This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/16/robin-thicke-lied-co-written-blurred-lines-pharrell

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Robin Thicke lied when claiming to have co-written Blurred Lines Robin Thicke reportedly says he lied about co-writing Blurred Lines
(35 minutes later)
Robin Thicke has stated he was drunk, high and lying when he claimed to have co-written his international hit, Blurred Lines. Testifying under oath as part of a plagiarism lawsuit, Thicke reportedly said Pharrell Williams “geniused the whole [song]”.Robin Thicke has stated he was drunk, high and lying when he claimed to have co-written his international hit, Blurred Lines. Testifying under oath as part of a plagiarism lawsuit, Thicke reportedly said Pharrell Williams “geniused the whole [song]”.
“The record would have happened with or without me,” Thicke explained in documents obtained by the Hollywood Reporter. “None of it was my idea … I was drunk … [and] I’d say 75% of it was already done when I walked in.”“The record would have happened with or without me,” Thicke explained in documents obtained by the Hollywood Reporter. “None of it was my idea … I was drunk … [and] I’d say 75% of it was already done when I walked in.”
The comments were included in court depositions recorded in April. Thicke and Williams both spoke to lawyers representing the family of Marvin Gaye, who are suing the creators of Blurred Lines for allegedly copying Gaye’s 1977 single Got to Give It Up. Thicke’s participation in the song’s writing process is central to the case: in earlier interviews, he implied that Blurred Lines was an attempt to ape Gaye’s song. “I was like, ‘Damn, we should make something like [Got to Give It Up], something with that groove,’” he told GQ in May 2013. “Then [Pharrell] started playing a little something, and we literally wrote the song in about a half hour and recorded it.”The comments were included in court depositions recorded in April. Thicke and Williams both spoke to lawyers representing the family of Marvin Gaye, who are suing the creators of Blurred Lines for allegedly copying Gaye’s 1977 single Got to Give It Up. Thicke’s participation in the song’s writing process is central to the case: in earlier interviews, he implied that Blurred Lines was an attempt to ape Gaye’s song. “I was like, ‘Damn, we should make something like [Got to Give It Up], something with that groove,’” he told GQ in May 2013. “Then [Pharrell] started playing a little something, and we literally wrote the song in about a half hour and recorded it.”
Thicke now claims: “After making six albums that I wrote and produced myself, the biggest hit of my career was written and produced by somebody else, and I was jealous and I wanted some of the credit,” the singer said in his deposition. “When I give interviews, I tell whatever I want to say to help sell records.” Thicke is said to receive about 20% of publishing royalties for the single. “[I get] a larger percentage of publishing than I deserve,” Thicke said.Thicke now claims: “After making six albums that I wrote and produced myself, the biggest hit of my career was written and produced by somebody else, and I was jealous and I wanted some of the credit,” the singer said in his deposition. “When I give interviews, I tell whatever I want to say to help sell records.” Thicke is said to receive about 20% of publishing royalties for the single. “[I get] a larger percentage of publishing than I deserve,” Thicke said.
He also said he was not sober during the interviews: “I was high and drunk every time I did an interview last year. Every day I woke up, I would take a Vicodin to start the day, and then I would fill up a water bottle with vodka and drink it before and during my interviews.” At the time of testifying, he vowed that he had stopped taking drugs around the end of February. “When your wife leaves you, it gives you good reason to sober up,” he said.He also said he was not sober during the interviews: “I was high and drunk every time I did an interview last year. Every day I woke up, I would take a Vicodin to start the day, and then I would fill up a water bottle with vodka and drink it before and during my interviews.” At the time of testifying, he vowed that he had stopped taking drugs around the end of February. “When your wife leaves you, it gives you good reason to sober up,” he said.
In Williams’ own deposition, the singer and producer agreed that Thicke had “embellished” in his interviews. “[Robin]’s a friend of mine and I’m not trying to, you know, belittle his character in any way, shape or form. But this is what happens every day in our industry ... People are made to look like they have much more authorship in the situation than they actually do.”In Williams’ own deposition, the singer and producer agreed that Thicke had “embellished” in his interviews. “[Robin]’s a friend of mine and I’m not trying to, you know, belittle his character in any way, shape or form. But this is what happens every day in our industry ... People are made to look like they have much more authorship in the situation than they actually do.”
Williams recalled that Thicke’s only contribution was to suggest that the second verse include a falsetto part. “He didn’t walk in and ask me for anything, because he was late that day,” Williams said. Instead, the Get Lucky singer was inspired by Thicke’s “bluegrassy” vocal timbre, building a chord structure that “you would typically hear on like a, you know, on a fiddle”. Williams also disclosed that 2 Chainz and Kevin Hart were originally supposed to record TI’s rap part.Williams recalled that Thicke’s only contribution was to suggest that the second verse include a falsetto part. “He didn’t walk in and ask me for anything, because he was late that day,” Williams said. Instead, the Get Lucky singer was inspired by Thicke’s “bluegrassy” vocal timbre, building a chord structure that “you would typically hear on like a, you know, on a fiddle”. Williams also disclosed that 2 Chainz and Kevin Hart were originally supposed to record TI’s rap part.
Thicke, meanwhile, revealed himself as a surprisingly vulnerable character. He was said to have barely tolerated a mashup of Blurred Lines and Got to Give You Up, comparing the juxtaposed major and minor chords to “nails on a fucking chalkboard”. “When you play music like that, it’s like being attacked with knives and swords,” he said.Thicke, meanwhile, revealed himself as a surprisingly vulnerable character. He was said to have barely tolerated a mashup of Blurred Lines and Got to Give You Up, comparing the juxtaposed major and minor chords to “nails on a fucking chalkboard”. “When you play music like that, it’s like being attacked with knives and swords,” he said.
Later, a lawyer for Gaye’s family asked if Thicke “picks and chooses when to tell the truth”. “Absolutely not,” the 37-year-old replied. “I told my wife the truth. That’s why she left me.”Later, a lawyer for Gaye’s family asked if Thicke “picks and chooses when to tell the truth”. “Absolutely not,” the 37-year-old replied. “I told my wife the truth. That’s why she left me.”
This summer, Thicke attempted to win back his wife, actor Paula Patton, with an album called Paula. Written almost entirely by the singer, the record was a commercial failure: in the LP’s first week, it sold 530 copies in the UK and around 50 in Australia. The Blurred Lines trial is scheduled to begin next February.This summer, Thicke attempted to win back his wife, actor Paula Patton, with an album called Paula. Written almost entirely by the singer, the record was a commercial failure: in the LP’s first week, it sold 530 copies in the UK and around 50 in Australia. The Blurred Lines trial is scheduled to begin next February.