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The story behind the “Blurred Lines” music video is one of pop culture’s biggest controversies, marked by director Diane Martel’s attempt at feminist subversion that was completely derailed by on-set misconduct and heavy criticism. [1, 2, 3]

The original intent, production drama, and long-term fallout define its complex history:

• The Artistic Intent: Director Diane Martel wanted to subtly ridicule patriarchal power dynamics. The concept placed fully clothed male singers (Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams) alongside nearly nude female models. The idea was for the models to mock, ignore, and subvert the men.
• The Groping Allegation: Model Emily Ratajkowski later revealed in her 2021 memoir, My Body, that during the shoot, a heavily intoxicated Robin Thicke unexpectedly walked behind her and groped her bare breasts. Martel witnessed the incident, screamed at Thicke, and forced him to apologize. Ratajkowski has stated this singular action reduced her from an empowered participant to a “hired mannequin”.
• The Misogyny Backlash: Beyond the on-set incident, the video was widely criticized for objectifying women and feeding into the ongoing backlash against the song’s controversial lyrics. Thicke fanned the flames in a notorious GQ interview, where he infamously joked, “What a pleasure it is to degrade a woman. I’ve never gotten to do that before”.
• The Copyright Lawsuit: To compound the song’s troubled history, the estate of Marvin Gaye sued Thicke and Williams, successfully arguing that “Blurred Lines” copied the feel of Gaye’s 1977 hit “Got to Give It Up”. This resulted in a multi-million dollar judgment against the artists. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

You can read more about the director’s original vision via the Jezebel article or explore Ratajkowski’s firsthand account of the on-set incident reported by The Guardian. [5]

Critical Reception

• The Single: While the song was a massive commercial success, many music critics—such as those at Pitchfork and Rolling Stone—panned it. Reviewers criticized the lyrics as being overly simplistic and “creepy,” with some dubbing it one of the worst pop songs of the decade. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• The Album: The full-length album was largely dismissed by critics as uncohesive, boring, and reliant on cheap, raunchy hooks rather than genuine musicality. [1, 2, 3]

[1] https://ramadhantriwijanarko.medium.com/unpacking-the-controversy-the-legacy-of-blurred-lines-e1d97ce2d8eb

[2] https://jezebel.com/blurred-lines-director-meant-the-video-to-be-subtly-589343435?&ms=morningheresy

[3] https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/03/emily-ratajkowski-accuses-robin-thicke-of-groping-her-blurred-lines-set

[4] https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/model-starred-robin-thickes-blurred-230535320.html

[5] https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/37-Blurred-Lines-of-Copyright.pdf

[6] https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/05/arts/music/robin-thicke-on-blurred-lines-and-learning-from-his-mistakes.html

[7] https://musictech.com/news/music/pharrell-williams-biopic-blurred-lines/

[8] https://www.gq.com/story/robin-thicke-interview-blurred-lines-music-video-collaborating-with-2-chainz-and-kendrick-lamar-mercy

Now you probably know the song but do you know the lyrics?

Blurred Lines

[Verse 1]

If you can’t hear,

What I’m tryna say.

If you can’t read,

 from the same page.

Maybe I’m going deaf.

Maybe I’m going blind.

Maybe I’m out of my mind.

[Chorus}

Ok, now he was close.

Tried to domesticate you.

But you’re an animal.

Baby, it’s in your nature.

Just let me liberate you.

You don’t need no papers.

That man is not your maker.

And that’s why I’m gon’ take a…

Good girl.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

You’re a good girl.

Can’t let it get past me.

You’re far from plastic.

Talk about getting blasted.

I hate these blurred lines.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

But you’re a good girl.

The way you grab me.

Must wanna get nasty.

Go ahead, get at me…

[Verse 2]

What do they make dreams for.

When you got them jeans on.

What do we need steam for.

You the hottest bitch in this place.

I feel so lucky.

You wanna hug me.

What rhymes with hug me?

Hey!

[Chorus]

Ok, now he was close.

Tried to domesticate you.

But you’re an animal.

Baby, it’s in your nature.

Just let me liberate you.

You don’t need no papers.

That man is not your maker.

And that’s why I’m gon’ take a…

Good girl.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

You’re a good girl.

Can’t let it get past me.

You’re far from plastic.

Talk about getting blasted.

I hate these blurred lines.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

But you’re a good girl.

The way you grab me.

Must wanna get nasty.

Go ahead, get at me…

[Verse 3]

One thing I ask of you.

Lemme be the one you back that ass up to.

From Malibu to Paris boo.

Had a bitch, but she ain’t bad as you.

So, hit me up when you pass through.

I’ll give you something big enough too.

Tear your ass in two.

Swag on ‘em even when you dress casual.

I mean, it’s almost unbearable.

In a hundred years not dare,

Would I from the far side let you pass by me.

Nothin’ like your last guy, he was to square for you.

He don’t smack that ass and pull your hair for you.

So I’m just watchin’ and waitin’.

For you to salute the truly pimpin’.

Not many women can refuse this pimpin’.

I’m a nice guy, but don’t get confused you get’n it!

[Bridge]

Shake your rump,

Get down.

Get up-a.

Do it like it hurt, like it hurt.

What you don’t like work?

Hey!

Baby, can you breath?

I got this from Jamica.

It always works for me.

Dakota to Decatur.

No more pretending.

Cause now you are winning.

Here’s our beginning.

I always wanted a…

[Final Chorus]

Good girl.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

You’re a good girl.

Can’t let it get past me.

You’re far from plastic.

Talk about getting blasted.

I hate these blurred lines.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

I know you want it.

But you’re a good girl.

The way you grab me.

Must wanna get nasty.

Go ahead, get at me…

[Outro]

Everybody get up.

Everybody get up.

Everybody get up.

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, hey, hey.

Here is where the troubles started.

Blatant sexual inuendo in a negative light, that pretty much describes rape, anal sex and bestialities in some passages. Some women’s groups went nuts over this. Not much was said about the drug references though. Now listen to the song again and follow the lyrics and what is said. It may or may not change your mind about the song. So for arguments sake we will currently rule out the lyrics for the reason you like this song. So I will give the lyrics a 2.

Musically:

The song does have a unique, catchy and minimalistic track that is repetitive and easy to groove to. The song does make you want to dance and enjoy the beats and rhythms, something to shake you hips or your butt to. So again, for arguments sake I will give the music a 8.

Normal Video:

The normal video which probably most of us saw first was pretty good watching everyone dance around to a slick and catchy beat. The women dancing was to me the best part, but then again I am a man. Women may feel entirely different like degrading, soulless and plain old sexist. So again, for arguments sake as a man I will give this video a 8.

Unedited Video:

I had heard rumors that there was a better unedited video floating around the web that needed my full attention. After I found and watched it my first impression was who in the hell was this hot chick dancing around topless [Emily Ratajkowski]. Things may have happened that never should have, then again her career skyrocketed after the videos release. However, the unedited version of the video only helped to stir more controversy. So again, for arguments sake I rate the unedited version of this video a solid 10. Go ahead and hate me, but I am a guy. [Did you notice that the unedited version of this video actually had music and vocals in the background, neither did I.]

So let’s break it down with the Hitometer math shall we.

So basically what pushed this song and video into popularity was its controversy and nudity. What took it off the radio had nothing to do with any of that sexual attention. What was instrumental in crashing the songs popularity and Robin Thicke’s career was his statements about objectifying women, one even in GQ magazine. Then the lawsuit over his intentional copying the sound and feel of Marvin Gaye’s “Got to give it up” which him and Pharrell Williams lost. Listen below for the similarity’s. You be the judge.

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