Revisiting Robin Thicke's Paula (5 Years After Blurred Lines)

(I have a Twitter account now! Go follow it to keep up with all my videos: MicTheSnare?s=09)
In this month’s case study, during the five-year anniversary of the chart success of “Blurred Lines,” I take a look at Robin Thicke’s follow-up album. Blatantly inspired by his marital turmoil, and initially pegged as a failure, I wanted to find out: is it really that bad? Does Thicke deserve our sympathy? And have any albums attempted what he tried since? The answers are yes, not really, and surprisingly yes.
Do you agree? Disagree? Do you think maybe I’m going deaf, maybe I'm going blind, or maybe I'm out of my mind? Let me know in the comments!
Songs Used:
- All songs on Robin Thicke's Paula (2014), except "Whatever I Want"
- "Blurred Lines" and "Ooh La La" from Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines (2013)
- "4:44" and "The Story of OJ" from Jay-Z's 4:44 (2017)
Stories/Sites Cited or Used for Research:
- www.metacritic.com/music/paula...
- www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/m...
- www.billboard.com/articles/re...
- www.gq.com/story/robin-thicke...
- www.theatlantic.com/entertain...
- www.theguardian.com/music/201...
- descrier.co.uk/culture/music/r...
- www.billboard.com/articles/co...
- www.billboard.com/articles/ne...
Videos Used:
- • Robin Thicke - Blurred...
- • Robin Thicke - Lost Wi...
- • Robin Thicke - Get Her...
- • Video
- • Robin Thicke - Still M...
- • Robin Thicke On Record...
- • Robin Thicke - Forever...
- • Deposition With Robin ...
- • Robin Thicke: When I G...
- • JAY-Z - 4:44
Wikipedia Sources for Certain Images:
By Source, Fair use, en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
By Source, Fair use, en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
By Source, Fair use, en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...

[@alexandrafoley4470]

things not to do: name an album after your ex-wife directly

[@bendowson3124]

"this album sold less than 54 copies in Australia" - no wonder I wasn't aware of this album's existence until now.

[@jnrtherapper]

same

[@FirstnameLastname-mb2ek]

Same lol

[@ramune1800]

same here lol

[@curly_wyn]

Literally my local garage band is selling more records than Paula sold in Australia lmaooo

[@joshuacoleman8000]

That's weird, because according to Todd in the Shadows, Paula sold 158 copies in Australia. So one of them is inaccurate.

[@p0lyxena]

I would be so weirded out if I were Robin Thicke's fiancée. She met him around the same time "Paula" came out... and she's pretty much Paula's twin, except for the fact that she's more than half Paula's age. I'm just amazed she didn't bounce after listening to this album.

[@EinFelsbrocken]

Why? Ive seen this happen several times; someone breaks up with their significant other just to end up with a younger "clone" of the ex; or they cheat on their SO with someone that just...looks and behaves very similar as the previous partner... and; naturally; theres the never ending cliché of some people just going with their fiancées younger sister/older brother.. We're humans. We're scum. Slow as fuck at learning and changing in the end. Ugh; idk.

[@sappyscribbles]

don't have to bounce if you never listen to the album 🧚🧚

[@joeyjones4929]

@@EinFelsbrocken My favorite one is the Paul Simon, Carrie Fisher, Edie Brickell situation where Edie looked similar to a younger version of Carrie Fisher and she's also 25 years younger than him.

[@blapis-blazuli]

I'm sorry, he has a what who's how old???

[@p0lyxena]

@@blapis-blazuli When he met Paula, April (his current fiancée and mother of 3 of his children) wouldn’t be born for another 3 years. When he married Paula, April was a whole 11 years old! She’s also closer in age to Robin’s firstborn son than to Robin. 💀

[@WhaleManMan]

Robin Thicke dropped off the map so quickly that even Fantano didnt even make a review of it.

[@WhaleManMan]

@M R Either way, I would have thought he would have talked about it because of Robin's history.

[@pentexsucks43]

Considering Fantanos fans, nowadays they'd probably call it "overhated" and "this was never actually bad" for the hipster cred

[@nickmillo8367]

@Daniel Wolfe One of my favourite Todd videos

[@oliviaz.3309]

@@pentexsucks43 nah, RYM still hates it

[@aandwdabest]

@Daniel Wolfe Todd in the shadows is a fun KZbinr. Seriously.

