By Geoffrey Rowlands
American R&B star Robin Thicke is enjoying another week atop the UK chart with his smash hit single, Blurred Lines. It is by far the biggest mainstream success of the 36-year-old singer/ songwriter’s career.
This popularity is perhaps partly explained by the original unrated song video which features Robin, along with guest artists Pharrell Williams and T I, cavorting with three female models.
“The video certainly attracted a lot of interest,” Robin smiled. “But before anyone starts thinking it is sexist, let me say much of what you see was my wife’s idea.”
Robin is married to Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol actress Paula Patton. They have been together since Robin was just 16 and tied the knot in 2005. “I am totally in love with my wife. She is my creative partner and my muse. I wasn’t sure about doing the video so I explained the basic concept to Paula and asked what she thought.
“She actually loved the idea. She understood how it matched the lyrical content of Blurred Lines with people being both nice and naughty. She made numerous suggestions for scenes which were incorporated into the video and thinks the finished product is awesome.”
This is not the first occasion that Paula has influenced Robin’s promos. She appeared in the videos for his breakthrough single, Lost Without U, and the title-track from Robin’s 2011 album, Love After War.
“That song was about a couple who genuinely love each other making up after they’ve had a big fight. I was so pleased to have Paula play my wife in the video. I don’t think I’d have felt comfortable portraying the emotions involved in the song if I’d had to work with another actress.”
Robin began his career by writing songs for artists such as Brandy, Jordan Knight, Mya and Christina Aguilera. His own debut album, Cherry Blue Skies, later re-titled A Beautiful World, was credited solely to Thicke.
“I can’t remember why I just used my surname. It probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Things changed after I signed to The Neptunes’ Star Trak label and released my second album in 2005. It had such an appropriate title, The Evolution of Robin Thicke. I used my full name, cut my long hair and got my first solo hits in America.
“The album, and Lost Without U simultaneously held number one for two consecutive weeks on Billboard’s R&B charts. I also became the first white male artist to top the Hot R&B / Hip Hop Songs chart since George Michael was number one with One More Try in 1988.”
The single and album were also big hits on Billboard’s mainstream charts.
“I was able to become established as an artist. People from all backgrounds were ready to hear my subsequent releases. I’ve had another two big hit albums and several more successful singles.
“I’ve also been given the opportunity to do other work. I made my feature film debut last year in Abby In The Summer and was a judge on ABC Television’s Duets.”
Blurred Lines is the title-track from Robin’s forthcoming fifth album. “My albums all have different themes. Personal life, family, soul, R&B. The songs on this one are a little more poppy. The comparisons with Justin Timberlake are not unfair.”
As for his chart-topping single, which has also gone top five in America, there is a video for those who might be offended by the topless models.
“We shot a version with the same scenes. It seems a little silly in that every woman my wife and I know always watches the unrated video which is available on VEVO. But the other version is the only one YouTube will show so it keeps everybody happy.”
SoulSwitch
Heavy metal fans should be interested to hear As It Seems, the new six-song EP from SoulSwitch.
The Orlando-based quintet have played together for the last seven years. They have shared the stage with bands such as Sevendust, Saving Abel and Papa Roach and were named one of the best unsigned bands in the world at the Hard Rock Calling music festival.
Judge the quality of their music by visiting www.reverbnation.com/soulswitchrocks#!/soulswitchrocks/songs. The first six tracks posted here make up the As It Seems EP while the others are older songs.
The band have made three official videos. The promo for one of their older tracks, Control, is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpcNNxcZLrc
There are two videos for songs on As It Seems. Lead single, Change, can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIqTJ5DorPM while the brand new video for Saving Me is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt1kxuqKkx4.
Some of their live performances can also be found on YouTube. Among these are three songs which are not available elsewhere.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande is the latest young singer to emerge from children’s television. Unlike artists such as Miley Cyrus and Bridgit Mendler, Ariana made her name on Nickelodeon rather than the Disney Channel. She gained a loyal following from playing Cat Valentine in the comedy show, Victorious, a role she has now reprised in the spin-off, Sam & Cat.
A singer since childhood, Ariana performed on Broadway in the musical, 13, for which she won a National Youth Theatre Association Award. She also created the original role of Miriam in Desmond Child’s musical, Cuba Libre.
After appearing on soundtrack albums from Victorious, 19-year-old Ariana’s solo pop career began last year with the single, Put Your Hearts Up. The video can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc1jscuFnas
More recently, she was the guest artist on Mika’s remixed single, Popular Song. Check out the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmcdLOjGVzw
Her own new single, The Way, has gone top 10 in America. Featuring a guest appearance by Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller, the video is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sV0S8qWSy0
Ariana’s debut album, Daydreamin’, is set for release in August.
Gunplay
Florida rapper Gunplay, real name Richard Morales, has just released another free mixtape. Acquitted contains 10 new tracks with the emotionally raw Bible on the Dash being hailed as perhaps his best work to date. The mixtape can be heard and downloaded at www.datpiff.com/Gunplay-Acquitted-mixtape.492165.html. Links posted on this webpage offer access to hear and download four more of Gunplay’s free mixtapes.
This profusion of mixtapes has seen the release of Gunplay’s debut album being perpetually pushed back. A specific date has yet to be confirmed but word is that Living Legend will finally be issued during the last quarter of 2013.
Radiation City
Radiation City’s entire recorded output is available to hear on Youtube. The indie quintet recently released their second full-length album, Animals in the Median. This is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=8puRFKC5D-Y. It is the follow-up to their 2011 seven-song EP, Cool Nightmare, which can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=G77fIeolTCc
The band say their sound has progressed over the years. See if you agree by listening to their debut album, The Hands That Take You, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUY2cuR0S2s
Numerous live performances and song videos can also be found on YouTube. Gain access by typing Radiation City in the website search box.