In 2000 Thicke went to work on material for his debut album, initially entitled Cherry Blue Skies. The album focused more on blue-eyed soul, than his pop-offerings for other artists. Mixing in influences from British funk outfit Jamiroquai and sounding like his blue-eyed contemporary, Canadian neo-soul singer, Remy Shand, the album was tipped for huge things and to be released in the fall of 2002. Later on that year, 2002 Thicke released the video and lead single “When I Get You Alone”. The track was very distinctive, sampling Walter Murphy’s “A Fifth of Beethoven”, which itself sampled Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The video was quite unlike anything around at that time. It featured an unshaven Thicke, with long, grungy hair, as a courier racing through the streets of Manhattan of a bicyle. It received some rotation on MTV 2 and BET’s “Rated Next” and was spun moderately on urban radio. On the Hot 100, it reached #29 quite quickly, before falling out the chart just as fast. Globally, the song was quite popular, peaking at #17 in Australia, #15 in Belgium, #15 in Italy, #8 in New Zealand and #5 in the Netherlands. The moderate success was enough to signal the re-release of the album, with its name changed to A Beautiful World, with a few extra songs. It received very little promotion, despite the release of a second single “Brand New Jones”. The album debuted at #152 in the Billboard 200 and sold a mere 59,000 copies. Whilst the album did not sell well, its was received well by some critics and peers, such as Trevor Nelson and Lil’ Wayne (whom he collaborated with on Weezy’s Carter II album), as well as many fans. CURRENTLY:|In 2005, Thicke appeare on the remix of Will Smith’s international hit, “Switch”. In 2004 Pharrell Williams asked Jimmy Iovine, CEO of Interscope, “What are you doing with Robin Thicke?” A few months later, Robin was recording his first single “Wanna Love You Girl” with Pharrell in Miami, as a newly signed artist on Pharrell’s label, Star Trak Records. This explosive, smash single immediately attracted the attention of radio and club DJs across the country. The first single, “Wanna Love U Girl” (featuring Pharrell) did very well on urban radio in the UK [2], hitting #5 on Trevor Nelson’s BBC Radio 1 “Soul Nation” chart. Now appealing more to the mainstream, in an attempt to further recreate himself, Robin cut off his trademark long hair for his Hype Williams directed video, which was personally added to TRL, by Thicke himself, on November 7 2005. The Evolution of Robin Thicke is the second solo album from the critically acclaimed, Grammy award winning songwriter, producer. The album is a timeless work of art. With a voice of purity, passion and soulfulness, Robin brings to life the stories and emotions of the last two years of his life. Admittedly, those two years have been a tumultuous ride of ups and downs. The Evolution of Robin Thicke is filled with incandescent magic. It is an album that tells the tales of love, loss, temptation, redemption and finding hope when all the odds are against you. “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. In 2005, Thicke guested on the remix of Will Smith’s international hit, “Switch”. After being signed to The Neptunes label, Star Trak, he began work on his sophomore album entitled The Evolution of Robin Thicke. The first single, “Wanna Love U Girl” (featuring Pharrell) did very well on urban radio in the UK [2], hitting #5 on Trevor Nelson’s BBC Radio 1 “Soul Nation” chart. Now sounding more mainstream, in an attempt to further recreate himself, Robin cut off his trademark long hair for his Hype Williams directed video, which was personally added to TRL, by Thicke himself, on November 7 2005. 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. |
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