So singer Robin Thicke has been making a lot of noise this summer with his hit song ‘Blurred Lines‘ . Many upon hearing it thought it sounded remarkably similar to a hit song done damn near 30+ years ago by the late Marvin Gaye. The name of that song was ‘Got to Give It Up’..
In order to avoid a contentious lawsuit, Thicke and producers/ song writers Pharrel Williams and rapper T.I. decided to do what some are describing as a pre-emptive lawsuit against Marvin Gaye’s estate. According to what was written in the Hollywood Reporter…
The suit claims the Gaye family is alleging that “Blurred Lines” and Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up” “feel” or “sound” the same, and that the “Gaye defendants are claiming ownership of an entire genre, as opposed to a specific work.”
As for Funkadelic, there’s said to be claimed similarity between Thicke’s hit and Funakedlic’s “Sexy Ways.”
“But there are no similarities between plaintiffs’ composition and those the claimants allege they own, other than commonplace musical elements,” states the lawsuit. “Plaintiffs created a hit and did it without copying anyone else’s composition.”
The suit goes on to note that the intent of producing the song the way they did was to evoke and era and being nostalgic of a song and having it reflected in a composition is not copyright infringement.. The Gaye Estate sees it otherwise..They see it as a straight bite of the original.
This is an interesting tact because for years many have argued that creativity in music has been somewhat stifled due to lawsuits claiming that melody, riff or phrase whether redone or sampled belongs to someone else and thus lots of money must be paid to the label.
On the other hand the way that music made is by building off of whats come before where you add your own twist and take..In short its reworking of the song. It sounds like Thicke and company are trying to lay down ground work to ensure they don’t get caught up in a situation that often winds up being all about exploitation then it is honoring and preserving the work of an artist..You can peep a copy of the lawsuit below
Here’s Marvin Gaye‘s song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp7Q1OAzITM
Here’s Robin Thicke’s song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU
Below is a mashup of the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZNA8ExCdZA
You know that’s the same melody and background – It’s not rocket musical science. When I first heard the intro (music), I thought it was “Got to give it up.” Just because you have Phrarell and T.I. on your record don’t mean it’s right. Understanding up front will eliminate misunderstanding from behind.
Pre-emptive lying!
I thought they actually acknowledged in an interview that the song was based on ‘Got To Give It Up’? I’m sure I read that somewhere, though not sure where now.
They’re foolish, anyhow. (Not the most useful of comments, I know, but heartfelt nonetheless).
Actually, here it is – it’s from that GQ interview he did:
“GQ: What’s the origin story behind your new single “Blurred Lines”?
Robin Thicke: Pharrell and I were in the studio and I told him that one of my favorite songs of all time was Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up.” I was like, “Damn, we should make something like that, something with that groove.” Then he started playing a little something and we literally wrote the song in about a half hour and recorded it.”
They admitted they were inspired by that song.. they’re not denying that
Admitting that they were inspired by the song doesn’t constitute copyright infringement as it’s easy to create a song in the same key and vein without infringing on someone else copyright. This case is going to be very interesting as it will set a president because to the trained ear the songs are only similar in character and not in actual musical notation.
wow after 30 years you want to come back and flie a law suit against the marvin Gaye Estate Really,
I did not no people could be so disrespect the dead like that its about money it not so much about song because everybody likes the song that Robin Thick.We have all love marvin Gaye for years now and for another song writer to come along and do this to the family kind of put a sour taste in my mouth wear Robin Thick is concern because it is wrong their are a lot of songs that sounds alike
THANK YOU patricia joseph
Really Pharell and Robin that song is straight up Marvin Gaye’s song. Shame on both of you. Give credit where credit is due.
Wow..They bit off an icons song and then have the nerve to sue the icons estate..smh…that is crazy…
The songs are different, Thicke’s song obviously inspired by Gaye’s song. Big whoop… artists of all genres have done this for years. I don’t think either lawsuit has foundation…I’ve been listening to Marvin Gaye for decades and am not necessarily a Thicke fan. However, Thicke’s song doesn’t offend me nor is it a copy. Seems like a misguided PR stunt to me…
I thought it it was something of a tribute to the original song for the younger generation. Couldn’t help but hear that in the song, matter of fact I thought it was an intentional obvious jacking of the song, but not in the negative sense. Too bad that the old music cannot be used that way anymore. So many classic rap songs have used this technique. They are smart for the “preemptive lawsuit”; it was only a matter of time some record executive would have pulled a fast one. Though we don’t see it, stuff like this happens more now than ever, especially since big record companies don’t make the money they did when “Got To Give It Up” was first released.
It’s music business that became personal. We all remember the 80’s and 90’s lawsuits and rightfully so. Marvin Gaye is a cultural icon and Thicke needs to simply become a bigger man and cut the Gaye family a check. Do what’s right. Like Black Thought from the Roots says “Kook Herc ain’t neva got a royalty check.” Let’s end that way of thinking and begin looking out for those that came before and paved the way. That way when Thicke is 70 years old living in an old folks home with his chair sitting facing the brick wall-while assistants are telling him he’s facing the river, maybe some young gun who jacked one of his beats will remember the check he cut the Gaye family and send him a bonus in the mail. Keep the love going or keep the hate going-it’s always our choice.
Robin is cute and has gotten plenty of play from the Black community as a white guy with soul. But I think he’s gotten arrogant to even think that he can get away with this one. I think if he pursues this frivolous lawsuit he will lose credibility and fans. I say, Robin, you’ve got to give it up…just admit it and pay up dude.
People can say what they want but the fact that Thicke and his buddies are suing first screams guilt. If they did nothing wrong and they really feel that way then they would wait and see if they got sued then defend it in court. This however, is a totally douchey move.