The hit song “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke has a dangerous and degrading message attached to it. The questionable content contained in this song is often overlooked due to the fact that it is “catchy”.

In the song, Thicke pursues a “good girl” who gives him mixed signals (or as he sees it “blurs the lines of consent”) regarding whether she wants to sleep with him or not. Lyrically, the song appears to condone making sexual advances without verbal consent.

The disturbing message of this song was no coincidence; it was Thicke’s intention to make this song a degrading anthem. In an interview with GQ published in May of 2013, Thicke explained how the song was written with help from featured vocalist and producer, Pharell, saying, “We started acting like we were two old men on a porch hollering at girls like, ‘Hey, where you going, girl? Come over here!'”

He continued on to say ” We tried to do everything that was taboo. Bestiality, drug injections, and everything that is completely derogatory towards women.” His believes this lewd behavior is acceptable for him because he is a married father who respects his wife and has always been respectful towards women in his songs.

The authenticity of his respect is questionable given the next thing he said in the interview: “People say, ‘Hey, do you think this is degrading to women?’ I’m like, ‘Of course it is. What a pleasure it is to degrade a woman. I’ve never gotten to do that before. I’ve always respected women.'”

He is not the only one who finds entertainment in degrading women seeing as “Blurred Lines” was the most popular and most requested song of the summer.

People should know the degrading roots of this song and Thicke’s faux respect towards women.

The song plays into the notion that women give permission in sexual situations simply by flirting or by the way they dress. A short skirt or even full on nudity is not agreeing to have sex. There are no “blurred lines” when it comes to consent; the only way it can be given is by saying “yes”.

At this point, hearing “Blurred Lines” is unavoidable, but knowing the implications of the song and how wrong they are is critical.

– Hailey Weir
DVC Student