Unpacking the Controversy: The Legacy of “Blurred Lines”

This is an excellent article from Pitchfork. Reflecting on the controversy surrounding Robin Thicke’s song “Blurred Lines” ten years after its release.

Ten years ago, I was jamming out to Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” without considering its context. But now, after stumbling across so many articles and posts about it, I’m reconsidering everything.

I mean, the song had a killer lineup with Robin Thicke, TI, and Pharrell Williams (who was basically taking over the music scene, even collaborating with Daft Punk and dropping the infectious yet admittedly grating tune “Happy”). Plus, there was Emrata strutting around in her birthday suit. But then I dug a little deeper…

I’m not saying that “Blurred Lines” was the sole reason modern pop got wrecked, as music trends are constantly shifting. But the backlash surrounding the song sparked crucial conversations about consent, the objectification of women, and the responsibility of artists to promote positive values through their work.

First off, the lyrics were slammed for promoting rape culture and objectifying women. Some argue that the words suggest non-consensual sex and reinforce harmful gender stereotypes. In particular, the line “I know you want it” has faced major criticism for perpetuating the idea that women are responsible for men’s sexual advances and that their consent is hazy at best. This can be a dangerous myth that leads to sexual assault, implying that a woman’s behavior or attire is an invitation for harassment or assault.

Secondly, the music video for “Blurred Lines” didn’t fare any better, with models strutting about in nude thongs and engaging in suggestive behavior while the male singers stayed fully clothed. The video was lambasted for reducing women to mere sexual objects and enforcing patriarchal ideals.

All in all, “Blurred Lines” may have been catchy, but it also highlighted some serious issues in our society that we need to address.