Robin Thicke Defends "Blurred Lines" Against Critics: "We Were Just Jamming"

BY Erika Marie 4.0K Views
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Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, Marvin Gaye, Zane Lowe,
Not only did the track land Thicke in legal trouble, but people accused him of promoting misogynistic culture.

He's readying the release of his forthcoming album On Earth, And in Heaven this Friday (February 12), and in anticipation, Robin Thicke has sat down with Zane Lowe. The award-winning singer is celebrating decades in the industry where he's toured the world, topped the charts, and collaborated with the best of the best, but a song that has been at the center of the controversy is his smash hit, "Blurred Lines." The tune was a collaboration with Pharrell Williams and T.I., but it would land Thicke in court against Marvin Gaye's estate. 

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A court would later award the late-great Marvin Gaye a songwriting credit after finding that "Blurred Lines" was influenced by the singer's classic "Got to Give it Up." That wasn't the only scandal to haunt the single; "Blurred Lines" lyrics were dissected as critics claimed that the song perpetuated date rape culture. Pharrell has come forward to acknowledge that the song catered to "chauvinist culture," but in Thicke's conversation with Lowe, the singer defended his piece of art.

"Well, really, I never saw it that way when I sang it or performed it. Usually, the first piece, when it goes, 'Bum, bum, bum, everybody get up,' the crowd goes crazy," he said. "Even people who aren't big fans of mine, that's the only [song] they know... You just kind of take it with a grain of salt."

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"The reason I started all of this is because I love music, I love to make music, and then, once I started to perform, I love to perform, so I just go for that part of it," Thicke said, adding that there wasn't any intention for the song other than to make people move. "We're just jamming, everybody is meant to get up and dance. That's all the song is meant to do." Listen to Robin Thicke's interview below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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