Pharrell Williams: "You were trying to pretend you were Marvin Gaye?"

2014 deposition of Pharrell Williams on the copyright infringement lawsuit over his "Blurred Lines" single with Robin Thicke

[@BeeHash]

"Tell me one thing that is a myriad of things."

[@PutMyCheetosDown]

He’s not ‘comfortable’ in answering honestly by saying, “I don’t know.”

[@shnrrr]

I'm starting to understand how they managed to lose this case

[@exileayahika]

Haha I thought the same thing but they lost because the cords were the exact same. However, I originally thought "they should have won, but those depositions were BAD..."

[@shnrrr]

@@exileayahika What do you mean? The chord progressions are not the same. The similarities lie in the drum beat or groove, but making that grounds for plagiarism opens up such a rabbit hole, that you can claim plagiarism on most recorded songs. IMO

[@exileayahika]

@@shnrrr kzbin.info/www/bejne/panSl5-hh9V6ipY As mentioned, the "cord progression and song notes" were shared with the Jury

[@pifflepockle]

@@shnrrrExactly. Different key.

[@pifflepockle]

He is a pure fanny

[@souldrifterbeats]

Rare footage of Pharrell upset 😂😂

[@yirmeyahx1732]

Very hilarious he couldn’t answer musical trivia

[@yirmeyahx1732]

Exposed him for his musical abilities

[@yirmeyahx1732]

Didn’t look so Happy here

[@souldrifterbeats]

@@yirmeyahx1732 you a little slow huh?

[@yirmeyahx1732]

@@souldrifterbeats not as much as your mother and father birthing you

[@marcusbrothers5221]

Any black person over 30 immediately recognized that cook out ANTHEM. The album is famous as the artist. The song takes up the whole side of an lp which is why we played it at cook outs in vinyl days.

[@IANinALTONA]

That is when he effed up this trial for him and Robin.

[@shermac246]

Actually it’s when he forgot to ask for permission before he stole Marvin Gaye’s music

[@constantlychangin]

He never stole ​@@shermac246

[@spacecash9721]

@@shermac246 what a fucking joke. There is almost no similarity if you're a musician you understand that.

[@spankypants2793]

​@@shermac246by that logic marvin gaye stole salsa music. Music is all about inspiration

[@TakuTePuke-qd6df]

@@shermac246 he never actually stole any thing from Marvin Gaye :(

[@thasportsguy1]

I wonder if Pharrell knows that now people try to pretend to be him

[@abhi2013roy]

that’s not how thieves think

[@KIDTHATSWEIRD]

@@abhi2013roywho’s a thieve

[@SLAYLORDFOCKER]

Ahhhh shat ! 😩 Once they quoted him saying Marvin Gaye I nearly fell out. That’s crazy 😅

[@seerpou]

he was getting so pissed off that he didn't know any of the answers. i love this

[@pifflepockle]

He’s what we call in Scotland ‘a pure wee fanny’

[@greatone2155]

he knew them all, he just wasn't comfortable

[@dahorseman2654]

@@greatone2155 lol i was reading comments as watching. Saw your comment and really thought it was some giant fan, seconds later every single answer was referencing his comfort. lol comment became immediately hilarious.

[@kimberlee9608]

Pharrell is like, what, 45 or 46 years old in this depo?! Man is looking baby smooth, if I didn’t know who I was looking at I’d wonder if he’d be old enough to get a drink at the bar. Time to google his skincare routine…

[@sbrownie]

See "The Picture of Dorian Grey" Explains it all.🙄🤣

[@MegaWumba]

I’ve heard he eats nothing but veggies and drinks only water

[@burosangi3855]

Eating pwussie keeps u healthy

[@ADADIZZLE]

41

[@lobsterblacc9478]

It's called black don't crack

[@NadavHbr]

Our society is so screwed up

[@aeonfluxcapacitor77]

He's an ass. You MUST answer all questions honest, accurately, and to the best of your ability. Had this been in court he'd have gotten reprimanded.

