Robin V Marvin (A Rip-Off?): The Verdict

[Stephen_G]

Is a win for the Gaye family v Robin Thicke/Pharrell Williams

http://news.sky.com/story/1442505/pharrells-7-3m-bill-for-copying-marvin-gaye

Here's the original thread, from the Music section
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Music/Question1404746.html

[Mamyalynne]

Correct decision IMO.

[ummmm]

They do sound very similar.

[andy-hughes]

I am surprised because, as I opined in my original response, proving plagiarism in music is seriously difficult in a lot of cases.

However, the panel do agree with my initial reaction on hearing the Thicke/Williams offering - it is seriously catchy, but so was Gaye's offering, I used to play it in night-clubs in the late seventies, and it always got a good reaction.

I don't agree that it's a 'warning' to other musicians - the lines are not blurred at all (see what I did there???) - you just stay away from lifting the entire vibe of someone else's song, it's really not that difficult.

If you play it to people, and they tell you it sounds like X from Y (and I bet they did!) then go back to the rehearsal room and start again.

[Stephen_G]

They could have tried the Vanilla Ice defence, andy.....

[andy-hughes]

Not sure what the 'defence' was there - I know there was an out-of-court settlement reached.

[mushroom25]

the vanilla ice defence was "Anacrusis" - he altered the hook line to make his version his own. later he admitted he'd been joking and the matter was settled without recourse to the courts.

[mallyh]

i've listened to both versions ,ok the beats the same but that's all i could work out .

[andy-hughes]

mallyh - "i've listened to both versions ,ok the beats the same but that's all i could work out ."

A lot more than the beats are the same.

Plaigarism in music is not just about the structure - if it was, every single blues song would be a rip-off of Dust My Broom because the chord changes are the same, only the tempos and keys vary.

The essence of the song, the vibe, the atmosphere, is what makes it unique, and that is what has been copied. The tempo, the feel, the falsetto vocal, the structure of the rhythm instruments, it all adds up to make Blurred Lines too similar to Got To Give It Up.

If you check out the original thread which Stephen_G has copied in this OP, you will find a mash-up I posted of the two songs layered over each other - that is where homage and duplication cross the line - hence the case, and hence the decision.

[taranis]

A ridiculous over-reaction by Marvin Gaye's daughter when interviewed on TV.

[andy-hughes]

taranis - //A ridiculous over-reaction by Marvin Gaye's daughter when interviewed on TV. //

I'd have to agree. Referring to 'chains' was really over the top.

Fair enough, to have her father's work plaigarised is unpleasant, but it was her father's work, not something she has created, so to act like a defrauded artist was rather overdoing it.