Marvin Gaye's kids publish open letter about 'Blurred Lines'

Marvin Gaye’s children Nona Gaye, Frankie Gaye, and Marvin Gaye III have taken to Rolling Stone to write an open letter about what their father would think about the “Blurred Lines” trial, in the hopes of “set[ting] the record straight on a few misconceptions.”

Putting themselves in their late father’s shoes, the siblings wrote:

“If he were alive today, we feel he would embrace the technology available to artists and the diverse music choices and spaces accessible to fans who can stream a song at a moment’s notice. But we also know he would be vigilant about safeguarding artist’s rights; a sacred devotion to not only the artist, but key in encouraging and supporting innovation. He also gave credit where credit is due.”

They lambasted Thicke and Williams for failing to seek proper licensing rights for “Got to Give It Up”:

“Like most artists, they could have licensed and secured the song for appropriate usage; a simple procedure usually arranged in advance of the song’s release. This did not happen…. Instead of licensing our father’s song and giving him the appropriate songwriter credit, Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams released ‘Blurred Lines’ and then filed a pre-emptive lawsuit against us, forcing us into court. They sought to quickly affirm that their song was ‘starkly different,’ than ‘Got to Give It Up.'”

In response to Howard King’s (Thicke and Williams’ attorney) statement that his “clients know they wrote the song ‘Blurred Lines’ from their heart and souls and no other source,” the Gayes wrote, “We never for a minute suggested that Mr. Thicke and Mr. Williams’ hearts weren’t in it. But a jury of eight men and women have ruled that the source for ‘Blurred Lines’ was the song ‘Got to Give It Up,’ a song our dad wrote from his heart, and delivered to the world with pure joy.”

The Gayes wanted to set the record straight once and for all: “We want to put to rest any rumors that we are considering contemplating claims against Pharrell Williams for his song ‘Happy.’ This is 100% false. We have absolutely no claim whatsoever concerning ‘Happy.'”

Read the rest of the letter at Rolling Stone.

Marvin Gaye's kids publish open letter about 'Blurred Lines'

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