[@regularyoutubename]

I wonder if this will be in the Lego documentary

[@Rome.]

Pharrell definitely let himself down in this deposition. Traxploitation channel covers this case in more detail.

[@dakotakeller1606]

"What do you mean by 6/8 time signature" This lawyer, proving hes never stepped foot in a music classroom Wouldnt you think if we were suing people for "copying music" we would at least involve people in the trial who have any idea what they're talking about

[@Bwrandon]

He had an expert next to him whispering some of the questions to him.

[@vii9284]

he has never made a beat in 6/8. He doesn't know what he's talking about

[@googinheim6643]

I’m unfamiliar with major bluegrassy, but I know his father, Admiral Bluegrassy, great guy

[@Pure77]

😂😂😂😂 Pharell is legit gaslighting the lawyer. Also, i don't think Pharell knows how to read music 😮😢😅

[@NoteFromSELF]

He doesn't know how to read music.

[@markodern789]

He knows how to make it though

[@elvisd3947]

​@@markodern789he is not making it though. He just copies from real musicians and makes changes to it until it's different enough

[@monty1988]

@@elvisd3947 you can quite literally look up on youtube, Pharrell making a beat or The Making of Justin Timberlakes Justified, pharrell was part of a group called neptunes at the time but he still did his own stuff

[@monty1988]

@@elvisd3947 Look up pharrell making a beat, or the making of justin timberlakes justified

[@BeeHash]

Maybe if he wasn't so confrontational he wouldn't have lost $7.5 million

[@richiemays8225]

They take anything in the interview and find a way to chop it up and u use it against u. So the best thing is to barely touch the surface of the question

[@drkthemusicman]

@@richiemays8225 i dunno, ask Kelis?...

[@shermac246]

Maybe if he would have not stolen Marvin Gaye’s music?

[@teleguy5699]

@@shermac246 Rick Beato tells you why this case is BS and less of a "ripoff" than Ed Sheeran who just won his case.kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2KmgIyfqbVrnqs Chord progressions, beat, grooves are not copyrightable. If so, you might as well shut the music industry down. Sheeran had better lawyers and jury it looks like as he was able to prove hundreds of songs with the same chord progressions, and songs that came out before LGIO that could have sued Thomson for stealing their song. He believes that Pharrell should appeal. Music judged by a bunch of Jimmy's and Joe's is a hell of a way to break down theory and songwriting.

[@shermac246]

@@teleguy5699 i am not here to argue and will stick by my opinion that actually changed after I hearing what Mr. Jack Ashford had to say on this matter. He was one of Marvin Gaye’s percussionist’s on “Got to Give it Up” and an in-house Motown musician. If you wish, you can go see what Mr. Ashford had to say about this case. I do know the first time I heard Blurred Lines, I immediately thought it was Marvin Gaye’s song because it sounded like it, Mr. Ashford said something similar and brought out other relevant points from perspective of a talented Motown musician.

[@aracelypadilla4658]

He seems SO annoyed by the questions as if he doesn't care. Must of been very frustrating for the attorney asking the questions. I mean, have respect for the process if your goal is to win the judgement against you.

[@micahvelli_236]

This is absolutely hilarious, he was talking out of his ass the entire time.. loved how he lied and said he could read music then the attorney asked him to and he couldnt.. priceless.

[@Ek0]

You honestly think when Pharrell talks about 6|8 time, chord changes, and mentions every good boy does fine, F-A-C-E, that he doesnt know how to read music? ... FFS, so dumb. I wouldnt teach this lawyer douche about music either.

[@chrisblack7383]

@@Ek0 if he could answer the question and shut the dude up he would

[@factsoverfeelings421]

@@Ek0 Those are all very basic things. Reading music involves much more than that, and he clearly can’t read music beyond a very elementary level.

