but anyway...to respond to the original question

I hate the fact that "Lovergirl" was the Teena Marie song that finally crossed over.It's a good song,but she has so many more better singles that came before it.

lrn36 said:

Well, I think RnB is more pop now then it was in 70s or 80s. RnB artists had to water down their sound to crossover to pop audiences. Now RnB as a whole is so watered down its hard to define what it is anymore. I

that's a very good point.When you think about it,R&B is pretty much "pop" these days.Beyonce,Usher,Rihanna.....none of these people are making music that I would consider R&B (which,as you pointed out) is very hard to define these days.

Is Robin Thicke The Male Teena Marie?

....uhh NO!

He wishes maybe,.....but NO.

Did Kit Bradley create a thread intending to start controversy?

WHat made you pose this question?

What made you even attempt to come to that assessment and comparison.

Oh, and the answer is a hearty and definitive [img:$uid]http://img.pandawhale.com/47321-hell-no-chris-tucker-gif-zUJk.gif[/img:$uid]

BlaqueKnight said:

Did Kit Bradley create a thread intending to start controversy?

WHat made you pose this question?

What made you even attempt to come to that assessment and comparison.

Oh, and the answer is a hearty and definitive [img:$uid]http://img.pandawhale.com/47321-hell-no-chris-tucker-gif-zUJk.gif[/img:$uid]

As I clarified in a subsequent post, the original question was not to compare them musically or talent-wise. The post was comparing them as far as being Pop cross-over artists and whether or not Pop audiences were capable or interested in truly embracing them for more than one song? They did not embrace Teena for longer than a few weeks. And, judging from the lack of interest in the second single release, Robin may be heading down that same path. In that respect, I say Robin Thick is the modern-day Teena Marie.

Scorp said:

aint no way he close to being on the level of Teena Marie

1.) Teena Marie was a real musician, made her own music, and had one of the most amazing voices ever, and was as authentic as they come, and did not resort to sexual exploits to sell records

2.) Robin Thicke has been hijacking music since day one and his most successful song was a hijack of the legendary Marvin Gaye

not even close

I'm not disagreeing with you, but Robin is a musician also and is a good singer (even if he has morphed into a wanna-be reincarnation of Marvin Gaye).

jeidee said:

Lady T could play.

I don't think Thicke plays any instruments, does he? Robin Thicke is more the male Brooke Hogan.

http://www.oprah.com/opra...ated-Video

kitbradley said:

BlaqueKnight said:

Did Kit Bradley create a thread intending to start controversy?

WHat made you pose this question?

What made you even attempt to come to that assessment and comparison.

Oh, and the answer is a hearty and definitive [img:$uid]http://img.pandawhale.com/47321-hell-no-chris-tucker-gif-zUJk.gif[/img:$uid]

As I clarified in a subsequent post, the original question was not to compare them musically or talent-wise. The post was comparing them as far as being Pop cross-over artists and whether or not Pop audiences were capable or interested in truly embracing them for more than one song? They did not embrace Teena for longer than a few weeks. And, judging from the lack of interest in the second single release, Robin may be heading down that same path. In that respect, I say Robin Thick is the modern-day Teena Marie.

I get where you are coming from. I think the thread title draws a strong emotional response. I admit I had one too.

I think we are in the era of one hit wonders so Robin could very well be part of that. Have you noticed all the artists who are consistently successful right now got their start or took off between 2007 and 2008? Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Rhianna, Taylor Swift, Justin Beiber, and Adele. It seems like most of the artists after this period never catch on or burn out quickly.

kitbradley said:

BlaqueKnight said:

Did Kit Bradley create a thread intending to start controversy?

WHat made you pose this question?

What made you even attempt to come to that assessment and comparison.

Oh, and the answer is a hearty and definitive [img:$uid]http://img.pandawhale.com/47321-hell-no-chris-tucker-gif-zUJk.gif[/img:$uid]

As I clarified in a subsequent post, the original question was not to compare them musically or talent-wise. The post was comparing them as far as being Pop cross-over artists and whether or not Pop audiences were capable or interested in truly embracing them for more than one song? They did not embrace Teena for longer than a few weeks. And, judging from the lack of interest in the second single release, Robin may be heading down that same path. In that respect, I say Robin Thick is the modern-day Teena Marie.

Teena Marie never really "crossed over" to a predominantly white audience.

Robin Thicke came out to the 5th of Beethoveen. He was always intending to be a POP STAR but the label thought they would try to bring him up through the R&B crowd. Unlike Teena, he was marketed in a direction. He likes R&B, therefore he sings R&B-ish songs but they still have a light, pop-esque feel. Teena was "too black-sounding for the white crowd" back in the day. If she sounded exactly like she did and was black, mainstreamers would never even look at her twice. If Robin let Maroon 5 produce one song for him, he would be declared head douchebag and the pop crowd would embrace him forever (meaning for a year or two). That could have never happened to Teena, nor would she have wanted that. Robin would take it in a second.

Again, a terrible comparison.

I thought it was interesting & "telling" that 2 of Teena's final Albums debut in the TOP 5 on Billboards 100 Pop & R&B charts...

BlaqueKnight said:

kitbradley said:

As I clarified in a subsequent post, the original question was not to compare them musically or talent-wise. The post was comparing them as far as being Pop cross-over artists and whether or not Pop audiences were capable or interested in truly embracing them for more than one song? They did not embrace Teena for longer than a few weeks. And, judging from the lack of interest in the second single release, Robin may be heading down that same path. In that respect, I say Robin Thick is the modern-day Teena Marie.

