Robin Thicke may be hoping his testimony hit the right note.
The singer of “Blurred Lines” serenaded jurors in a federal courtroom recently as part of an effort to show that he and his fellow songwriters did not copy “Got to Give it Up” by Marvin Gaye.
At issue is a claim by Gaye’s children, who charge Thicke and songwriters Pharrell Williams and T.I. with infringing their father’s composition.
To aid Thicke’s testimony, U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt authorized the songwriters to set up an electronic keyboard in the courtroom.
As part of a demonstration to show how easily a song can be structured to sound like others, Thicke reportedly played some of “Blurred Lines ” along with songs by the Beatles and U2.
Part of the performance included Thicke’s attempting to substantiate that songs with similar chords – such as “With or Without You” and “Let it Be” – can be recorded differently. The medley by Thicke also included Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry,” Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and “Forever Young” by Alphaville.
Musicality aside, the demonstration was notable, because “essentially what Thicke and Pharrell are arguing is exactly the opposite, which is that however similar the recording of ‘Blurred Lines’ and ‘Got To Give It Up,’ they found the actual underlying compositions are very different,” Austin Siegemund-Broka, who is covering the trial for The Hollywood Reporter, told Southern California Public Radio.
According to Siegemund-Broka, the writers of “Blurred Lines” contend that their song uses two chords — E-major and A-major — while Gaye’s composition uses eight chords
Besides an electronic keyboard, Thicke also obtained permission to carry in power cords, an amplifier, amplifier cables, a speaker, a keyboard stand and a surge protector, according to an order that Kronstadt signed on Feb. 24.
Here are the songs. See what you think.