Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke were ordered to pay $7.3 million dollars by the similarities of 'Blurred Lines' (2013) with the hit of Marvin Gaye 'Got To Give It Up' (1977). The two singers, who always denied that the song was plagiarized, were sentenced on Tuesday.
The musicians are accused of copying 'Got To Give It Up', but Pharrell said the inspiration for the track came from ... Miley Cyrus. In court, the musician said: "I had the Earl Sweatshirt in a room, and Miley Cyrus in the other. I was doing a series of country Music tone with Miley", adding that this was the inspiration for 'Blurred Lines': "I was mixing this country sound with a Groove up-tempo."
According to NME magazine, Pharrell spent more than an hour in court, to describe his writing process and how he composed 'Blurred Lines' back in 2012. The musician admits similarities between the bands in question, but ensures that he never had the theme of Marvin Gaye in his mind during the writing process: "I should be trying to get to that feeling of late 70's." Pharrell ensures that Gaye is one of the musicians who most admire, and stresses: "this is the last place where I want to be. The last thing you want as a creator is to take someone else's thing when you love the person."
The duo, responsible for the 2013 success, will have to pay the Gaye family - which already led them to court two years ago, alleging obvious similarities between 'Blurred Lines' and 'Got to Give It Up' - $7.3 million dollars.
The verdict was delivered yesterday, after a week of trial. To this end, the prosecution made use of several interviews given by Thicke and Williams about their success, where they mentioned the theme 'Got to Give It Up' as inspiration. Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and TI have spoken about the ruling, issuing the following statement: "While we respect the judicial process, we are extremely disappointed with today's decision, which sets a horrible precedent for music and creativity going forward. 'Blurred Lines' was created from the heart and minds of Pharrell, Robin and TI and not stolen from anyone. We are reviewing the decision and considering our options". The payment of $7.3 million dollars will not affect, however, TI or Interscope Records, which were considered absolved of responsibility, by the jury of eight elements.
Upon hearing the sentence, Gaye's daughter, Nona Gaye, cried and was embraced by the lawyer, Richard Busch, who celebrated the victory. "This is a wonderful day for us," said Nona Gaye, daughter of the singer who died in 1984, to the local press. Richard Busch, family lawyer, said that he already requested a court order to block the music sales, according to the NBC channel.
Remembering that 'Blurred Lines' ranked first, on the list of most played in the United States for ten weeks, after its release, and sold 4.6 million copies.