[@Ek0]

@@factsoverfeelings421 I think neither of you have spoken to a lawyer who trying to sue you. -.-

[@factsoverfeelings421]

@@Ek0 No I haven’t because I’ve never ripped off anyone’s work. He ended up having to pay Marvin Gaye’s family, so his ridiculous antics here didn’t help him.

[@bruhswlwa2225]

This trial set a dangerously unclear precident for what we are allowed to do as music makers. The similarities end at tempo and key from a musical standpoint. The feel is so similar because Pharrell is a master of capturing a feel and making something new, this time he just did it to well

[@Hellseventeen]

exactly

[@sleezyclips8068]

Unclear presidents are the worst.

[@bastymanguy]

Ya pharell and thicke (that douchebag) ripped off the song by Marvin Gaye. Pharell is not a real musician, he can’t read music or play instruments. He’s just a vocalist and dresses up songs in the studio with the sound mixer. Oh wow that’s talent….pfff

[@backsteinfisch3894]

@@bastymanguy How do you know that? Where you with him in the studio? Being a musician is not just instruments and reading music (whatever that means). He has his own way of creating music, whatever that is, it's working.

[@BeahmLaw]

Nope. You’ve missed it entirely.

[@ribbs13]

I said blue-grassy, very big difference, boss. 😂😂 where is the full deposition I need it 😂😂

[@GoodCharms]

Technically, not plagiarized enough to warrant the splits and royalties awarded to the Gaye estate but heavily "influenced" is what the song is. Thicke threw P under the bus and paid for it with a life of never being allowed another hit song to ever come close to him. Or blackballed, in industry terms. It's my belief that Thicke's testimony had him heated going into the depo and P knew the consequences were around the corner. Not to take any amusement from someone's unbeknownst-to-them downfall, the depo said "bye-bye" to what should've been an easily handed future of entitled good fortunes.

[@Bwrandon]

If he had asked them he would have paid less. You get sued for more because of the alleged theft.

[@GoodCharms]

@@Bwrandon And if you've ever been a part of a hit song, much of the time while working, you're not thinking about these types of possible headaches, you're trying to finish production and coordinate the release with the music video date yet to be determined at some point in between. P's pub could've bridged the communication but dam that song was so big that year, the Estate's ask must have been redonkulous.

[@nezkeys79]

I dont think they set out to copy marvin gaye (they don't even sound the same) but lying about reading music or understanding music theory obviously killed his case. Should have just said "no I can't read music"

[@paulbradley705]

every good boy deserves fruit.

[@WilliamsPinch]

😂

[@IUAlum82]

This is what, sadly, the lion’s share of ‘musicians’ today don’t understand basic music theory. If you ask Pharrell what a particular note is, its duration…he’s unable. And then I see he’s teaching a Master Class?? Based on what qualifications? How is one a ‘Master’ if I show you a quarter note and you don’t know it’s a quarter note? Same story w Christina Aguilera. Her Master class is just as half-assed.

[@fortunamajor7239]

as a piano teacher, while i do think this video is funny, you don't actually need to be able to read music to play music. people played music before they came up with a system to notate it. many classic rockstars such as Roger Taylor of Queen can't read music.

[@gd-lockc7618]

Maybe he doesn’t want to answer

[@markodern789]

He is a great producer and could teach somebody a lot about music

[@LesterBrunt]

How is knowing music theory going to help you write better music? Oh you know that this note is called a 'half note', now you can write meaningful music? Absolutely ridiculous.

[@trollskullkid69]

>"That quote is not accurate." >"I did say that."

[@dennislacroix9962]

I wonder what exactly makes him uncomfortable? The chair perhaps? The people in the room? Oh no, wait... Is the truth

[@seerpou]

2:07 he became david brent LMAOOOO

[@blueberrycobbler]

8:41….acting as if you can write and read music and then when questioned you’re unable to do so is a very big difference, Boss.

[@hereticlife2546]

I would have just said they use some G, A, D, F, B, C, sometimes some E’s and occasionally they’re minors.

[@WallyTony]

I can't believe he brought that stupid hat with him.