[@rndmusrnm2763]

Wow I knew that Robin Thicke had been left by his wife but I didn't know his album failed too. It's crazier when you think about how, he had a beautiful family, reasonable success, was a moderately well-respected artist and a wife he had loved together since he was 14. And he threw it all away bc of 15 minutes of stardom. I can't really even feel bad for the guy cuz most people don't find the One and marry them, let alone also be financially stable and be able to make a career out their passion. He had it and he blew it. Cautionary tale here ppl!

[@itsmestan]

I think Toddintheshadows summed up this album's failure pretty well, saying that Robin Thicke just exuded this... Anti-charisma

[@noraemin326]

But did he ever get her back tho? No. No he didn't.

[@slushpuppie19]

Paula smart af lol

[@cynthiaquezada6982]

I have always been creeped out and disgusted with Robin Thicke right from the first time I heard of him and his song Blurred Lines. That song always disgusted me. I'm glad he fell.

[@Silagane]

I didnt understand the song back then but I absolutely hated it. Guess i mustve somehow known he is nasty

[@coolguy8270]

Coming back to watch this now after first watching it in 2020, and damn it's so surreal hearing him say blurred lines was 5 years ago aswell as saying 4:44 came out "last year"

[@cameronsmith8200]

As a longtime (pre-Blurred Lines era) fan of Robin, I have to say that was an incredibly fair assessment. No disagreement. Still hoping he bounces back, but... it is what it is. Great job.

[@johnpaulcross424]

How’d you like the album he put out this year?

[@MitchyBoi03]

@@johnpaulcross424 I think it was pretty good, and a return to his old sound. There’s quite a few TEORT, and Something Else vibes to it.

[@zg6879]

“When I do interviews, I tell whatever I wanna say to help sell records.” -Robin The Manipulator Thicke

[@gabe_s_videos]

This album sounds less like an apology and more like damage control, like when you make a big mistake without realizing it and you try desperately to apologize and make up for it as fast as possible, not so much because you're actually sorry but because you just want everyone to stop being mad at you.

[@sozeytozey]

I just can’t take him seriously at all. He sounds pathetic trynna be all lovey dovey

[@twobats]

This isn't the type of video I should be laughing at but the phrase "a weary, unguarded Thick(e)" made me wheeze so hard I started coughing

[@erossore8500]

SAMEVGJV

[@HectorGonzalez-qx9nk]

This is Trainwrecko-wait wrong music reviewer.

[@MiniM69]

Along with the fact that the”Blurred Lines” is problematic, it’s also probably the worst career move for Robin, in hindsight. Before this, he had firmly-cemented place in the modern R&B/ blue-eyed soul category that earned him fans and accolades. His stratospheric rise post-BL exposed his caddish tendencies or at the very least, heightened them. Also, R&B is primarily purchased by and produced for black women...it’s not exactly a good look for one’s career to appear to be dogging out someone who identifies as one (yes, Paula is biracial but self-identifies as black).

[@mattwaldman3346]

My grandma has that exact dresser.

[@cursedcancersurvivor]

When biracial, also identify as the half that will give you more oppression points.

[@feelingevaporated2912]

@@mattwaldman3346 can you tell me what it feels like to use?

[@Gabe413]

@@cursedcancersurvivor shut up

[@idontneedaname318]

@@cursedcancersurvivor more like identify as the half that most people will assume you are.

[@doctorwhoarchive8755]

Why is everyone just seeing this video this week lol

[@LaTericeallover]

I loved his first 4 albums with my whole heart and even most of the Blurred Lines album. I like that his music is heavily influenced by Marvin Gaye. Most modern r&b is too R. Kelly-ish. More rap than soul. And then his personality kind ruined it for me. He was just gross after that MTV performance. Or maybe his behavior got more attention. I barely tried to listen to PAULA bc she clearly needed to leave his ass, I can't feel sorry for him. It's hard for me to enjoy somebody's work when I think they're a horrible person.

