It's funny how one music video can change the course of an entire career. Robin Thicke has long been recognized as a talented and successful R&B singer, but he never got a taste of the limelight. He was always on the backburner, however, now that his "Blurred Lines" video has gone viral, the Thicke is rapidly attracting attention. Some say it's the turning point in his career. It's exactly what he needs to establish himself as a prominent figure in the music industry. Others criticize Thicke, claiming that his lewd music video, which is complete with topless women strutting around while their male counterparts gawk and sing, was nothing more than a shameless ploy to gain popularity. Either way, Thicke is in the thick of it, and whether positive or not, he's feeding off his newfound fame.
"Blurred Lines" has topped the Billboard's Hot 100 and has becomes the No. 1 song on iTunes since its release in late March, catapulting Thicke to the top of the music industry food chain, however, he continues to receive unsavory remarks from his critics. Blogger Lisa Huynh of "Feminist in LA" wrote, "Has anyone heard Robin Thicke's new rape song? Basically, the majority of the song... has the R&B singer murmuring 'I know you want it' over and over into a girl's ear. Call me a cynic, but that phrase does not exactly encompass the notion of consent in sexual activity."
Thicke has responded to the criticism on several occasions. In last months issue of GQ he said, "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.' So we just wanted to turn it over on its head and make people go, 'Women and their bodies are beautiful. Men are always gonna want to follow them around.'"
The original music video for "Blurred Lines" features Thicke with TI and Williams alongside three supermodels, dancing around scantly dressed against white walls. The video is provocative, sexy, classy and invigorating. A perfect match for the song. But then the unedited version came out, and it changed everything.
The explicit version is essentially the one and the same, besides one major difference: the models are topless, making it just a tad more memorable for most viewers. Once the unrated video made its way into public hands, there was no stopping it, and the more people watched the video, the more they listened to the song. The video made the song popular, and once it achieved worldwide recognition, people tapped into its simplistic, funky chopped beat, catchy falsettos, and overall feel good groove. The video may have given the track a boost up the charts, however it deserves its recognition. Check out the 'tame' version of the music video below.
Thicke's newest album, Blurred Lines, will hit store on July 30. Fans are curious as to what else the singer can deliver. Is he just riding the "Blurred Lines" wave, or does he have some staying power?