Thicke – A Beautiful World

My desire to purchase this record can be traced to Blake Lewis’ performance of “When I Get You Alone” on American Idol a few months ago. He turned in a pretty credible version, but it was the song itself that really grabbed me.

First of all, the song is not based on Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, as Ryan Seacrest stated, but rather on Walter Murphy’s “A Fifth of Beethoven”. (Anyone as familiar with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack as I am—and after all, it’s the most popular soundtrack in history (25 million records sold)—probably noticed that funky bassline immediately. SNF is also graced with the ominously funky “Night on Disco Mountain”.) I hadn’t thought of “A Fifth of Beethoven” in much too long, and I was intrigued that someone else had written a song over the top of it.

Second, Robin Thicke is the son of actor Alan Thicke (dad Jason Seaver from Growing Pains), a fact of which he seems very aware. The lyrics of “Get You Alone” seem to confirm as much: “…does she want me to make a vow? On…my father’s last name?” I just thought it was interesting, because when Blake sang it, that lyric became completely meaningless. Anyway…

I knew the album would have a couple of good songs, but I thought it would be pretty uneven. I was wrong. While there are one or two songs I skip, this is a remarkably consistent debut, especially for a rich white kid singing R&B sex jams. Besides “When I Get You Alone,” I was transfixed by the sunny chorus and odd melody of “Brand New Jones” and by the lurching, two-note thump of “She’s Gangsta.” “Oh Shooter,” “The Stupid Things,” “Suga Mama,” and “Lazy Bones” are all strong songs as well.

What’s most striking about Thicke is the sincerity and forthrightness he brings to these songs. Unlike, say, Har Mar Superstar (who I adore unconditionally), the “let’s-knock-boots” ballads and funky dance workouts don’t seem like a put-on. Psychologically, he refuses to acknowledge that no one will take him seriously singing this music. And you know what? Because he took it so seriously, people are taking him seriously. Food for thought.