[@Jamesharveycomics]

"Legally" it's a rip-off of Marvin Gaye, but most musicians I've talked to agree that the court's ruling in that case was wrong-headed. Whistle Blurred Lines and whistle Got To Give It Up. You're whistling two entirely different melodies. Who cares if the arrangement is similar? If we banned similar arrangements, we'd be banning most genres of music. If you care about what's "legally" correct over what's morally and ethically correct you're a fucking narc

[@Jamesharveycomics]

(N.B. before someone points out that "uh hu hu lol dude morals and ethics and Robin Thicke don't exactly go together ", Pharrell wrote it.)

[@senorsnout4417]

He didn't say "morally", tho. He said "legally". You're overthinking the joke.

[@MixMeMcGee]

Señor Snout - you’re super right that the joke at the expense of a really awful song is meant to be just that... a joke. Added to that, Even if this commentator “is overthinking the joke (and regardless of everything in blurred lines that is a problem) the idea that Blurred Lines is a rip-off is one of the worst copyright related court decisions in modern legal history. And that feels important. 🤷‍♂️

[@xX_MC_OvU_PvP_YT_Xx]

hey bud calm down

[@Jamesharveycomics]

@@xX_MC_OvU_PvP_YT_Xx yeah I was blowing off some steam there eh

[@BlueBoboDoo100]

The whole album screams "first draft". I think Get Her Back could've been a great song, but it's clearly half-finished. Tippy Toes is some of the most blatant and worst album filler I've ever heard. I'd almost recommend giving Paula a listen because it's just so weird and cringy, but the thing that completely kills it for me is the background singers. They're so overused and obnoxious, and once you realize it, it's all you can hear.

[@MitchyBoi03]

It started off quite decent, but dipped in quality after Living in New York City. His least memorable album by a margin.

[@cpmcguire]

Confessions also does what Paula did, but better, as well.

[@TheNicholasdmorgan]

CP McGuire but Usher still lost Chilli. Jay and Bey are still together.

[@cpmcguire]

Nick Morgan true.

[@elleo4218]

damn the algorithm picked this up late 😔✌️

[@nichelleniks4526]

I have no idea why this was just recommended to me, but you are quite the impressive musical analyst! Keep up the awesome work

[@livingthewinklife6515]

I never heard of him before Blurred Lines, and I honestly didn't know that he did anything after it until The Masked Singer. He is definitely my favorite on The Masked Singer!

[@XP9724]

Robin has a great perspective on this album now, in his drink champs interview he said he made the album when he was at his lowest and all over the place mentally and the albums sound/quality reflects that. He doesn't regret it but wishes he never promoted it as a follow up album, rather just a project he threw out to get out how he felt and what he was going thru. Also by the time the album came out he knew it was over and started to move on, that's why too little too late makes sense

[@CameronBaba]

I just looked up Something Bad and genuinely laughed out loud at the key change

[@figarden1]

I think the saddest part is that Robin Thicke has actually compared himself to JayZ in the past as far as JayZ not having any connotations because of who his family is. As is the case with Robin. It was more than likely an offhanded comment, but just funny to see that they would have similar experiences

[@Kirbita22]

Just discovered this channel, going through as many videos as I can, everything is fantastic- very in-depth, great editing, engaging throughout!

[@SeymourDisapproves]

What was he thinking a disjointed garbage album released after he and Paula were already separated was going to do to fix their relationship when he already proved he couldn't do the work required to sustain and repair it while they were still together lmfao

[@Samzillah]

He probably worked harder on his failed album than he did his marriage.

[@zoziebee7471]

Oh my god.. I finally got it. Lemonade. Because she made lemonade out of the lemons.....

[@c0ttage]

bruh, you just explained it to me, i never noticed that how does it feel to be a genius

[@Jellybellyirish]

Really guys??

[@APerson-xn4dy]

It is explicitly stated in the album. On the song freedom it ends with a little speech her grandma made: "I had my ups and downs But I always find the inner strength to pull myself up I was served lemons, but I made lemonade"

[@andrewb.8184]

Ya know, this doesn't get said often, but good work Australia. No reason this should've sold more than 54 albums. I never understood the Aussie's taste in music but, hell, after learning that I'm ready to take another crack at Kylie Minogue

[@kidwaryodproduction]

On Australia music scene. Two things I think about was "Regurgitator" and "Tina Arena"

[@Boodoo4You]

Why did I get this in my recommended? I've never listened to a music critique on KZbin before...

