'Blurred Lines' Infringement Case: 'Happy' Singer Pharell Williams Responds Pugnaciously To Lawyer During Deposition [Watch]
Contrary to his 2014 hit, "Happy" singer Pharell Williams does not feel like clapping because he's anything but happy.
In fact, the crooner appeared to be annoyed as he gave his deposition for the copyright infringement case that he and singer Robin Thicke face for their "Blurred Lines" hit.
In a video exclusively obtained by The Hollywood Reporter recently, the singer-producer was pugnaciously responding to queries while looking disinterested during their 2014 trial and ultimately slipped into admitting that he channeled Gaye as he did the hit.
Thicke and Williams faced infringement charges for copying Martin Gaye's 1977 hit "Got To Give It Up," and were found guilty in March 2014. The "Blurred Lines" hit makers then appealed the judgment worth $7.3 million.
Looking like a bored kid with his hand scooped below his chin, the singer's knowledge was put on question by the lawyer of Gaye's kin, Richard Busch. The lawyer asked to define a bluegrass chords' structure, to which the producer responded bluntly that he was not there "to teach music." He repeated his response several times as Busch insisted the question.
The plot thickened when the lawyer questioned Williams' capability and asked "if [he] can't do it," but the producer came back to defend himself saying "no" and explained that he's "uncomfortable" answering the question. This has been Williams' repeated response for the next questions that the lawyer has asked.
The Grammy award-winning producer's antagonism became more evident when he was asked to define 6/8 time signatures, and contentiously responded that the musicologist knows how to and she's the one who should answer the question.
"She can break it down to you," Williams said. "You don't need me to that."
Pushed to his limits when he was continued to be asked by the lawyer when the musicologist was there to answer the questions, Williams rebutted: "Listen, man, listen. You have a musicologist to the left of you. I'm telling you I'm not comfortable." Williams admitted that he does know how to read a musical note but he does not know how to write it.
The music superstar was further asked, "When you were creating 'Blurred Lines,' were you trying to pretend that you were Marvin Gaye?" to which he slipped and said, "At that particular time, no. But as I look back, I feel that feeling."
According to Music Times, the federal jury, composed of five men and three women, has given the verdict that Thicke and Williams are convicted in the case but the duo asked for a retrial, arguing that the jury "incorrectly instructed." The request has been denied by the federal judge last July and instead ruled to lower penalties for Williams and Thicke, along with T.I. who has also been featured in the music, as Complete Music Update reports.
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