Music Review: Robin Thicke, T.I. & Pharrell Williams "Blurred Lines"

Robin Thicke. T.I.  & Pharrell Williams

Blurred Lines

Album: Blurred Lines

Year: 2013

        Robin Thicke is determined to hook up with a seemingly unattainable young woman in urbane “Blurred Lines.”

           Vibrant drums open the single, setting a sharp tone. In the intro, Pharrell wants everyone to stop sitting around and move. (“Everybody get up/Everybody get up/Hey, hey, hey/Hey, hey, hey/Hey, hey, hey.”)

          Since her breakup with her ex-boyfriend, they’ve been hanging out a lot more. However, he thought she didn’t have a chance with her and had no reason to pursue a relationship. But for the last few weeks, she’s been responding to his smiles and flirting along with him. On the phone the night before, he was waiting for her to bring up the topic of dating but she seemed to stop herself and moved onto something that had happened at work. He can’t get through to her and starts thinking he’s been reading too much into her actions. (“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.”)

            In the pre-chorus, he realizes her last relationship was difficult. Her ex wanted her to move in with him. According to what she told him, she didn’t think it was going to lead anywhere. It was something he felt like he had to ask. As they walk to his car after the movie, he sees her flick a piece of fuzz from her shoulder, unaware she’s showing off the side view of her neck. He thinks he wouldn’t have pressured her like her ex, smothering her with conditions.  She did the right thing. The guy would’ve ended up making every decision for her. (“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.”)

            In the chorus, he thinks she’s an amazing young woman. She has a full-time job; she’s friendly and talks with everyone, spends money wisely and looks out for her friends. She doesn’t get involved in catty conversations and sometimes goes without wearing make up. Even though, she’s not ready to admit it yet, she wants to go out with him. Their relationship is in the gray areas, between friendship and romance, which confuses him.  When they hug, she gets close, letting her hands grace his arms before letting go. She wants to sleep with him. He knows it and prefers that she give him a passionate kiss with the hug sometime soon. (“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 blasting/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.”)

             He drops her off at her apartment. Her jeans accentuate her every curve, fitting to exact length of her leg, outlining its shape. She’s gorgeous and the fact he would even speak to him boggles his mind. He has to sleep with her. (“What do they make dreams of/When you got them jeans on/What do we need steam for/You the hottest bitch in this place/I feel so lucky, you wanna hug me/Hey, hey, hey/What rhymes with hug me?/Hey, hey, hey.”)

         The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

         T.I, begins the bridge with his rap. T.I.  hits on her, saying he’s traveled all over and women want him. She’s the one who got his attention.  He’ll be able to please her in bed, though he’ll be rough. But says deep inside, he’s a great guy. (“One thing I ask you/Let me be the the one to back that ass too/Yo, from Malibu, to Paribu/Yeah, had a bad 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 two/Swag on, when you dress casual/I mean it’s not most unbearable/Then, honey you’re not there when I’m/With my foresight bitch you pay me by/Nothing like your last guy, he’s 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’/But I’m a nice guy, but you get it if you get with me.”)

         Thicke tries being slick and bring out his best dance moves to impress her. He offers her some marijuana and tells her to be honest with him. (“Shake the vibe, get down, get up/Do it like it hurt, like it hurt/Whatcha doing like word/Baby can you breathe? I got this from Jamaica/It always works for me Dakota to Dakata, uh huh/No more pretending/Hey, hey, hey/Cause now you winning/Hey, hey, hey/Here’s our beginning.”)

          The chorus is sung again.

            Thicke repeats  “everybody get up/everybody get up/hey, hey” to end the single.

           Thicke’s easy, slinky vocals flow through the octaves with a calm and controlled pitch. There is no way he is giving on the young woman. She will fall for his natural and effortless charm.

         T.I.’s conversational, plucky rap fits in well with the versatile beat.  He’s having fun, just flirting which takes the edge off his bawdy section. Williams’ part is a cameo. Whereas in “Get Lucky” he has too much of the song, he should’ve had more on this single.

              The sultry “Blurred Lines” is tough to resist and one of the standout tracks to come out this year.