There’s been a lot of pushback about the Robin Thicke “Blurred Lines” song because of how the lyrics are permissive of sexual violence, degrading, and disrespectful. We at BARCC absolutely agree. It once again it put men in a power and control role and women in an objectification role. While there has been some remakes of the videos to switch the genders involved, there hasn’t been anything to redo the problematic lyrics. What I did was rewrite the song to have the message be about a mutually respectful relationship that recognizes the importance of boundaries, communication, and independence.
Disclaimer: I haven’t won any Grammys so just keep that in mind when reading and listening to my remake.
Respected Lines
Rewritten by: Stacey Lantz
[Intro: Singer A] Everybody, respectEverybody, respect
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey [Verse 1: Singer B] If you can’t hear what I’m trying to say
If you can’t read from the same page
Then I will repeat
Then I will ask again
Then let you decide[Singer A]Everybody, respect [Pre-chorus: Singer B] OK now he was close, but he did not respect you
You’re just so confident, baby, it’s in your nature
He was a fool to try that
Hey, hey, hey
And you deserve better
Hey, hey, hey
Nobody can define you [Chorus: Singer B] And that’s why I’m attracted to you
I’ll ask what you want
And hear your answer
And hear your answer
Your confidence
Makes you so attractive
You know what you want
And I gotta respect it
Those boundaries
I’ll ask what you want
And hear your answer
And hear your answer
And your confidence
And your independence
Makes me wanna ask you
Can I get your number[Singer A] Everybody, respect [Verse 2: Singer B] I know there are dreams for
Changes in society
Get rid of oppression
You’re more than a physical thing
I feel so lucky
Hey, hey, hey
You wanna hug me
Hey, hey, hey
I wanna hug you
Hey, hey, hey [Pre-chorus: Singer B] OK now he was close, but he did not respect you
You’re just so confident, baby, it’s in your nature
He was a fool to try that
Hey, hey, hey
And you deserve better
Hey, hey, hey
Nobody can define you [Chorus: Singer B] And that’s why I’m attracted to you
I’ll ask what you want
And hear your answer
And hear your answer
Your confidence
Makes you so attractive
You know what you want
And I gotta respect it[Singer A]: Everybody, respect
We all have boundaries
I’ll ask what you want
(Respect boundaries)
And hear your answer
(Respect boundaries)
And hear your answer
And your confidence
And your independence
Makes me wanna ask you
Can I get your number [Verse 3: Singer C] One thing I ask of you
Let me be the one you tell your dreams to
Dream from Malibu, to Paris, boo
Yeah, I will follow you, but I got dreams too
So tell me yours and I’ll tell you mine
We gotta take the time to have it work for me and you
I mean boundaries change all the time
Who we’re with or where we’re at
Factors that can switch up how we’ll act
Baby how you’re feeling or how my day was
This can impact whether we are in the mood
So that is why I always check and make sure
That you’re into it
Not just the first time, but each time after
It’s a turn on, making sure we know those boundaries [Bridge: Singer B] Shake the vibe, get down, get up
Do it how we like, how we like
What you wanna try next? [Pre-chorus: Singer B] Baby can you share? I got to know your feelings
It always works for me, but I can change it for you
Don’t like pretending
Hey, hey, hey
Cause now we dating
Hey, hey, hey
Here’s our beginning [Chorus: Singer B] I always loved your confidence
(Singer A: Everybody, respect)
I’ll ask what you want
And hear your answer
And hear your answer
Your confidence
Makes you so attractive
You know what you want
And I gotta respect it
(Singer A: Everybody, respect)
Those boundaries
I’ll ask what you want
And hear your answer
And hear your answer
And your confidence
And your independence
Makes me wanna ask you
Can I get your number [Outro: Singer A] Everybody, respect
Everybody, respect
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