Teena Marie never really "crossed over" to a predominantly white audience.

Robin Thicke came out to the 5th of Beethoveen. He was always intending to be a POP STAR but the label thought they would try to bring him up through the R&B crowd. Unlike Teena, he was marketed in a direction. He likes R&B, therefore he sings R&B-ish songs but they still have a light, pop-esque feel. Teena was "too black-sounding for the white crowd" back in the day. If she sounded exactly like she did and was black, mainstreamers would never even look at her twice. If Robin let Maroon 5 produce one song for him, he would be declared head douchebag and the pop crowd would embrace him forever (meaning for a year or two). That could have never happened to Teena, nor would she have wanted that. Robin would take it in a second.

Again, a terrible comparison.

He's a hijacker

Teena Marie wasn't..........they're not even in the same ballpark

that's what's so sad about it

because of social conditioning, standards have declined

the people who should have sold more records then they did didn't

and the people who shouldn't be selling the records they have are doing so

[Edited 11/19/13 12:33pm]

daPrettyman said:

Scorp said:

aint no way he close to being on the level of Teena Marie

1.) Teena Marie was a real musician, made her own music, and had one of the most amazing voices ever, and was as authentic as they come, and did not resort to sexual exploits to sell records

2.) Robin Thicke has been hijacking music since day one and his most successful song was a hijack of the legendary Marvin Gaye

not even close

I'm not disagreeing with you, but Robin is a musician also and is a good singer (even if he has morphed into a wanna-be reincarnation of Marvin Gaye).

Moderate musician imho; good singer? Maybe studio wise but live? ... uh yeah.

BlaqueKnight said:

kitbradley said:

As I clarified in a subsequent post, the original question was not to compare them musically or talent-wise. The post was comparing them as far as being Pop cross-over artists and whether or not Pop audiences were capable or interested in truly embracing them for more than one song? They did not embrace Teena for longer than a few weeks. And, judging from the lack of interest in the second single release, Robin may be heading down that same path. In that respect, I say Robin Thick is the modern-day Teena Marie.

Teena Marie never really "crossed over" to a predominantly white audience.

Robin Thicke came out to the 5th of Beethoveen. He was always intending to be a POP STAR but the label thought they would try to bring him up through the R&B crowd. Unlike Teena, he was marketed in a direction. He likes R&B, therefore he sings R&B-ish songs but they still have a light, pop-esque feel. Teena was "too black-sounding for the white crowd" back in the day. If she sounded exactly like she did and was black, mainstreamers would never even look at her twice. If Robin let Maroon 5 produce one song for him, he would be declared head douchebag and the pop crowd would embrace him forever (meaning for a year or two). That could have never happened to Teena, nor would she have wanted that. Robin would take it in a second.

Again, a terrible comparison.

Plus Lady Tee had a musical sound that the black community took wholeheartedly. Robin could never.

Scorp said:

kitbradley said:

Just so I'm clear, I'm in no way, shape or form comparing Teena and Robin musicially. That's an entirely different discussion and would also be a complete waste of time . My comparison is both of them being white R&B singers, virtually ignored by mainstream audiences for many years, finally getting a huge mainstream hit but not being able to maintain the momentum with Pop audiences.

[Edited 11/15/13 15:59pm]

that's the thing about Teena Marie

she was never mainstream....she did not receive airplay on top 40 radio

she was authentic r&b, she was the embodiment of authenticity....that's even greater than the genre itself

Amen! And although she never won any Grammy's, her R&B Foundation Pioneer Award TRUMPED any and ALL Grammy's! Miss my Ivory Queen of R&B!!! R.I.P., big sista! xo!

Lammastide said:

I have always thought Teena Marie was EXTRAORDINARILY overrated, but even I can see she had more talent in her pinky than Robin Thicke has in his entire body.

[Edited 11/15/13 19:18pm]

"Extraordinarily overrated?" In what way(s?) I always thought she was underrated except inside the R&B world.

BlaqueKnight said:

kitbradley said:

As I clarified in a subsequent post, the original question was not to compare them musically or talent-wise. The post was comparing them as far as being Pop cross-over artists and whether or not Pop audiences were capable or interested in truly embracing them for more than one song? They did not embrace Teena for longer than a few weeks. And, judging from the lack of interest in the second single release, Robin may be heading down that same path. In that respect, I say Robin Thick is the modern-day Teena Marie.

Teena Marie never really "crossed over" to a predominantly white audience.

Robin Thicke came out to the 5th of Beethoveen. He was always intending to be a POP STAR but the label thought they would try to bring him up through the R&B crowd. Unlike Teena, he was marketed in a direction. He likes R&B, therefore he sings R&B-ish songs but they still have a light, pop-esque feel. Teena was "too black-sounding for the white crowd" back in the day. If she sounded exactly like she did and was black, mainstreamers would never even look at her twice. If Robin let Maroon 5 produce one song for him, he would be declared head douchebag and the pop crowd would embrace him forever (meaning for a year or two). That could have never happened to Teena, nor would she have wanted that. Robin would take it in a second.

Again, a terrible comparison.

Wrong. The 5th of Beetoven thing was not his idea and not what he wanted to do. The label wanted him to do and he no longer performs that song

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

I'm not disagreeing with you, but Robin is a musician also and is a good singer (even if he has morphed into a wanna-be reincarnation of Marvin Gaye).

Moderate musician imho; good singer? Maybe studio wise but live? ... uh yeah.

You're bitter. He's excellent live. He writes piano parts beautifully and arranges well