Written by | Cyrena Rose
Robin Thicke‘s catchy/dance happy, yet controversial, summer song Blurred Lines (released on March 26, 2013) is holding its place at the #1 spot in the US & UK and it shows no signs of letting up.
The song features guest vocals from rapper T.I. and singer and producer Pharrell; all three share writing credits on the song. It was produced by Pharrell. Let’s face it the beat, compels everybody to ‘get up!’
The single has so far peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as well as topping the Billboard R&B Songs chart. It has also become Thicke’s most successful song on the Billboard Hot 100, being his first to reach #1 (he previously climbed as high as #14 with Lost Without U, back in 2007). The song has been a worldwide hit and reached number #1 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the Netherlands, the UK, and the United States as well as the top 10 in Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, France, Iceland, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland.
Although the visuals for the hit song have been labeled NSFW and critics are saying Robin is shedding his seemingly smooth/ladies’ man persona; none of this was his intention. As a matter-of-fact he doesn’t feel his lyrics nor the video should be compared to rape; he told BBC1’s Newsbeat he won’t “even dignify that with a response.”
When making the video, he told director Diane Martel his vision and she suggested that the women take their clothes off!
Robin advised Martel, “I don’t want to be sleazy, I’m a gentleman, I’ve been in love with the same woman since I’ve been a teenager,” he said of his wife (and high school sweetheart) Paula Patton. “I don’t want to do anything inappropriate.” As a result, it was his wife (and her friends) who suggested that he put out the ‘naked version.’
Ironically Robin Thicke wanted the ‘clothed version’ of the visuals to be released, the director and his wife (that’s right, the women) preferred the topless version! My point is this: a man wanted to release the clean version and the women involved wanted to release the explicit version but he is being called misogynistic.
Does controversy insight curiosity? Does the video shed light on just how naughty ‘good girls’ really are?
This video is not new, it was initially released on March 20, 2013 in two versions. The topless version of the video was removed from YouTube on March 30, 2013, for violating the site’s terms of service regarding nudity, however it was later restored.
Take a look at the video below (even if you’ve already seen it) and post your comments:[youtube id=”zwT6DZCQi9k” width=”600″ height=”350″]