[@petitelolisuckinglovinvibi2889]

He is better then the other ones.

[@fireballninja01]

I felt Blurred Lines was behind the times when it came out in such a specific way where it doesn’t age for me, it’s just locked in amber. It doesn’t get worse, it doesn’t get better. Realizing that it has been half a decade is weird

[@wohlmilk]

5:54 “sounds like the kars 4 kids band going through their edgy phase” lmaoooo

[@CaitlinSullivan]

I'm not sure why this came up on my recommend now but loved this. Subscribed

[@alwithadot]

Robin should do hyperpop to reclaim himself

[@Tomosawki]

Love your videos a ton dude, you're one of the few youtubers i get excited to see in my sub box. Keep up the good work!

[@MicTheSnare]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching my stuff

[@gamestarters]

You need more subs dude

[@jaxonthacreator]

you deserve way more subscribers dude, you make great content and this is a fun video and assessment :)

[@Peachiebun]

I actually love Robin Thicke! The only song I like from Paula is “Get her back” but I 1000% agree this album is a mess. His albums before Blurred Lines are amazing imo. Sweetest love, Magic, love After war etc are really nice R&B tracks. His song “When you love somebody” from last year is definitely old school Robin and I hope he brings that bac!

[@2000buellblast]

When it was 10:40 I was like “Why the fuck is he playing ZIPLOC? It’s a single.” I didn’t realize the beat was from Jay Z lol

[@johnnyscifi]

To quote converge... "Everytime you justify, a part of you inside dies"

[@MissPopeyes22]

I heard the song somewhere before i saw the video . The words made me uncomfortable but I didn’t mind the beat. I enjoyed it. Until I saw the video. Every time it came up on the radio i switched. I was appalled

[@justusing6192]

So He was Tryna do an Usher move but it flopped

[@CaapriceTube1]

When you get that high up, the only eventual way is..... down. I remember Summer 2013 like yesterday. I was 24, this always came on in the clubs and summer BBQ's lol 2014 it's almost like everyone forgot about him. Crazy what a year can do.

[@ISEEKSPACE]

This was impressive. You should analyze the Lemonade album by Beyonce. That would be epic since you spoke on 4:44 and tipped a bit on Lemonade.

[@dylanbaron__]

I was NOT expecting 4:44

[@tommy2capa]

Until 10:43 I REALLY thought you were gonna get into Here, My Dear in depth and i was SWEATING with excitement (Marvin Gaye Deep Dive???)

[@theonlycaamz]

i really enjoy the musicians and background vocalists, and i especially respect their talent on this record...but then there's robin

[@SaulBadmon]

Holy fuck I lost my shit when the 4:44 sample came on and I realized you were making THAT comparison. Bravo.

[@gunkwizardry]

you're my fantasy sounds like elevator music tbh

[@TomasTheTankEngine]

I had forgotten that he existed...

[@thewesman1922]

I like that you brought up 4:44....never thought it would be in reference to Robin Thicke but hey whatever

[@jeremyusreevu237]

NGL, Get Her Back has a slick instrumental, that deserves to be on a better song.

[@jaythec7994]

Its that guy

[@queenviren]

I knew you were talking about 4:44 immediately

[@FormalFilmsProductions]

I only listen to Living In New York. That’s the only thing that I genuinely enjoyed from this album

[@XP9724]

Damn 12:38 was crazy, Robin was way more than just a few decent r&b singles, he had successful albums with multiple hit songs on the r&b charts before Blurred lines, don't diminish his career like that😂 good video tho

[@tecoragalloway9186]

No but the despicable me song is one of the first that comes to my head..

[@NunuDaRat]

"Blurred lines wasn't that popular" -remembers hearing it 24/7 on radios and on every person's ipod play list in high school- 👀👄👀

[@priymusxzavier654]

My jaw DROPPED when 4:44 started playing

[@peterpansplayground]

I also liked him also in Everything I Can't Have.

