Themusic video for "Blurred Lines" was directed byDiane Martel. Two versions of the video exist: edited and unrated. In both of them, Thicke, T.I., and Williams are featured with modelsEmily Ratajkowski,Elle Evans, andJessi M'Bengue performing several activities, including the models snuggling in bed with Thicke and sitting on a stuffed dog. After being on the site for just under one week, the unrated version, featuring topless models, was removed from YouTube for violating the site'sterms of service. The unrated video has since been restored to YouTube. Many critics criticized both videos, calling them misogynist and sexist.
In July 2012,Robin Thicke andPharrell Williams collaborated on "Blurred Lines" during a three-day studio session.[2][3] Williams developed a funk-inspired drum rhythm with syncopated cowbell patterns and a repeating two-chord sequence. Thicke then added a vocal line and lyrics centered on pursuing another man's partner. The two completed and recorded the song in about 90 minutes. Thicke and Williams wanted to get a rapper from the Southern part of the United States to be part of the song. They ended up choosingT.I.[4] T.I. would add a rap verse to the song several months later.[3]
In an interview withGQ's Stelios Phili, Thicke explained that he and Williams were in the studio together when he told Williams that one of his favorite songs of all time wasMarvin Gaye's 1977 single "Got to Give It Up". Thicke wanted to make a song similar to "Got to Give It Up". Thicke stated that he and Williams would go back and forth and sing lines like, "Hey, hey, hey!".[4] Thicke told theDaily Star the song was "mostly throwaway fun", but said it was inspired by him and Williams being in love with their wives, having kids, and loving their mothers. He commented that both of them have a lot of respect for women.[5] An ad was created forRadio Shack to market theBeats Pill, a small stereo, that showed Thicke, Pharrell, and the models repeating the look of the (clothed) music video, but with the models holding up the Beats Pill.[6]
"Blurred Lines" has been described as a funk-inspiredpop andR&B track.[7][8] Its instrumentation consists ofbass guitar, drums, andpercussion.[9] According to Emily Bootle ofNew Statesman, the song takes on a playful tone, with elements of humor reflected in its bassline, vocals, and lyrical content.[8] "The song is a come on", wroteKen Tucker in a review of the song and its parent album forNPR.[10] Tucker noted that what prevents the song from descending into creepiness is that Thicke remains "gentlemanly and debonair" when the object of his desire rejects him.[10]
Other interpretations of the song's lyrical content were unfavorable. Elizabeth Plank ofMic considered the lyrics offensive, particularly Thicke repeatedly singing 'I know you want it' while T.I. raps: 'I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two."[11] Sezin Koehler ofPacific Standard suggested that the lyrics imply women are expected to associate sex with pain and identified additional elements she believed had similarities to rape.[12] Thicke toldHoward Stern during an interview onThe Howard Stern Show that "Blurred Lines" was inspired by his then-wifePaula Patton. He confessed to Stern: "My wife is Mrs. Good Girl, but gradually over our marriage, I've turned her into a bad girl."[13]
"Blurred Lines" was criticized heavily by music critics, who stated that it glorifiesrape culture.[14][15]The Daily Beast's Tricia Romano described the track as "kind of rapey."[16] Katie Halper forRaw Story opined that the track has "rape-condoning lyrics".[17] Elizabeth Plank ofSalon.com noted that the "lyrics are rapey".[18] Ann Powers forNPR declared that the verse: "I know you want it," objectifies women and condones rape.[19] Writing forThe Independent, Mollie Goodfellow described Thicke as the "weaselly face of the rape anthem 'Blurred Lines'."[20] Callie Ahlgrim and Courteney Larocca ofInsider commented that if "you could cancel a song the way fans cancel artists, 'Blurred Lines' deserves to be that song." They continued, saying its "existence is a huge injustice to women everywhere."[21]
Andy Hermann forThe Village Voice stated that Thicke and Williams ruined the summer of 2013 with the "smug turd of a pop tune" and deemed the song "terrible, tacky, [and] derivative."[22] In his review forRolling Stone,Rob Sheffield gave the song a negative review, calling it "the worst song of this or any other year".[23] Dorian Lynskey ofThe Guardian labeled it as "the most controversial song of the decade".[24]Annie Zaleski ofThe A.V. Club criticized the track for conveying a tone she considered to be demeaning, describing its themes as suggestive and exclusionary.[25]Greg Kot from theChicago Tribune described the song's lyrics as "dunderheaded", while saying Thicke "scrapes bottom with his single-entendre come-on's."[26] Trevor Anderson ofBillboard opined that continues to remains polarizing, continuing to draw mixed reactions from critics and listeners.[27]
