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Pharrell: Is it sexually suggestive when a salesman says 'I know you want it?' Pharrell: Is it sexually suggestive when a salesman says 'I know you want it?'
(3 months later)
It's over a year since Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines was released, and yet co-writer and It's over a year since Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines was released, and yet co-writer and producer Pharrell Williams is still defending the track, regarded by some as the most controversial song of the decade.
producer Pharrell Williams is still defending the track, regarded by some as the most controversial song of the decade. In a new interview with Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Williams is grilled about the recent arrests of Iranian fans who replicated his video Happy, his definition of The New Black, as well as reiterating comments he made in GQ regarding Hillary Clinton. Endorsing the former First Lady, the singer insists that the time is right for a female president.
In “Historically this world has been run by a man, and what would a world be like if 75 per cent of our world leaders and prime ministers were female?” he asks. “We do not know because we haven't given it a shot. We're too busy telling them what they can or can't do with their bodies.”
a new interview with Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Admitting that he believes a man cannot truly be a feminist - adding that "it makes sense up to a certain point" - the conversation goes on to focus specifically on the best selling hit Blurred Lines, and the controversy surrounding its video and lyrics, which was branded by many as sexist.
Guru-Murthy, Williams is grilled about the recent arrests “I don't know where the forcing himself and the women's right to say no was addressed in that song,” Williams begins when challenged specifically over the lyric 'I know you want it'. “Let me ask you a question – women sing that song – so are women singing that to other women?"
of Iranian fans who replicated his video Happy, his definition of The New Black, as well as reiterating comments he made in GQ regarding Hillary Clinton. Endorsing the former First Lady, the singer insists that the time is right for When pushed further on the subject, Williams insists that when taking the song's lyrics out of context, the phrase is merely provocative rather than trivialising sexual consent.
a female president. He asks: “Is it sexually suggestive when a car salesman says to a person who is trying to buy a car 'I know you want it'?”
“Historically “If a good woman can have sexual thoughts is it wrong for a man to guess that a woman might want something?”
this world has been run by a man, and what would a world be like if As well justifying the video's nudity by comparing it to that of a fashion shoot, Williams also defends rapper TI's lyric, 'I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two.'
75 per cent of our world leaders and prime ministers were female?” “Why should I be uncomfortable [with that line]? I love women inside and out. That line was meant for women to hear that song and say, you know what? I'm a good woman and sometimes I do have bad thoughts,” he says, before further implying that the song can empower women when used as a declaration of sexual liberation.
he asks. “We do not know because we haven't given it a shot. We're
too busy telling them what they can or can't do with their bodies.”
Admitting that he believes a man cannot truly be a feminist - adding that "it makes sense up to a certain point" - the conversation goes on to focus specifically on the best selling hit Blurred Lines, and the controversy surrounding its video and lyrics, which was branded by many as sexist.
“I
don't know where the forcing himself and the women's right to say no
was addressed in that song,” Williams begins when challenged specifically over the lyric 'I know you want it'. “Let
me ask you a question – women sing that song – so are women
singing that to other women?"
When pushed further on the subject, Williams insists that when taking the song's lyrics out of context, the phrase is merely provocative rather than trivialising sexual consent.
He asks: “Is
it sexually suggestive when a car salesman says to a person who is
trying to buy a car 'I know you want it'?”
“If
a good woman can have sexual thoughts is it wrong for a
man to guess that a woman might want something?”
As well justifying the video's nudity by comparing it to that of a fashion shoot, Williams also defends rapper TI's lyric, 'I'll give you something big
enough to tear your ass in two.'
“Why
should I be uncomfortable [with that line]? I love women inside and
out. That line was meant for women to hear that song and say, you know
what? I'm a good woman and sometimes I do have bad thoughts,” he says, before further implying that the song can empower women when used as a declaration of sexual liberation.
Since its release, 2013's best selling single Blurred Lines has been banned by over 20 UK student unions for its sexual politics.Since its release, 2013's best selling single Blurred Lines has been banned by over 20 UK student unions for its sexual politics.
Williams' recent solo album, G I R L, is described by the singer as a love letter to the many women who have shaped his life and career. In support of the release, he has opened a new exhibition at Galerie Perrotin in Paris, which is designed to engage with gender and its standing in the art world.Williams' recent solo album, G I R L, is described by the singer as a love letter to the many women who have shaped his life and career. In support of the release, he has opened a new exhibition at Galerie Perrotin in Paris, which is designed to engage with gender and its standing in the art world.