"Blurred Lines" Controversy

The 2013 single by Robin Thicke 'Blurred Lines' featuring T.I and Pharrell Williams is said to be an offensive song because there are many remarks to the encouragement of rape. Because of this around 20 universities across the UK band the music, this was not done by the adults such as the head teachers of the schools by the young students themselves as they all personally took offensive to the song. This whole controversy was because of the lyrics, they are very sexist as they talk about women as if they were sex objects.

Pharrell Williams

Robin Thicke

T.I


"Blurred Lines"(feat. T.I. & Pharrell Williams Lyrics)
[Intro: Pharrell]
Everybody get up
Everybody get up
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

[Verse 1: Robin Thicke]
If you can't hear what I'm trying to 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
[Pharrell:] Everybody get up

[Pre-chorus: Robin Thicke]
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
Hey, hey, hey
You don't need no papers
Hey, hey, hey
That man is not your maker

[Chorus: Robin Thicke]
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 meYou'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[Pharrell:] Everybody get up

[Verse 2: Robin Thicke]
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
Hey, hey, hey
You wanna hug me
Hey, hey, hey
What rhymes with hug me?
Hey, hey, hey

[Pre-chorus: Robin Thicke]
OK now he was close, tried to domesticate you
But you're an animal, baby it's in your nature
Just let me liberate youHey, hey, hey
You don't need no papers
Hey, hey, hey
That man is not your maker
Hey, hey, hey

[Chorus: Robin Thicke]
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
[Pharrell:] Everybody get up
I hate these blurred lines
I know you want it
I hate them lines
I know you want it
I hate them lines
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: T.I.]
One thing I ask of you
Let me be the one you back that ass toGo, from Malibu, to Paris, boo
Yeah, I 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 to tear your ass in twoSwag on, even when you dress casual
I mean it's almost unbearable
In a hundred years not dare, would I
Pull a Pharside let you pass me by
Nothing like your last guy, he too square for you
He don't smack that ass and pull your hair like that
So I just watch and wait for you to salute
But you didn't pick
Not many women can refuse this pimpin'I'm a nice guy, but don't get it if you get with me

[Bridge: Robin Thicke]
Shake the vibe, get down, get up
Do it like it hurt, like it hurt
What you don't like work?
[Pre-chorus: Robin Thicke]
Baby can you breathe? I got this from Jamaica
It always works for me, Dakota to Decatur, uh huh
No more pretending
Hey, hey, hey
Cause now you winning
Hey, hey, hey
Here's our beginning

[Chorus: Robin Thicke]
I always wanted a good girl
(Pharrell: Everybody get up)
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
(Pharrell: Everybody get up)
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: Pharrell]
Everybody get up
Everybody get up
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

Above is the lyrics to the song, in blue I have highlighted some of the key phrases and words which supports the implications of the song being overly explicit and offensive towards women. Phrasing such as "You really it" is suggesting that women don't know here own mind as even if one was to say no to sexual intercourse she apparently doesn't really mean it. This can be seen to be highly offensive towards the female audience as it can be seen as an insult to their intelligence as individuals.

On the other hand it can be argued that the song is not in fact offensive as the director of the song was a female. In fact, the actresses in the music video were made to be presented in a dominate way as they always looked at the camera, this displayed elements of bravery and surety. The idea behind the sexual implications in the song was that the women are in control of men as they were the desirable figures which the male artists craved, the females were simply presented as a tease which emphasised there superiority.

This matter has also been said to have been blown out of proportion as there as currently bigger issues which are more certain of being offensive such as the single 'U.O.E.N.O' featuring rape artists Rick Ross and Future. This song can be seen to be offensive and an insult to women as Rick Ross refers to using the street drug 'Molly' to spite a women's drink as he says "Put molly all in her champagne" in order to have sexual intercourse with the lady which is evident as he later on says "I took her home and I enjoyed that" which is referring to using her for sexual intercourse.

Rick Ross

Future