TORONTO — A judge and lawyers inside a California courtroom were treated to a piano medley by Robin Thicke on Wednesday.
The singer, whose father is beloved Canadian actor Alan Thicke, performed parts of U2’s “With or Without You,” The Beatles’ “Let It Be,” Alphaville’s “Forever Young,” Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” and Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.”
Thicke’s performance came on the second day of testimony at a trial to decide whether his hit “Blurred Lines” ripped off Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give it Up.”
Thicke’s lawyer Howard King used the musical demo to show how many songs share chords and melodies without being copies.
READ MORE: 21 fun facts about Robin Thicke
Thicke and Pharrell Williams sued Gaye’s family seeking a legal declaration that the song doesn’t infringe on Gaye’s. Frankie and Nona Gaye countersued, claiming it does. They also allege “Love After War” — co-written by Thicke’s estranged wife, actress Paula Patton — copies Gaye’s “After the Dance.”
In his pre-trial deposition, Thicke claimed he had very little to do with the composition of “Blurred Lines.”
Gaye’s ex-wife Janis Gaye testified the family liked “Blurred Lines” but initially assumed it sampled “Got to Give it Up.”
“We felt like ‘Got to Give it Up’ is the blueprint for ‘Blurred Lines,’ but not in a bad way,” she said.
The trial is scheduled to last eight days. Williams, Patton and T.I. (whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr.) are expected to take the stand.
BELOW: Compare the two songs at the heart of the trial and then cast your vote.
Comments