Robin Thicke Lyrics 'Rapey?' Critics Say Words Promote Lack of Consent
Robin Thicke's latest number-one hit "Blurred Lines" is not sitting well with all listeners and some have even deemed the song "rapey."
"Rapey" is the word used referring to the song's suggestive lyrics about a questionably consensual sexual encounter, and critics also pointed at the scantily clad women featured in the music video for "Blurred Lines."
While Thicke and collaborative artists T.I. and Pharrell are fully dressed, three nude models star in the unrated video- adding to many listeners' outrage.
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Bloggers and several other listeners have sounded off on the lyrical content as well as video for "Blurred Lines," including Lisa Huyne via The Daily Beast.
"Basically, the majority of the song (creepily named 'Blurred Lines') has the R&B singer murmuring 'I know you want it' over and over into the girls' ear," wrote L.A.-based Huyne. "Call me a cynic, but that phrase does not exactly encompass the notion of consent in sexual activity … Seriously, this song is disgusting, though admittedly very catchy."
Lyrics in "Blurred Lines" include: "I know you want it / You're a good girl / Can't let it get past me."
The video has since been banned from YouTube for its controversial content, but is still available on Vevo.
Despite the controversy, "Blurred Lines" became Thicke's first No. 1 song in the British singles charts and became the fastest selling track of 2013.
"It's an honor and a pleasure to be number one in the U.K.," said the R&B singer and son of actor Alan Thicke while speaking to the Official Charts Company. "It's something I've always dreamed of."
The 36-year-old has also commented on the content of his new album "Blurred Lines."
"I've realized as I've gotten older that we all think we're living in a black or white world, or on a straight path, but most of us are living right in between those straight lines," Thicke said while on Power 105.1's "The Breakfast Club."
"And everything you thought you knew, the older you get, you realize, 'I don't know anything about this. I better pay attention, I better listen and keep learning.' So I think that, that's what I've been realizing these past few years," the singer added.
Thicke, an accomplished songwriter for artists such as Christina Aguilera and Jordan Knight, has released seven albums since 2003.
