We can see clearly now
How Blurred Lines sparked a debate that brought sexism into sharp focus
When Blurred Lines was released five years ago, singer Robin Thicke must have thought he had it made.
Borrowing heavily from the bass line, melody and groove of Marvin Gaye’s Got To Give It Up, it became the first true blockbuster single of the digital age.
But then people began to listen properly to the lyrics. That prompted a second look at the song’s video featuring Thicke and rappers TI and Pharrell Williams watching and touching virtually naked women, including then little-known model and actress Emily Ratajkowski.
As a result of the debate that followed and subsequent events, it is now almost unimaginable that such a song could be so successful in 2018.
In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sex abuse scandal and the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, the landscape around sexual politics has been transformed. Did this really have its origins in the success of the campaign to call out Thicke and Blurred Lines?
Campaigns director Kirsty Haigh was vice-president of Edinburgh University Students’ Association in 2013 when the song was banned from being played on campus.
She said: “Blurred Lines so clearly exemplified the rape culture which exists in our SONG society. It promotes damaging BAN messages about sex and consent Blurred – consent has no blurred lines.
“The song went against so Lines much of what we were trying to video. promote on campus and, Below, importantly, banning the song actress also allowed us to have a Emily campus-wide – and then national – conversation around sex, consent and what is acceptable behaviour.
“It sparked a discussion which has continued.”
Students’ associations across the UK followed by banning the song, which includes the lyrics: “I hate these blurred lines, I know you want it.”
Kirsty said: “I was delighted by all the support for the ban – it was greagreat that so many people ununderstood the issues with the messaging of the song anand were speaking up aboutabou the wider issue. “It wawas great that our small aaction empowered so mamany people.” The #MeToo and Time Time’s Up movements have led to a greater sens sense of female emp empowerment. But som some things remain dep depressingly familiar.
A survey published by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative in January revealed that female artists make up only 16.8 per cent of the music industry.
And a study of Billboard’s top 10 rap songs last week revealed seven of them had lyrics referring to women as “bitches” or “hoes”.
Kirsty added: “We should be under no illusions that, post-Weinstein, society has changed and that sexism, lad culture and violence against women no longer happens. This wasn’t the first mass movement against sexism and, sadly, it won’t be the last.
“Society needs to undertake a wholescale culture shift and, until our leaders, corporations, friends and musicians are willing to challenge and change their behaviour, then dangerous sexism will continue to be rife.”
Meanwhile, those involved in Blurred Lines – which topped the charts in 25 countries – have had mixed fortunes since.
Ratajkowski got her big Hollywood break appearing in thriller Gone Girl alongside Ben Affleck. She also starred with Zac Efron in We Are Your Friends.
Thicke split with his wife, Paula Patton, despite naming an album after her, which flopped.
But Pharrell enjoyed huge hits such as Happy and Get Lucky.
Blurred Lines has also made headlines again with a US court upholding a £ 3.7million judgment against Thicke and Pharrell for copying a Marvin Gaye song.
Kirsty added: “I did laugh a lot when they got sued.”
It was great that our small action at uni gave power to so many people