Some reviews, however, were more positive. Jim Farber, writing forNew York Daily News, called the song "irresistible" and mentioned it had an "utter lack of pretense".[28] In her review forThe Christian Science Monitor,Nekesa Mumbi Moody labeled the song as "undeniable", and wrote that it had become a "cultural flashpoint".[29] The staff ofThe New Zealand Herald lauded the track as "cool" and "inventive".[30]The Ledger's James C. McKinley Jr praised "Blurred Lines" as a "catchy come-on".[31] Brendon Veevers, writing forRenowned for Sound, emphasized Thicke's vocal range and the track's blend of rhythms with help from T.I. and Williams.[32] The staff ofRolling Stone ranked the track at number 50 on their list of the "100 Best Songs of 2013", noting its popularity during the summer and crediting its success because of Willams' hook.[33]
"Blurred Lines" first appeared as a video posted onVevo on March 20, 2013.[46] It was released as thelead single on March 26, 2013, from Thicke's studio albumBlurred Lines (2013), throughStar Trak Recordings andInterscope Records.[47] It was released toContemporary hit radio on May 21, 2013.[48] It was released as a single with a remix by Filipino music producerLaidback Luke in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2013.[49] A remix featuring Colombian singerJ Balvin was released on July 23, 2013, in Colombia.[50] A no rap version of the track was released alongside Laidback Luke's remix and both music videos.[51] An EP featuring remixes by Laidback Luke, Australian producerWill Sparks, and American producerDallasK was made for the single.[52] Another EP for was released for "Blurred Lines". The EP also features the Laidback Luke remix, "When I Get You Alone", "Lost Without U", "Magic", and "Sex Therapy".[53]
"Blurred Lines" debuted at number 94 on the USBillboardHot 100.[54] After the song's unrated version of the video was released, the song rose from number 54 to number 11.[55] The song reached number one in June 2013, giving T.I. his fourth, Pharrell his third, and Thicke's first number one hit in the US.[56] "Blurred Lines" topped the Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks, making it the longest running single of 2013.[57][58]Billboard named "Blurred Lines" the song of the summer in September 2013.[59] On theBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the song reigned at number one for 16 weeks, making it one longest tracks to stay at number one on the chart.[60] In June 2018, The single was certified diamond by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting track-equivalent sales of 10,000,000 units in the US based on sales and streams.[61]
The song also peaked at number one on theBillboardAdult Top 40,[62]Mainstream Top 40,[63] andRhythmic charts.[64] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number one on theUK Singles Chart, selling 190,000 copies in its first week.[65] The remained at number one the following week, selling 200,000 copies.[66] It spent five non-consecutive weeks at number one.[67] "Blurred Lines" was confirmed to have sold 1 million copies on its 50th day of release, becoming Williams' second song in only a month to achieve that feat in Britain after being featured onDaft Punk single "Get Lucky".[68] According to theOfficial Charts Company, the single became Britain's best-selling single of 2013 with sales of 1,472,681 copies.[69] It becameone of the best-selling singles of all time, with sales of 14.8 million,[70] simultaneously breaking the record for the largest radio audience in history.[71]
Amusic video for "Blurred Lines" was directed byDiane Martel and was released on March 20, 2013, while an unrated version was released on March 28, 2013.[72][73] The unrated version of the video was removed from YouTube on March 30, 2013, citing violations of the site'sterms of service that restricts the uploading of videos containing nudity, particularly if used in a sexual context.[74][75] It was restored on July 12, 2013.[76] The unrated version of "Blurred Lines" generated more than one million views in the days following its release on Vevo.[77] Thicke toldGQ they wanted to do "some old men dances" whilst jesting with taboo subjects such as bestiality, drug injections, and things that are "derogatory towards women". When it came to the silver Mylar balloons arrangement, Thicke said it was Martel's idea. They wanted to "go over the top" and be as witless as possible.[4]
