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Thicke and Juicy

Sexy soul singer Robin Thicke opens up about his Precious wife, homophobia in the music industry, and the gay men who’ve shaped his life and love since childhood. 


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Robin Thicke’s 2007 single “Lost Without U” made him the first male Caucasian artist to top Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop chart since George Michael’s “One More Try” in 1988, but that’s just the tip of Thicke’s tight connection with the gay community. Currently promoting his fourth album, Sex Therapy, as the opening act on Alicia Keys’s Freedom Tour (he makes a quick detour to Miami Gardens, Fla., on March 20 for the fifth annual Jazz in the Gardens music festival), the 33-year-old neo-soul singer-songwriter explains why he’ll happily ruin dinner to defend his gay friends — even those hip-hop chest-thumpers still in the closet.

The Advocate:
How conscious are you of your gay fan base? Because although babies aren’t technically made during our process, we also enjoy baby-making music.

Robin Thicke:
Well, maybe I’m inspiring some adoptions. [Laughs] As long as my music promotes love and intimacy, it’s all good. You never really know who likes you until someone comes up and says they like your music, but I’m always surprised when anyone likes it.

You’ve previously toured with Jennifer Hudson and Beyoncé, both artists with huge gay followings. Are we a good audience?
Oh, absolutely. Who dances with more love and passion than the gay audience? They’re so much fun.

Gay blogs can be vicious, but they generally have very sweet things to say about you.

I know, and I’m very thankful, honored, and blessed. Every once in a while I’ll hear that Perez has said nice things about me, but I don’t think my people would send it to me if he ever said anything bad.

How does it feel to be an object of lust for some gay men?

It’s absolutely flattering, without question. I’m very vain, so I’ll take lust from wherever it comes.

Your father, Alan Thicke, is an actor best known as Jason Seaver on Growing Pains, and your mother, Gloria Loring, is an actress-singer best known as Liz Chandler on Days of Our Lives. Growing up with both parents in the entertainment industry, what was your earliest exposure to gay people?
My father’s agent was gay, and he was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. Probably from the time I was 7 or 8 years old, he was there every day, hanging out at the house and on my dad’s set. He was a wonderful man, so that was a great influence for me right from the beginning. Some of my mom’s best friends were also gay. When the AIDS epidemic hit in the ’80s, my mom lost one of her very best friends, who was also a close friend of the family. Even though I was very young, I had to understand what that was all about and why he passed. It’s a lot for a 10-year-old boy to try to figure out, but I have a very open heart because of those circumstances.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Shawn
    Date posted: 4/14/2010 12:08:37 PM
    Hometown: Fargo

    Comment:

    I think I just fell in love!

  • Name: Jeff
    Date posted: 3/24/2010 1:02:00 AM
    Hometown: Seattle

    Comment:

    I agree. I enjoy hearing Robins views on gays and gay rights, and especially about the RELIGION VIRUS, but give the guy a few lines to talk about his gigs, his records, you know, the stuff he needs to get heard.

  • Name: Michael Whaley
    Date posted: 3/22/2010 10:25:25 PM
    Hometown: Alpharetta

    Comment:

    I LOVE Robin Thicke. I fell in love with him from the time I heard his 1st song. In the days of dial-up internet, I searched for anything I could find out about him, signed up on his website and played his video over and over. I love his sultry voice, the way he moves and I loved when he had long hair, he is still beautiful with short hair. He is one of those people that you love more as you learn more about him. His industry parents, His black wife, the artist he has written for, and now his support of equality. I know he is in Atlanta often, I hope I meet him one day. If I ever see him, I will simply say "Thank you Robin"

  • Name: Dante
    Date posted: 3/22/2010 9:39:43 PM
    Hometown: Chicago

    Comment:

    I worked with his wife Paula on the film SWING VOTE and I'm not surprised that she is such a positive influence, she's an amazingly kind, generous, and down to earth soul... and it sounds like she's well matched with this guy. Thanks, Advocate, for giving those of us who aren't so familiar with his music the chance to get to know him.

  • Name: lee matthews
    Date posted: 3/22/2010 4:57:24 PM
    Hometown: melbourne australia

    Comment:

    i love his comments about organised religion. Us gay folk really need to realise that archaic religious views do us sooo much harm. it's time we started seeking the non religious amd celebrating their sensibilities (and usually) liberal views. The best thing we can do is support the rise of atheism and give voice to agnostics, who are usually quite closeted (sound familiar???)

  • Name: J. C.
    Date posted: 3/22/2010 2:50:40 PM
    Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Comment:

    What a sweet, well grounded, and unpretentious guy! He' sure to make a great father.

  • Name: dave
    Date posted: 3/21/2010 2:43:55 PM
    Hometown: Redding

    Comment:

    Wowee! I have a new crush, What a great guy.

  • Name: Pat
    Date posted: 3/20/2010 5:46:19 PM
    Hometown: Astoria, NY

    Comment:

    I've heard enough about his music career in EW, music magazines, and from his talk show appearances. I'm glad we have a magazine that will ask the questions no one else asks and get answers I can't get everywhere else. A friend of mine is a writer and says they usually only get 10 or 15 minutes with the celebrity they interview, so I'm glad no time was wasted here asking about the new sound on his album. I'll read about that in GQ or Esquire or Details. Thanks, Advocate, for another great one!

  • Name: rick
    Date posted: 3/20/2010 3:23:05 AM
    Hometown: CHICAGO

    Comment:

    I like this article about a very talented guy. But did EVERY question have to be about something gay? He has a new sound that he is premiering on his latest cd. I am sure he would have like to talk about that. Maybe the article was larger at one time and has been blue penciled to death. Anyway, he sounds great. (In the early 80's I had a crush on his dad. lol)



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