It was the greatest hit of 2013, one that launched Thicke straight into the limelight; and has since become a source of much woe to Thicke and collaborators Pharell Williams and Clifford Harris Jnr- otherwise known as TI.
The trio were sued in late 2013 by the Gaye family, who claimed Thicke and Williams had stolen parts of the legendary Gaye’s 1977 classic ‘Got to Give It Up’. It launched a trial that’s been equal parts bizarre and fascinating.
Thicke claimed in depositions that he had little to do with the creation of the song, and that he spent most of that time high on drugs and alcohol. Pharell did not deny it, saying he created everything within a space of a few hours, and then Thicke joined for the vocals to what would become the party song of 2013.