Music Review: Robin Thicke "4 The Rest of My Life"
JoeUser Forums
Robin Thicke
4 The Rest of My Life
Album: Blurred Lines
Year: 2013
Philip Seymour Hoffman was one of my favorite actors. If I saw that he was in a movie, I was more likely see it. He made such interesting and thought-provoking films. I will miss seeing onscreen. Personally, I’m going to have a hard time watching “Almost Famous.”
On a brighter note, Bruno Mars put in a fantastic performance tonight. His rendition of the Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give It Away” was a great segue (though, it would’ve stood alone like Prince’s cover of the Foo Fighter’s “Best of You.”) I think the Red Hot Chili Peppers crashed the party, though. Overall, it’s ranked among one of my favorites half-time shows.
Robin Thicke celebrates his relationship with his wife in the passionate “4 The Rest of My Life.”
Gracious synths open the single, setting an awestruck tone. Their kids rush in to the hallway. “Happy Anniversary!,” they say to them and give them their handmade cards. They both exchange glances, knowing that this moment may not have happened if it not for his persistence. He looks at her hugging their little boy and it makes him think of when he first saw her in high school. He waved hello to her and her face lit up. They were about 16. Then, he was one of the most popular guys and believed any girl would’ve been lucky to have him. He was thinking of himself and of his most immediate needs. To impress her, he sang a favorite song of hers. He had practiced it for weeks, hoping it would sound good. Every chance he got, he called her. Before school, to see if she needed a ride. After school, he asked if she knew the homework from one of the classes they shared. During the time, he probably drove her nuts. However, he really wanted her to notice him. She kept the conversations short. Somehow, he had to convince her he was a good guy. Eventually, she came around and began to call him. (“I knew when I laid my eyes on you/The lights from above seemed to shine on only you/And you made me feel like I was flying/When I made you sparkle in your eyes/We ain’t even 20 baby/I ain’t learned to love you right, yeah/Umm, good thing I thought I was the shit back then/I sang in your ear cause I wanted you to know/That I had soul baby/I called you all the time/I guess I tried too hard to make you mine/You had nothing to do with me baby/Thank God that you changed.”)
In the chorus, at 16, now, and when he’s 80, he wants to be with her. He’s going to keep trying to be a better person for her. At any time, she could find someone else. He can’t lose her. (“For the rest of my life you know I wanna be yours/For the rest of my life you know I wanna be yours/For the rest of my life for you I’m gonna be strong/Baby will you stay?/Baby will you stay?/Baby will you stay?/Baby will you stay mine?”)
It took 6 months before she would hang out with him. It was then he told her he loved her. He asked if he could kiss and she said yes. Ever since then, he would go over to her family’s house for Thanksgiving and she would be with his family for Christmas. After school, they would take walks in the park near both their houses. Then, he made the mistake of cheating on her and she broke up with him. She wouldn’t even talk to him for nearly a year. He asked for her forgiveness and another a chance. She said she missed him and would like to try again. It was then he learned how quickly love could go away. She helped him to grow up and for that he’s grateful. (“Finally convinced you to come over and just say hi/I said forever my lady and kissed you for the very first time/After months, holidays, holding hands in the park/Normally I’d be playing basketball or something in the park/And I messed up like boys tend to do/It’d be a year till I got back with you/Thank God that you called me back baby/Cause I’d never be the man that I am today.”)
The chorus is sung again.
He remembers the first time they made love. She called him to say her parents just left for the weekend and to come over as soon as he could. He found his dad’s car keys and snuck out of the house. He figured it was his big chance and nothing was going to stop him. He knew he was going to hear it from his dad later but he didn’t care. She’s the important person in his life. (“Then one night upon the phone/You said you were at home alone/I wasn’t even old enough to drive a car/I saw my only chance to keep it alive/Keep love alive/Good thing for you I stole my daddy’s car/Cause no one’s ever gonna love you better/Better than I do, yes I do.”)
In the final chorus, he asks her to be patient with him. He’s far from perfect but he’s willing to work to keep their relationship going. (“ For the rest of my life you know I wanna be yours/For the rest of my life you know I wanna be yours/For the rest of my life for you I’m gonna be strong/For the rest of my life, for the rest of my life/Come on baby, will you stay forever?/I’m gon’ love you baby/For the rest of my life I’m gonna be strong/Gon’ love you, gon’ love you right/For the rest of my life/Baby will you stay?/Baby will you stay?/Baby will you stay?
Baby will you stay mine?
Thicke’s enarmored vocals acknowledge his wife in a loving way, stating she is the person he has to have in his life. With her, he’s not some larger than life pop star. She actually knows him through and through. He’s not trying to be the horniest guy or the most perfect guy, he’s being himself. It’s a part of him that needs to show up more often in his music.
The human “4 The Rest of My Life” is straight from Thicke’s heart