‘Blurred Lines’ Controversy: Pharrell Williams Denies Copying Marvin Gaye’s ‘Got To Give It Up’

Pharrell Williams tried to evoke the emotions of Marvin Gaye’s music from the 1970s in his 2013 hit song, “Blurred Lines,” but did not copy the music legend, the “Happy” singer told a jury on Wednesday. Williams along with his collaborators, Robin Thicke and Clifford "T.I." Harris Jr., are facing a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Gaye's children.

Williams, who wrote the song’s music and most of its lyrics, reportedly said that he grew up listening to Gaye’s songs, including the 1977 hit "Got To Give It Up," but did not use it for “Blurred Lines,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award. He also reportedly said that he had found some similarities between the late singer's work and "Blurred Lines" after the song was released, but claimed that it was not done on purpose.

"He's one of the ones we look up to," Williams reportedly said. "This is the last place I want to be.

“I must have been channeling that feeling, that late-’70s feeling,” he added.

Although Thicke received a songwriting credit on the song, he admitted, earlier in the trial, that Williams “wrote almost every part of the song.”

Williams also told the jury that T.I.'s rap track was added later and that he was not involved in its inclusion in "Blurred Lines."

Universal Music Group Distribution, Star Trak Entertainment and Interscope Records revealed, as part of the court proceedings, that the hit song, “Blurred Lines,” cost $6.9 million to make but had made a profit of over $16.5 million since its release, according to reports. Thicke and Williams reportedly earned more than $5 million from its success.

Gaye’s children -- Frankie and Nona -- are seeking a total of $40 million in damages, their lawyers said during the opening arguments of the case, which is expected to conclude on March 6.