Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines ft. T.I., Pharrell

Blurred Lines — Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell (Music Video)

Released in March 2013, “Blurred Lines” was Robin Thicke’s career-defining hit — a record that dominated global charts, ignited cultural debates, and landed its creators in one of pop’s most infamous copyright trials. Featuring rapper T.I. and producer Pharrell Williams, the single blended funk, R&B, and pop into a slick, groove-heavy anthem that became both irresistible and controversial.

Origins and Recording

Thicke entered the studio with Pharrell Williams in the summer of 2012, aiming to capture the joyous spirit of Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up.” According to Thicke, the song came together in less than an hour. “In the studio, Pharrell and I started jamming. One of the first things Pharrell did was go, ‘Hey, hey, hey!’ and then we started having such a great time. We were dancing around the studio like old men — doing our old men barbecue dances,” Thicke told Radio.com.

The collaboration produced a playful, bass-driven track with a call-and-response structure between Thicke and Pharrell, topped off with a rap from Clifford “T.I.” Harris Jr.

Music Video and Cultural Flashpoint

Directed by Diane Martel, the “Blurred Lines” video was released in two versions: a standard edit and an unrated cut featuring topless models Emily Ratajkowski, Jessi M’Bengue, and Elle Evans. The unrated version was banned from YouTube for explicit content, fueling further media attention.

Thicke later said his wife, actress Paula Patton, supported the video concept. Martel enlisted an all-female crew to ensure the models’ comfort, but recalled the difficulty of filming two versions in one day: “The plastic clothes were so uncomfortable and the girls had to keep putting them off and on. This was the pain for all of us,” she told MTV News.

The video propelled Emily Ratajkowski into international recognition and remains one of the decade’s most talked-about pop visuals.

Chart Performance

“Blurred Lines” became a juggernaut, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks and reaching #1 in more than 25 countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia. It was one of the longest-running U.S. #1 singles of the decade.

By 2018, it had been certified Diamond (10× Platinum) by the RIAA, with multi-platinum awards in numerous other territories:

• UK (BPI): 4× Platinum
• Canada (Music Canada): Diamond
• Australia (ARIA): 9× Platinum

Awards and Recognition

The track earned nominations at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, while Robin Thicke performed it live at the 2014 Grammy Awards in a medley with Chicago. That same year, Chicago’s debut album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, underscoring the symbolic pairing of eras on the Grammy stage.

Legal Battle

Despite its commercial success, “Blurred Lines” faced heavy criticism for its lyrics, which some argued trivialized consent. In 2015, a Los Angeles jury ruled that Thicke and Pharrell had plagiarized Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up”, awarding the Gaye estate $5.3 million. The verdict sent shockwaves through the industry, sparking debates about inspiration versus infringement in songwriting.

Trivia and Legacy

• Pharrell’s improvised “Hey, hey, hey” became the track’s signature hook.
• Emily Ratajkowski credited the video with launching her acting and modeling career.
• Thicke’s mother, singer Gloria Loring, scored a U.S. #2 hit in 1986 with “Friends and Lovers” (duet with Carl Anderson). When “Blurred Lines” reached the Top 10, they became the first mother and son to each achieve solo/duo Top 10 hits.
• The unrated video was one of the first high-profile music clips banned from YouTube.
• The 2013 MTV VMAs performance of the song, featuring Miley Cyrus, became one of the most notorious moments in live television history.

Credits

• Robin Thicke – lead vocals, co-writer
• Pharrell Williams – producer, co-writer, vocals
• T.I. (Clifford Harris Jr.) – rap, co-writer
• Diane Martel – music video director
• Models – Emily Ratajkowski, Jessi M’Bengue, Elle Evans

References

1. Robin Thicke — Blurred Lines (Wikipedia)
2. Songfacts — Robin Thicke Blurred Lines
3. Billboard Hot 100 archives
4. RIAA and BPI certification databases
5. Rolling Stone — Marvin Gaye lawsuit coverage
6. MTV News — Diane Martel interview