Robin Thicke has successfully spent the last few years rebranding himself after a messy public divorce from his first wife and his album Paula’s lukewarm response. In terms of albums, the singer hasn’t released a full-length project in over six years. Songs such as “Back Together” and “One Shot” found the singer collaborating with Hip Hop artists, but both lacked the soul his fans had come to love him for. Currently, a judge on FOX show The Masked Singer, Thicke’s music is back on track.
In the past two years, Thicke has released two promo singles. The lovely ballads “That’s What Love Can Do” and “When You Love Somebody,” both of which will appear on his upcoming eighth studio album. Thicke recently released the official first single, “Beautiful,” which brings us to the second single, “Take Me Higher.” The song finds Thicke reuniting with producer Pharrell Williams for the first time since his 2013’s Blurred Lines. Guitar phenom Chris Payton also assists in the production. The trio provides a significant up-tempo number that is a sure-fire club hit once the COVID goes away.
Thicke croons lyrics such as “So in love/Girl you’re like the morning sun/When I’m down you lift me up/I wanna overdose on your touch.” Initially, when the song started, I thought that Thicke was going a stripped down slow jam where he showed off his falsetto. Still, it was refreshing to hear the singer give us something for the dance floor. I’ve been a fan of Robin Thicke since he had the long hair on his debut single “When I Get You Alone” way back in 2002. Suppose the promo singles are any indication of what’s come on his new album. In that case, Thicke may have his most complete project in almost a decade.
Final Grade B+
“Take Me Higher” is available on all streaming platforms.
Robin Thicke’s eighth studio album On Earth, and in Heaven is scheduled for release on February 12th
There are some albums you revisit because of nostalgia, and then there are albums you return to because they remind you just how high the standard used to be. Anita Baker’s Rapture falls into that second category. Released in 1986, the album did more than make Baker a star. It helped define what sophisticated, grown R&B could sound like without losing any soul, sensuality, or personality.
Gwen Stefani had already established herself as a significant force with No Doubt when she released her debut solo album, *Love. Angel. Music. Baby* in 2004. This week, while my iPod was on shuffle, one of my favorite songs from that project, “The Real Thing,” came on. Although the original version has an upbeat new-wave feel, the Slow Jam Mix takes it to another level and is the perfect choice for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
Unless you’re a music purist, mentioning Randy Jackson from the famous family is likely to elicit a joke. However, any serious Jackson fan knows that Randy had musical achievements long before the punchlines. Before he was old enough to buy a drink, he had already co-written “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” and “Lovely One” with Michael Jackson.
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