In an interview withGrantland, Martel recalled that Thicke initially asked her to create a white cyc video for "Blurred Lines". After hearing the song, she developed concepts for the models' looks and props that would generate attention, including oversized items selected with the help of art director Georgia Walker. Martel explained that her intention was to present the video in a way that emphasized the women's dominance over the men. She proposed producing both clothed and nude versions of the video, but declined the project when Thicke's team rejected the nude concept. They later agreed to go with both versions if she directed them.[78] The video features Thicke, T.I., and Williams. It also includes three models:Emily Ratajkowski,Elle Evans, andJessi M'Bengue.[79] The video includes a scene with silver Mylar balloons arranged to spell out "Robin Thicke Has a Big Dick".[80] The video depicts topless models lying in bed with Thicke, posing playfully, while one model is shown on a large stuffed dog sticking her tongue out.[78][80]
Kat Bein ofMiami New Times described the visual as "misogynist", and said that it "objectifi[ed] naked women".[81]Bertie Brandes ofVice criticized the video as offensive, arguing that it relied on sexist themes and uninspired imagery posed as playful provocation. She described it as being more disturbing than entertaining.[82] Andy Kellman ofAllMusic labeled it as a "deliberately sexist video", opining that it "further polarized opinions".[83] Writing forSlate, Geeta Dayal called the video "loathsome".[84] Aidan Moffat forThe Quietus labeled it is as "awful, sexist and asinine".[85]The Cut's Ann Friedman mentions that her issue was not the naked women and it being inappropriate. She opined it that featuring naked women and clothed men in "party mode is boring, uninventive, and slightly alienating".[86]
In response to criticism of the video, Thicke stated that its provocative content should not have been considered controversial. He attributed the concept to Martel, noting that he preferred the version featuring clothed models and claimed he only released the unrated version after encouragement from his wife and her friends.[87] Thicke toldDigital Spy the critics needed "to come up with something more original" when calling it sexist.[88] In February 2021, Thicke said to theNew York Post that he was never going to make a video like "Blurred Lines" ever again.[89]
Ratajkowski at first defended the video, saying she didn't think it was sexist and was made with a "sarcastic attitude". She said that they were "being playful" and having a good time with their body. The model thought it was important for young women to have that confidence, and that it is actually celebrating women.[90] In an interview withInStyle in September 2015, Ratajkowski stated the video is "the bane of my existence".[91] The visual was nominated for Video of the Year and Best Male Video at the2013 MTV Video Music Awards.[41] It was also nominated forBest Video at the2013 MTV Europe Music Awards.[42]
Upon its release, "Blurred Lines" faced criticism from commentators for trivializing sexual violence, objectifying women, and perpetuating rape myths.[92][93] Katie Russell, a spokeswoman for Rape Crisis England & Wales, a feminist charity that raises awareness and understanding of sexual violence, said the lyrics glamorized violence against women and reinforced rape myths. She argued that the song's lyrics and music video objectified and demeaned women, contending that many considered it offensive and outdated. She concluded by saying certain lyrics are "explicitly sexually violent and appear to reinforce victim-blaming rape myths."[92][94]
In the United Kingdom, some universities banned the song from use at student events. At theUniversity of Edinburgh, students' association officials stated that the song violated its policy against "rape culture andlad banter" and promoted an unhealthy attitude towards sex and consent.[95] It was also banned at the universities ofBolton,Derby,Kingston,Leeds andWest of Scotland.[96][97] Students at theUniversity of Exeter voted against a ban but for a condemnation of the lyrics to be issued by the Students' Guild.[98]
In the U.S., inMarshfield, Wisconsin, Lisa Joling, head coach of theMarshfield High School dance team, was fired in August 2013, three days after a halftime performance by her dance class to the song.[99]
Williams initially defended "Blurred Lines". The singer told NPR there was nothing misogynistic about it, and that he was grateful to everybody that supported the song.[100] Further defending the song, Williams mentioned toPitchfork that there was nothing controversial about the song and appreciated how "Blurred Lines" helped Thicke "to a place where he deserves to be vocally."[101] In an interview withGQ in October 2019, Williams explained that he had misunderstood the backlash, assuming the song appealed to women.[102] He stated that the song reflected elements of a "chauvinistic culture" and admitted that some of his music had reinforced those attitudes.[103][104]