[@FreePickCapper]

Really? It’s Pharrell

[@cassiebould9358]

When i listened to Blurred lines it never made me think about marvin gayes song. Same with Eds song it doesn't make me think of Marvin Gayes song. Some songs sound close to other songs and i can mistake the first few notes for a different song

[@jegca]

LOL, sure and when I listen to Ice ice Baby, it doesn't sound anything like Under Pressure...

[@LesterBrunt]

@@jegca So to you a genre like the Blues doesn't exist, it all sounds exactly the same, they all stole the exact same song right?

[@hereticlife2546]

Just because you don’t have the notes memorized doesn’t mean you can’t read them. Of course Pharrell knows what a quarter note, 1/8, 1/6, etc is. You can use the goddamn web to look what the notes are and see what they’re doing, thus read the notes and in turn the music.

[@B3ARCAT]

If they’re using the term “read music” in the traditional sense, then no, needing to reference anything would not be considered “reading” music. I’m not trying to be pedantic or anything, but just wanted to clarify. I’m a classically trained musician, but work in contemporary music, and to be fair, as an “artist”, he doesn’t NEED to know how to read music, or even understand basic music theory, although that tends to make you a better musician and aid primarily in helping you communicate with other musicians. His backing instrumentalists and studio musicians likely all speak theory and can sight read though, which I’m sure would be very uncomfortable for him when they ask for clarification on a bar or ask how many flats (key) or something. But Michael Jackson, arguably the most well-known musician of this century never took a single music lesson, thus it is truly inconsequential whether he can read music! When I’m in the studio, sometimes an artist walks in with reams of sheet music while others come in with a dirty napkin with some lyrics on it. To work in pop music as a studio musician, sight reading isn’t a necessity, but you’ll find yourself at a loss when trying to communicate musical ideas to other musicians. Trying to synchronize a large number of musicians or when you were trying to communicate with other musicians...these are some of the only scenarios in which sight reading is an absolute necessity. Many contemporary garage bands are made up of musicians who have no clue about music theory or music history, and it’s really not needed in their context.

[@jaymajor7602]

"you should check it out..." perfection....

[@romemakes794]

Yeah I don't care what he says Pharrell can't read music lol but still makes jams

[@010les]

exactly some producer cant play instruments people saying Pharrell got exposed somehow probably arent familiar with his discography decades of pure art

[@dazmindleon]

When composing music the time signature key notes all of those elements come together only real musicians and people who know music theory understand. What do most producers do ? Sample other music……..

[@hawkeye2880]

Pharrell doesn’t look happy.

[@zapwatt]

Big fail for Pharrell.

[@berserkergames113]

His lawyer coached him "eventually they'll want to stop"

[@Lee-pc8ts]

he could've handled this better

[@fourone2k]

To people that think that ability to read music is any valuable. This guy writes music not plays it. He doesn't do it on paper but in a program. I do think to alot of these questions he could answer a lot better but i guess he didnt know hot to act in a court case like that. Real musician use ears, not theory.

[@markodern789]

This

[@nieldan11]

This is not the only song he stole from, but I am not going to sell him out.

[@KIDTHATSWEIRD]

what other song did he steal

[@TakuTePuke-qd6df]

@@KIDTHATSWEIRD He never stole any song :(

[@NoteFromSELF]

They made the case for the plaintiff's attorney. How could they not know the piano chords? No wonder they had to steal from another artist. And they clearly did.

[@jayglenn82]

Some people like myself can hear music but can’t read it but I get your point

[@aniki937]

Now, imagine just for a second if it was Slim Shady instead of Pharrell and the same lawyer adressing to him like that. Not Eminem, Slim Shady. 🤣🤣 He would have get on the table showing his ath to the lawyer and scream "sxck my mfkng dxck bxtch" and make appear a chainsaw out of nowhere going vrm vrrm vrrrrmmmm 😭😂😂😂

[@mitchellreuss1759]

Leave the man alone. You go create something people actually pay attention to and see how you go. Vultures

[@jd87a]

I see two problems with this: 1) Pharrell is clearly lying, 2) it shouldn't really matter that he was thinking of Marvin Gaye when he made Blurred Lines

[@smarty0728]

why do you say lying?

