Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell
Artist: Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Weeks at #1: 12 weeks Chart dates: June 22, 2013 – September 7, 2013
About
With its lyrics talking of “blurred lines” between consenting and non-consent, this #1 hit was widely attacked for promoting rape culture. It was mostly written by Pharrell Williams, who denied that it was about sex – instead saying it was about being rejected. In March 2015, a Los Angeles jury ruled that “Blurred Lines” infringed the copyright on Marvin Gaye’s 1977 hit, “Got to Give It Up”. Thicke and Williams were originally ordered to pay $7.3 million, but that was later cut to $5.3m. During the trial, the juxtaposed bass lines of the two songs in question were played to Pharrell and he admitted, “It sounds like you’re playing the same thing.”
