//Neon Rewind: (Robin) Thicke – When I Get You Alone//

October 3, 2008 by TJ
Filed under Neon Rewind

It’s no secret: the music industry is about 30% talent, 70% looks. OK, so I did no scientific research to come up with those statistics but you can agree that it’s pretty accurate. That formula leaves a lot of great artists in the dark. So was the case with the 2002 debut of a quirky, long-haired, shaggy-looking guy named Thicke. He didn’t have much of a fashion sense and his hair was about five years overdue for a clipping, but there was no denying that velvety smooth voice.

When the video for his first single, “When I Get Your Alone,” came out, it completely went over everyone’s heads. They were so distracted by his look, they didn’t bother to take the time to listen to what he had to offer. There was also an issue with where the video would fit in–no one was really sure how to categorize the song. It got a few spins on VH1, he performed it on Showtime at the Apollo and faded into the background not much later.

Everyone knows the story of how Robin Thicke reemerged (now using his first name, too) with a groomed face, low-cut hair, and chic style. And, thank goodness, the voice was still there–it was just in a prettier package. Who knew that six years later, Thicke would still be around to release his third album, Something Else, this week. Let’s go back in time and see how we almost missed out on something great.

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