Thicke’s ‘make-up’ single is…umm…underwhelming…
Robin Thicke • “Get Her Back” (Single) • Star Trak / Interscope • Single Release Date: May 19, 2014
Robin Thicke has been in the headlines in 2014 for a couple of different reasons, namely his split with wife Paula Patton. Rumors have swirled the breakup was on old boy, potentially based on unfaithfulness. Besides news of the split heard ‘round the world, Thicke is also planning to release a new album, led by single “Get Her Back”. This new album supposedly will arrive July 1st – an ambitious release date given that Blurred Lines arrived just July 30th, 2013 (less than a year ago!). While listening and analyzing Thicke’s new single, I took a few notes, made a few judgments, handed out a few grades categorically…customary, right?
Production / Sound:
- Soulful-sounding in a neo-soul style
- Use of guitars is a notable feature
- Bare-bones as opposed to being overt
- Even though it is “bare-bones”, don’t think of the minimalism of “Blurred Lines” for a comparison point nor the more developed, more memorable “For The Rest of My Life”
GRADE: C; nothing really earth shattering…
Songwriting:
- Concept: Love centric; particularly atoning for the “wrongs” he’s committed
- Lyrically, it’s not deep (vague), but Thicke makes his point generally – he’s got to “get her back” and “treat her right”
Almost certainlycertainly written based upon his recent split with long-time sweetheart and wife, Paula Patton
- Memorable lyrics:
- “I should have kissed you longer / I should have held you stronger / And I’ll wait for forever for you to love me again” (Verse)
- “All I wanna do is make it right, make it right…” (Chorus)
- “I gotta get her go, get her go, get her back…” (Chorus)
- “Oh it’s so hard, oh it’s so hard / but it doesn’t have to be” (Bridge)
GRADE: C; A lack of lyrical depth makes this song a bit of a lightweight musically
Vocal Performance:
- Thicke’s vocals are smooth and soulful
- Sings in both chest voice and falsetto
- Don’t call the performance electrifying – gets the job done though
GRADE: C; Merely good/average, not Thicke’s best nor most memorable performance
Final Thoughts & Evaluation:
After all is said and done, “Get Her Back” feels a bit underwhelming. Thicke merely makes his point, but doesn’t really develop the song into something truly special, connective, or meaningful. To his credit, he says what he needs to do in basic terms, but listeners and likely his ex- would likely get more out of the song with better attention to detail.
★★½
truth to me the bulk of his career has been average. he got lucky with blurred lines and lost without you was a long time ago. he was never that deep of a artist and the record company knows to strike when the iron is kinda hot. problem is he had the right song at the right time last summer and nobody wants to hear him doing a sugar coated song. and he is a industry vet and he hit big last year and this would be a good move if it was pure artistic statement however this ain’t alot different than his past. i’ve always found him overrated and a marginal talent at best. because to me he would be a broke El Debarge
Preach!