On October 3, 2021,The Sunday Times published an excerpt from Ratajkowski's memoirMy Body, in which she alleged that Thicke sexually harassed her during the filming of the music video.[105] She claimed that Thicke unexpectedly groped her, prompting her to pull away and turn toward him, noticing he appeared to be smiling.[105] Martel confirmed Ratajkowski's account, saying she confronted Thicke at the time, having to halt production of the video and receive an embarrassed apology from Thicke.[106]
In August 2013, Thicke, Williams, and T.I. suedMarvin Gaye's family andBridgeport Music for a declaratory judgment that "Blurred Lines" did notinfringe copyrights of the defendants. Gaye's family accused the song's authors of copying the "feel" and "sound" of "Got to Give It Up".[107] In the lawsuit, Gaye's family was accused of making an invalid copyright claim sinceonly expressions, not individual ideas can be protected.[108] In September 2014,The Hollywood Reporter released files relating to adeposition from the case.[109] Within the deposition Thicke stated that he was inebriated onVicodin and alcohol when he showed up to record the song in the studio, and that Williams had the beat and wrote the vast majority of the song.[110] Within Williams' respective deposition file, the producer noted that he was "in the driver's seat" during the song's creation and agreed that Thicke, in past interviews, "embellished" his contributions to the songwriting process.[109][111]
On October 30, 2014,United States District Court for the Central District of California JudgeJohn A. Kronstadt allowed Gaye family's lawsuit against Thicke and Williams to continue, concluding that the plaintiffs had presented enough evidence to suggest that "Blurred Lines" shared similarities with "Got to Give It Up". The trial was set to begin on February 10, 2015.[112] Williams and Thicke filed a successfulmotion in limine to prevent a recording of "Got to Give it Up" from being played during the trial.[113] The motion was granted because the family's copyright covered the sheet music and not necessarily other musical elements from Gaye's recording of the song.[113] On March 10, 2015, a jury found Thicke and Williams, but not T.I., liable forcopyright infringement.[114] The unanimous jury awarded Gaye's familyUS$7.4 million (9,816,454 in 2024) in damages for copyright infringement and credited Marvin Gaye as a songwriter for "Blurred Lines".[1][115][116] In July 2015, the judge rejected a new trial and the verdict was lowered fromUS$7.4 million toUS$5.3 million (7,030,703 in 2024).[117]
In August 2016, Thicke, Williams, and T.I. appealed the judgment to the9th Circuit Court of Appeals.[118][119] A few days later, more than 200 artists—includingRivers Cuomo ofWeezer,John Oates ofHall & Oates,R. Kelly,Hans Zimmer,Jennifer Hudson, and members ofTrain,Earth, Wind & Fire,The Black Crowes,Fall Out Boy,The Go-Go's, andTears for Fears—joined anamicus curiae brief authored by attorney Ed McPherson. The document argued that the jury's verdict risked penalizing songwriters for creating tracks influenced by earlier music.[120] In December 2018, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's finding of infringement against Williams and Thicke.[121] Both singers still had to pay Gaye's familyUS$5.3 million.[122] Thicke was also ordered to pay more thanUS$1.7 million (2,255,131 in 2024) and Williams and his publishing company had to payUS$357,631 (474,415 in 2024) in separate awards to Gaye's estate.[123] In December 2019, Gaye's family opened the lawsuit back up again, accusing Williams of lying under oath during the trial.[124][125] The plaintiffs pointed to a November 2019GQ interview in which Williams noted that he had "reverse engineered" Gaye's "Got to Give It Up".[126] They contended that this conflicted with his earlier deposition testimony, where he claimed he had not entered the studio intending to create something that was similar to Gaye's music.[127] In February 2021, Judge Kronstadt determined that Williams had not committed perjury, stating that his comments in the interview were ambiguous and could be interpreted in multiple ways.[127][128]