[@2000Ajerrell]

Lying bigtime

[@smkxodnwbwkdns8369]

How was he lying? And in law it does matter as if establishes a number of things like intent.

[@dakotakeller1606]

@@smkxodnwbwkdns8369 this is why law shouldn't be involved in the music industry. People write songs that sound like other songs all the time. Big wigs want to believe they own music and they can pay a lawyer to bully an artist into submission

[@smkxodnwbwkdns8369]

@@dakotakeller1606 What are you talking about? That’s exactly why the law SHOULD be involved, only it has to be written by a musician not some lawyer that fancies himself an “expert”. You shouldn’t be able to copyright a style. It should be limited to lyric and melody. chord progressions already can’t be copyrighted as well as drum beats.

[@JBrooksNYS]

as an amateur musician and songwriter, i wouldnt feel comfortable telling you the chords of a scale in front of a musicologist either lol.... and also, I dont think Blurred Lines is anything like Marvin Gaye's song. Similar beat and sound of his voice.... beyond that, nothing.

[@LesterBrunt]

Exactly. This is not just a fun interview, if they think he lies he can go to prison. I am a musicologist and if they ask me "can you read music" I would say yes, but if they then hand me some gigantic orchestral score with transposed instruments, and they ask me "could you name all the notes in this score, yes or no", I would have to say no.

[@colevonrichthofen348]

This trial set dangerous precedent in music law and now I know why Gaye and Williams lost.

[@idontwantone132]

Gaye estate was saying Williams so I don't know what you mean

[@robjj5373]

What?

[@yearight7956]

@@robjj5373 he meant the Gaye estate was suing Williams. So your comment doesn’t make sense. Either Gaye won and the estate got paid or Williams won by being found innocent. They both can’t win when they’re opposition in the case.

[@iammariecharlotte]

They won

[@N8-198]

pharrel was too agreeable in this

[@drnoscopes566]

I’m not comfortable

[@130stevieg]

This is so ridiculous lol clearly there is something wrong with the system

[@nassplease]

when kelis decided to quit music bcz of what this man did to her career, then u can tell how creepy he is..

[@marcusbrothers5221]

He's not comfortable

[@veronicamyers8176]

This is where p diddy needs to show out!

[@kdeloris2225]

Where's Robin Thicke 🤷‍♀️

[@yearight7956]

Don’t worry. Thicke got it too. He paid a shitload. He was responsible for 1.8 mil of the 5.4 million alone. Also he was forced to pay another million which each he, Pharrell and Pharells publishing company all paid to make 2.9 million more. Then Pharrell and his Publishing company paid another 380k each. Totaling the 5.4 million in cash. Also the Gaye estate was awarded 50% of the royalties from the song from 2015 moving forward

[@FreePickCapper]

Who?

[@ShangoHeruGinen1791]

Robin Thicke was the singer of the song . He was questioned too at the deposition.

[@wingingitwithbleep8934]

now do Ed Sheeran. Pharrell is one of the greats

[@vii9284]

I’m also “uncomfortable” with questions I can’t answer

[@fit3052]

Dont matter now. Hes still rich. I digress

[@blueberrycobbler]

Having a great reputation and integrity is priceless. I rather have less money but have my integrity intact.

[@paulbradley705]

pharell is not a teacher or a student or a singer or songwriter or a musician.

[@IntrigueAvenue]

He's one of the most prolific commercially successful musicians, who sings and writes. But you are correct that he is not a teacher.

[@paulbradley705]

@@IntrigueAvenue no talent but a lot of success.only in America.

[@IntrigueAvenue]

@@paulbradley705 He's wrote countless hits that have charted INTERNATIONALLY. He had the biggest song of 2014. If it's easy to be successful without talent, then why doesn't Paul Bradley 705 have a number 1 worldwide hit? Your jealousy is pathetic.

