later, he returned to Motown, which by then was a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and released Intimate (1999).
Since then, Robinson has continued to periodically perform and tour. In 2003, Robinson served as a guest judge for American Idol during "Billy Joel Week." He issued a gospel LP, Food for the Spirit in 2004. A new album of pop standards from the early 20th century, Timeless Love, was released in June 2006. It was originally recorded with a jazz combo, but strings were added after the fact, giving the album more of a lush sound but removing much of the jazz feeling of the disc.
In 2004, Robinson's company, SFGL Foods, launched a special brand of gumbo called "Smokey Robinson's 'The Soul is in the Bowl' Gumbo." [1].
In May 2006, at its 138th Commencement Convocation, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.
Smokey Robinson is scheduled to appear on Duets on Fox along with Randy Travis, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Aaron Neville, Clint Black, Michael Bolton, Kenny Loggins, Brian McKnight, Macy Gray, Richard Marx, and Cyndi Lauper. David Foster will be a judge.
On 27th October 2006 Smokey appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.
Ain't That Peculiar
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stay away too long and i can't do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers go through rain
But how can love go through pain
Ain't that peculiar
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
I've been so much in love with you baby til i don't wanna see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It's a dog gone shame my love for you makes all
Your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger
Ain't that peculiar
A peculiar ality
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its toy
Maybe baby you think these tears i cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears
Ain't that peculiar
A peculiar ality
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
The lyrics to Smokey Robinson's song Ain't That Peculiar express a complex and paradoxical relationship between the singer and his lover. Although she has repeatedly hurt him and lied to him, he still finds himself unable to resist her and remains deeply in love. He acknowledges that her actions are causing him pain, but rather than pushing him away, they seem only to strengthen his feelings for her. He even wonders why his love seems to be growing stronger in response to her lies, rather than weaker. He recognizes that his tears are not helping him "get his way," but he continues to cry for her nonetheless. Ultimately, the song portrays a kind of inexplicable and almost mystical connection between two people, in which love is not diminished by hurt or lies but instead is made stronger by them.
One possible interpretation of the song is that it reflects the complicated emotions of someone who is caught in an abusive relationship. Although the details are left deliberately vague, the lyrics suggest a pattern of behavior in which the woman hurts the singer repeatedly, only to draw him in again with her charm and apologies. He seems unable to break free from this cycle, despite his pain, and finds himself drawn back again and again to the woman who is causing it. The idea that love can survive through pain and tears is a powerful one, but it can also be dangerous if it leads someone to stay in an unhealthy relationship. In this sense, the song may be a warning against the seductive power of dysfunctional love, which can be hard to resist even when it is doing us harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey you do me wrong but still i'm crazy about you
Even though you hurt me, I can't help but love you.
Stay away too long and i can't do without you
When you're gone, I feel like I can't go on without you.
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
It seems like you intentionally hurt me every opportunity you get.
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
Despite the pain, my love for you only grows stronger.
I know flowers go through rain
Just as flowers endure difficult times, love can too.
But how can love go through pain
However, it's still hard to understand how love can withstand so much pain.
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
Even though your lies should be obvious, I can't help but believe you.
I've been so much in love with you baby til i don't wanna see
My love for you is so strong that I don't want to acknowledge your faults.
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It seems like you purposely say and do things that make me sad.
It's a dog gone shame my love for you makes all
Unfortunately, my love for you blinds me to your flaws.
Your lies seem true
And even though I know you're lying, your lies still seem believable.
But if the truth makes love last longer
Despite this, it's still true that honesty is important for a lasting relationship.
Why do lies make my love stronger
It's perplexing that despite the importance of truth, my love seems to grow stronger in the face of lies.
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its toy
When you hurt me, I cry like a child who has just lost their prized possession.
Maybe baby you think these tears i cry are tears of joy
I wonder if you mistake my tears for happiness instead of sadness.
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
Children cry until their needs are met, but I can't cry my way into getting what I want.
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
Unfortunately, my tears don't help me get what I want.
I know love can last through years
Despite the difficulties, love can endure for years.
But how can love last through tears
However, it's still hard to understand how love can make it through so many tears and heartache.
Ain't that peculiar
It's strange and curious how love can endure so much pain and hurt.
A peculiar ality
A unique characteristic of love that puzzles and intrigues.
Ain't that peculiar baby
It's odd and baffling how love can be so strong despite such difficulties.
Peculiar as can be
Love is an enigma, puzzling and strange in its power to endure and persist despite challenges.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WARREN MOORE, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR., ROBERT ROGERS, MARVIN TARPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kingscrib
Two of the best contemporary writers trade vocal riffs on this classic, penned by Smokey & Marvin Gaye. Suh-weet!
Lblu1181
love, love, love!
dimps1955
Cool Guys!
Oswald Scully
It is such magic hearing the both of you so this number. Fantastic! Wish you could show the lyrics of this song. It is so much different from the origingal. Thanks Oswald Scully
Dorne Cunningham
Smokey are you the real smokey robinson?
PtolemyJones
Wow, that is really not very good. How sad.