On May 14, 2013, Thicke performed the song for the first time live on NBC'sThe Voice alongside Williams and T.I.[129][130] Thicke also performed the song onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 16 with Pharrell and three models doing backup.[131] In June 2013, Thicke performed the song alongside Williams with American actressHayden Panettiere dancing to the song on the British televisionchat showThe Graham Norton Show.[132] Thicke, Williams, and T.I. performed the song on the2013 BET Awards on June 30, 2013. They performed against a backdrop of Thicke's name in giant red block letters.[133] Thicke also performed the track solo onBBC Radio 1Live Lounge on July 8, 2013,[134] as well asThis Morning on July 10, 2013.[135]
Thicke also performed the song complete with dancers in studio onThe Howard Stern Show onSirius XM Radio on July 29, 2013.[136] He also performed the song onThe Colbert Report on August 6, 2013, after French duoDaft Punk canceled.[137][138] On September 20, he performed "Blurred Lines" at the 2013iHeartRadio Music Festival.[139][140] On November 10, Thicke performed the song withIggy Azalea at the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards.[141] In December, he performed the song at Jingle Ball 2013 concerts.[142][143] In May 2014, Williams performed the song as part of a medley at the iHeartRadio Awards where he received the iHeartRadio Innovator Award.[144] In May 2017, Thicke performed the song at the4th Indonesian Choice Awards.[145]
Thicke performed "Blurred Lines" as a duet with American singerMiley Cyrus at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, medleyed with Cyrus' "We Can't Stop" and "Give It 2 U", featuring2 Chainz.[146] The performance began with Cyrus performing "We Can't Stop" in bear-themed attire.[147] Following this, Thicke entered the stage and Cyrus stripped down to a small skin-colored two-piece outfit.[147] Cyrus subsequently touched Thicke's crotch area with a giant foam finger andtwerked against his crotch.[148] The performance drew extensive reactions and became the most tweeted about event in history, withTwitter users generating 360,000 tweets about the event per minute; breaking the previous record held byBeyoncé'sSuper Bowl XLVII halftime show performance six months earlier.[149][150]
Critics universally panned the performance. Shirley Halperin forThe Hollywood Reporter described the performance as "crass" and "reminiscent of a badacid trip".[151] Writing for the American news programToday, Anna Chan called the performance "embarrassingly raunchy",[152] while Katy Kroll ofRolling Stone labeled it a "hot mess".[153] B. J. Steiner ofXXL magazine gave the performance a negative review, labeling it as disastrous and noting that the audience appeared to respond with a mix of confusion and discomfort.[154] Louisa Peacock and Isabelle Kerr ofTelegraph described Cyrus' actions as her going into "overdrive [...] trying to kill off her Disney millstone, Hannah Montana.[155] In July 2017, Cyrus said she felt sexualized while twerking during the performance.[156]
On the June 12, 2013, episode ofJimmy Kimmel Live!, in which Thicke and Pharrell were both guests, they aired a parody version of the "Blurred Lines" video in which hostJimmy Kimmel and his sidekickGuillermo attempt to join Thicke, Pharrell, and the dancers but keep getting rebuffed.[157]
On August 2, 2013,Bart Baker released a parody of "Blurred Lines" on his YouTube channel.[158]
On September 11, 2013, the drag queen group DWV (Detox,Willam Belli, and Vicky Vox), released a parody called "Blurred Bynes". The song is aboutAmanda Bynes and her behavior in the previous months.[159]
On September 17, 2013, a parody music video featuring then-AKB48 membersYuko Oshima andHaruna Kojima was released on YouTube as a collaboration between Thicke and AKB48 to promote the song in Japan.[160]
On November 5, 2013,Dave Callan, as part of his review ofJust Dance 2014 on theABC showGood Game performed a parody of the music video in response to the incorrect choreography of the song in the game.[161][162]
On December 19, 2013, the Canadian sketch comedy groupRoyal Canadian Air Farce released a parody of the music video called "Rob Ford's Blurred Lines", highlighting the recent admissions byToronto mayorRob Ford of public drunkenness and using crack cocaine.[163]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
^Raustiala, Kal; Jon Sprigman, Christopher (March 12, 2016)."Squelching Creativity".Slate.Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. RetrievedMay 14, 2021.
^"ロビン・シックがAKB48とコラボ、大島優子と小嶋陽菜がパロディービデオ出演" [Robin Thicke collaborates with AKB48, Yuko Oshima and Haruna Kojima appear in parody music video].Billboard Japan (in Japanese). September 17, 2013.Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. RetrievedSeptember 10, 2023.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 25. týden 2013 in the date selector.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 24. týden 2014 in the date selector. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
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