[@fgghhhjjkhgd3665]

@@paulbradley705 you’re definitely hating Pharrell is so musically talented and interesting his music is otherworldly

[@escoworld]

You’re just mad his genius doesn’t require music theory.

[@PowerfulKundalini]

Bruh said he can read music but can't write it??? wtf you've got hands don't you?

[@sonofsoular]

That’s an actual thing you do know that right?

[@PowerfulKundalini]

@@sonofsoular If you can read musical notation, then you should be able to write down what notes go where. It's not hard. Maybe he doesn't know rests or style of notes, but it's not that hard.

[@sonofsoular]

@@PowerfulKundalini lmao do you know how many producers that consistently go platinum without writing sheet music? And not even just rap I’m talking in EVERY genre. Nobody sits up and writes sheet music like that anymore even if they know how to read it. Some people play by ear. You sound stupid asf bro.😂

[@charlesbliss4860]

@@PowerfulKundalininah I can read music and write songs 100% on my own but I cannot write sheet notation… a lot of musicians are similar

[@PowerfulKundalini]

@@charlesbliss4860 if you dont know that youre playing an E when you play 0 on the 1st string , then i guess???

[@Crisis_Jones]

These lawyers are awful

[@pifflepockle]

His adidas sannies are shanners too

[@jgivens637]

This lawsuit will never not be ridiculous, those songs share a style but they sound nothing alike

[@shermac246]

Do you have ears? They sound exact nearly side by side

[@jgivens637]

@@shermac246 record yourself humming only the melody of both and play them back then respond 🥰

[@WilliamsPinch]

You’re dim.

[@fit3052]

Thank you. Non musicians wouldn't know

[@paulbradley705]

they know nothing. they lied. they backstabbed each either. neither have talent. they deserve nothing. they have gotten away with too much for too long.

[@Thedoninyourcity]

This is the Illuminati

[@billypage224]

unhappy pharrell : (

[@NOTENOUGHCSH]

Pharrell didnt even steal though, those two songs are similar yes , and pharrell may have took inspiration from gayes song but its not outright stealing. They sound completely different

[@drkthemusicman]

Its LUDA! 😂

[@2000Ajerrell]

This deposition lost him the case, he was lying and got caught priceless. The problem with today musician they don’t create all they do is sample. In my opinion.

[@phelan3747]

That’s not a problem

[@MAAEEULAZ]

Not true, “deposition” can’t lose cases. And sampling is creating. There’s nothing new underneath the sun. This is a classic tactic of interviewing, it’s actually a standard way of approaching these things. You obviously haven’t done any sampling because you would understand how a good flip can totally change how something is interpreted

[@smkxodnwbwkdns8369]

And rock music didn’t sample Chicago Blues?

[@Crosshatch1212]

=Rey true do you know there are 28 song writers used on Beyoncé’s new album ,that’s what’s happened due to this .

[@Lee-pc8ts]

yea it's hard to not sound like someone especially when you look up to them.

[@Mazingo95]

Quelqu'un peut traduire cette vidéo en français s'il vous plaît

[@pillowigloo3671]

Is this Rapaports lawyer 😆. clueless

[@jayg9113]

? he roasted pharrell and on the law suit...

[@awesomegardening3949]

He won...

[@andrewhardy3813]

Did you even watch the video? He embarrassed Pharrell.

[@damienmatthews2852]

Got anything fresh, or is it all gonna be reuploaded videos?

[@WallyTony]

Fresh depositions take a long time to get released. We probably won't see anything that isn't a few years old.

[@COALEDasICE]

@@WallyTony bingo, depositions don't become public unless they are chosen to be used as evidence in court usually. Obviously there is other reasons they become public, but that's the main one.

[@pifflepockle]

He thinks this is all beneath him. Tit

[@NoteFromSELF]

Pharrell can't read music at all. He lied.