[@sophiebee1679]

that album is just manipulation material

[@randombrokeperson]

First Robin song that comes to mind is the one that made black people like him: "Wanna Love U", which I believe is another Pharrell production. These songs sound really generic.

[@jacobnavarro2442]

Interesting I got on my recommendations. I first knew this album from Todd in the Shadows

[@FirstnameLastname-mb2ek]

When I saw the thumbnail I thought it was the low end theory and I was ready to attack

[@rocotaco5517]

Bruh damn I never thought that an artist was desperate artist trying to repair their marriage

[@nielsreviewsmusic3055]

Already 5 years ago.

[@imaXkillXya]

Dreamworld is such a good song. I heard it in one of the end songs of Entourage.

[@joeyschmitt2410]

"make sure to never do it with a singer cause he'll tell everyone in the world, what he was thinking about the girl"

[@asmrcity3147]

Ooh Lala in the closing credits..smh back when he made great sounding music

[@beep0074]

His mic and the album cover match

[@bertfromseasamestreet]

Such a good video

[@peonylarkspur645]

I had not seen the comments Robin made re: blurred lines in the interview, Jesus he really went and said that shit on record

[@andrymen3]

when he said "or could it" i was genuinely expecting the V-Sauce music to start playing and i'm kinda disappointed it didn't lmao

[@jesuschal3802]

KZbin presents.... MicTheSnare. Everybody get up!

[@yes-by5os]

Is this my new favorite channel? yes. that's it thats all i have to say

[@Whereispaolo]

I like his older songs like wanna love you and lost without you was so much better. Blurred lines only got popular because of the nude models on the video

[@daelen.cclark]

I only heard about this album thanks to Todd in the Shadows. Robin’s New York song is the only one I think has potential on its own (perhaps sampling his songs could make them better.)

[@Phoenixhunter157]

Black tar cloud? As in black tar heroin?

[@ryanmorrissette27]

That lawsuit against Blurred Lines was such BS

[@Lormenkal64]

I only remember that it launched Emily Ratjakowski

[@endlessness]

I got to the last 3rd and I was like oh is he talking about 444? And then I was like oh he is talking about 444 and then I was like YEAHHHHH :)

[@jorgesoler7753]

i actually really enjoyed it

[@remytheratatouille3482]

Omg the kars for kids reference help me 😭

[@user-kd9ro2yv3h]

Nice!:)

[@Dondonmixedflip]

Watch his drink champs interview. He admits he was all over the place during this time. I liked about 3 tracks on this album.

[@rapabsinthe786]

Me: "Something Bad???" Todd: "I'm a bad widdle boy."

[@megazenn22]

Pretty sure David Brent got more sales in Australia

[@andreajordan8548]

I loved Get her back though 😂

[@leonardomapache]

Not separating the art from the artist, is dangerously parasocial. You could make a case that by making an asumtion on an artist's actual character based either partially or solely on a piece of art is a violation of their privacy. The truth is, most people don't know Robin Thicke. So yeah, take that into consideration.

[@Bae_Cop2027]

This is an interesting take, I'm not sure what to make of it. Obviously, Thicke isn't a good example, but what about artist intent? Or the era that the artist existed in?

[@axkaxk7762]

How do you feel about R.Kelly? Genuinely curious

[@theMoporter]

A lot more people know Robin Thicke's public persona than know Paula.

[@Betta66]

Paula is the musical equivalent of Coach Z

[@ellisroundy3792]

Wait wtf how and why do you have a WUML sticker on your computer?

[@safaaahmed06]

this is the first i'm hearing of it

[@CraneoHR]

i vibed a lot to that song

[@kaicanyonellis]

What I wouldn't give for an episode about 444 😍

[@Carl-zk4hl]

I aint even going to lie this album is my guilty pleasure

[@h0td0gwater]

I hated it then, I hated it in 2018, and I hate it now.

[@Mansin]

Hated it back then, hate it now.

[@STOPPEDINCOLORADO]

Nah, 4:44 is not very similar to Paula.

[@ferencssalvoski3721]

Topic almost, but 4:44 is great album

[@ThisHandleIsTakenhhh]

ngl I liked Blurred Lines at my old workplace, cause the other music was so bad. That song was my highlight