[@sheltonsummons903]

Its not as if there is a universe where those two songs are the same rhythmically, melodically, lyrically, or chord wise on sheet music. That judgment was bs,.

[@iammariecharlotte]

actually when you listen to both songs??? its a good judgment. Artist need to be more honest

[@sheltonsummons903]

@@iammariecharlotte you literally said nothing....

[@zapwatt]

These depositions should not be public.

[@smkxodnwbwkdns8369]

Why?

[@WilliamsPinch]

But here they are 🤗

[@KingBanter]

Pharrell thought he was Gaye, but he wasn’t

[@jeffgoesrandom4217]

Other than the confusing lawyer music questions... Pharrell admitted at the end that he imitated Marvin Gaye. Meaning that he simply copied the song. Simple.

[@IntrigueAvenue]

Imitating does not mean he copied the song. It has a similar chord progression with a different melody. Pretty much every song in the top 40 now has a similar chord progression to something else that's been previously made. You can't copyright notes.

[@teleguy5699]

@@IntrigueAvenue Plenty of clueless people in the comment section. Any of them could have been a jury member in this case.

[@IANinALTONA]

PWNED!

[@anonymousmc7727]

He gone now

[@pifflepockle]

Trash with cash

[@latoyagriffin1410]

😬 Cringeworthy! I guess he was “comfortable” with ripping off someone else’s music…and if he couldn’t read music why not just admit it!

[@supastupiddummyidiot8727]

What have you done in your musical career Latoya?

[@BIGBRADYHO]

Every single piece of music is taken or inspired from someone or somewhere else every time no ideas original its just about how its done hip hop is saving and continuing to use and revive dying old music that would go to waste when the elder generations die out the music wont b remembered pharrell is a great

[@smkxodnwbwkdns8369]

100% chance you aren’t a musician. All music is “ripped off”. There’s only seven notes in any given song. How can you be original with seven notes? It’s imoosssibl

[@artrimiks]

he didn’t rip off anything 🙄

[@sbrownie]

He would not have done it had Marvin been alive. No way. Besides, this guy has a long history of stealing and acting as if he was/is the creator.

[@bigcooldaddy1965]

I wonder what instruments he can actually play?

[@bbq4dinner997]

He can’t even read

[@AJ-gx9np]

The skin flute !

[@zapwatt]

I wonder why you used a question mark at the end of a declaration.

[@peterokorie157]

@@zapwatt 🤣

[@bomtranger]

piano, played every note every time you heard a piano on fly or die

[@daviddouglas1707]

Hmmm I don't remember them grilling ed sheeran this hard...intresting.

[@joshuabrown9898]

This is so stupid. It's a dumb song but Pharrell Williams clearly did not copy the song from Marvin Gaye. Both are good artists. His crime was MENTION Marvin Gaye in the interview, and write a dirty, controversial song. Remember kids, never give credit to your favorite artists or mention their names, because some attorney will go after you, even if the original artist is long dead and gone.

[@bastymanguy]

Nice try Pharell , the thought did cross your mind of you being like Marvin Gaye in the creation of blurred lines in the studio. You can’t read music, you can’t play instruments. All you do is write lyrics , sing and mess around with the sound mixer. Awww poor baby not comfortable? You got owned boy.

[@IntrigueAvenue]

Pharrell can play piano/keys, and drums, and has been doing so since high school. There's footage online. Plus all the other equipment he's mastered that can be seen on equipboard.

[@markodern789]

Brainrot😂

[@faivishbelchstein2853]

What an embarrassment. They always portray this guy as educated musician. Cant..read...simple..notation? Bw ha aha ha

[@supastupiddummyidiot8727]

Imagine making a fortune off of making music without even having to know how to read it…doesn’t sound like an embarrassment at all to me

[@MAAEEULAZ]

Beatles couldn’t read music lol

[@zoedixon5274]

Sounds more like genius. The total opposite of embarrassing

[@escoworld]

@@zoedixon5274exactly.

[@justbecause9645]

Rip off artist.

[@ethans3830]

LMAO Pharrell is a generational talent do some research

[@TheBasedCanadian]

RIP off? Hardly

[@rhythmnasha1971]

All he had to do was pay for the sample lol its clear he sampled that shyt . If ur a musician you know .

[@wilt1007]

he steals music who does he care

[@BIGBRADYHO]

Everybody steals music and calls it inspiration no ideas original

[@wilt1007]

@@BIGBRADYHO yes but u gotta deviate away from that as ur career continued

[@LesterBrunt]

So? Better than stealing money, which all these estates do. Nothing is stopping them from releasing no.1 hit songs based on Gaye's repertoire, they hold the rights to it. But somehow they are too lazy to do that, yet feel entitled to the money of others who do.

[@wilt1007]

@@LesterBrunt they just found new music from Marvin recently bout I doubt we’ll hear it all because of the gaye estate. I agree when it comes to the Gaye estate they’re too much

[@DJLimeGreen]

2;03 LOL... You should check it out!????

[@snakefinger]

I feel uncomfortable during brain surgery.

[@elvisd3947]

A songwriter who can't read sheet music? That's so weak. What an embarrassment

[@patrickdadon5794]

A lot of then can’t this isn’t the 1800 uno..... lol

[@markodern789]

An F1 driver who can’t ride a horse? Ridiculous.

[@elvisd3947]

@@markodern789 false comparison. Fail

[@LesterBrunt]

@@elvisd3947 Not really because you don't need to read sheet music to make music. You might not know this, but sheet music was only invented 800 years ago, and it was only commonly available around 200 years ago, and this is only talking about Europe, there are many places in the world that never invented sheet music. So do you think that music didn't exist before sheet music was invented? Do you think all the cultures in the world where sheet music wasn't invented, don't have music?

[@elvisd3947]

@@LesterBrunt How can you possibly get from my comment to me believing there was no music 800 years ago. That's actually delusional. Not only is that worryingly irrational, it's also straight up wrong. Music theory can be traced back to ancient Greece. BCE. Lmao what a total failure of a comment.

[@realityme]

attorney: what are the chords on a 12 bar blues progression. Pharrell: Im not here to teach you. 12 bar blues progression is the most BASIC and one of the FIRST progressions taught in general music theory. WTF. How the hell could he not answer that simple ass question. This is how you know they COPIED Marvin Gaye!!! If you dont know basic blues song structure, you copying shit. Even if your illiterate, like alot of the old original blues masters were, you can tell anyone what basic chords you are playing.

[@mrsabrody]

Have you considered the possibility that Pharrell answered with "I'm not here to teach you music" because he wanted to deflect the lawyer's question, not because he doesn't know what the chords are?

[@realityme]

@@mrsabrody I'm a musician and I play multiple instruments professionally. I can tell by most of these simple music theory questions that Pharrell does not know how to sight read and he definitely doesnt know basic music theory. All these music theory questions are simple notation questions. He just has no clue.

[@IntrigueAvenue]

@@realityme Wait, if he doesn't "know basic music theory" - how has he produced a number of commercially successful songs for the past 30 years? Wouldn't one have an understanding of music to be so successful? Is the footage of him playing piano and drums fake?

[@realityme]

@@IntrigueAvenue You can make music without knowing music theory. I know TOP hip hop producers bigger than Pharrel, that have been making hit songs sonce the late 90s and don't know how to read one note or know one line of music theory. It's called "playing by ear". Or producing by ear. Do you understand now?

[@IntrigueAvenue]

@@realityme I would consider "playing by ear" vastly different from "not understanding music theory" though. Somebody that doesn't have an understanding of music simply cannot be a successful producer. This depends on how you specifically define "music theory". I'm certain Pharrell would be able to break down chord progressions, and can transpose songs from his mind to his instruments. Although its very possible that Pharrell didn't want to answer the questions about the notes because it would lead to analysis of the chord progression being very similar. Which is true. It's the melody that makes the songs sound different.