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Marvin Gaye's Family May Challenge Pharrell's 'Happy' Next

Marvin Gaye's Family May Challenge Pharrell's 'Happy' Next
By 

Entertainment Editor, The Huffington Post

Pharrell Williams leaves Los Angeles Federal Court after testifying at trial in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 4, 2015. The Grammy-winning singer Williams says he wasn't trying to copy the late Marvin Gaye's music for the hit song "Blurred Lines," but he was trying to evoke the feeling of late 1970s tunes. Williams is being sued by Gaye's children, who claim "Blurred Lines" improperly copies their father's hit "Got to Give it Up." Singer Robin Thicke and rapper T.I. are also defendants in the case. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Pharrell Williams leaves Los Angeles Federal Court after testifying at trial in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 4, 2015. The Grammy-winning singer Williams says he wasn't trying to copy the late Marvin Gaye's music for the hit song "Blurred Lines," but he was trying to evoke the feeling of late 1970s tunes. Williams is being sued by Gaye's children, who claim "Blurred Lines" improperly copies their father's hit "Got to Give it Up." Singer Robin Thicke and rapper T.I. are also defendants in the case. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

A court is awarding Marvin Gaye's family $7.3 million in the "Blurred Lines" lawsuit, and now another chart-topper might come under fire: Pharrell Williams' "Happy." YouTube videos have pointed out similarities between the track and Gaye's 1965 single, "Ain't That Peculiar," for months, but now the family says there may be grounds for legal action.

"I'm not going to lie. I do think they sound alike," Gaye's daughter, Nona Gaye, told "Entertainment Tonight" correspondent Nischelle Turner in an interview. His ex-wife Janis also said, "I heard the mash-ups -- but I didn't really need to hear them. I know 'Ain't That Peculiar' and I've heard 'Happy.'" No charges have been filed.

Since the verdict was announced, music and legal critics have said the decision set "a horrible precedent" in the music industry when it comes to writing songs inspired by earlier artists. LA Weekly's Andy Hermann came out with a story headlined, "'Blurred Lines' Has Ruined the Entire Music Industry," while Slate claimed it "may end up cutting off a vital wellspring of creativity in music."

For reference, listen to a mashup of "Happy" and "Ain't That Peculiar":

Before You Go

Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
LONDON - 1964: R&B singer Marvin Gaye holds court at a press conference at Heathrow Airport in circa 1964 as he arrives in London, England. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
GAB Archive via Getty Images
Photo of Marvin GAYE and Tammi TERRELL; Posed portrait of Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns)
Echoes via Getty Images
Photo of Marvin GAYE, Posed studio portrait of Marvin Gaye (Photo by Echoes/Redferns)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
R&B singer Marvin Gaye poses for a portrait leaning against a mo-ped scooter in circa 1967. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
Soul singer Marvin Gaye enjoys an ice cream cone as he strolls down the boardwalk in circa 1965 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
David Redfern via Getty Images
Photo of Marvin GAYE, Marvin Gaye performing on tv show (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
R&B singer Marvin Gaye poses for a portrait in circa 1964 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
R&B singer Marvin Gaye poses for a portrait in circa 1964 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
R&B singer Marvin Gaye poses for a portrait in circa 1964 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
R&B singer Marvin Gaye poses for a portrait backstage at the Apollo Theater with female R&B vocal group 'Martha & The Vandellas' (Betty Kelly, Rosalind Ashford, and Martha Reeves) in 1962 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
&B singer Marvin Gaye plays piano at Freedomland Amusement Park in 1964 in Bronx, New York. (Photo by Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Donaldson Collection via Getty Images
Soul singer Marvin Gaye poses for a portrait on June 5, 1963 in New York City, New York. (Photo by PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
(L-R) Charles Barksdale, Marvin Gaye, James Nolan, Reese Palmer, Chester Simmons, and Harvey Fuqua (seated) of the doo wop group 'The Moonglows' pose for a portrait in 1959. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Jim Britt via Getty Images
Soul singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye at Golden West Studios in 1973 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jim Britt/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
Gilles Petard via Getty Images
Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye around a microphone at the Motown recording studio in Detroit in 1965 in the United States. (Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns)
Gems via Getty Images
USA Photo of Marvin GAYE, Portrait of Marvin Gaye, wearing hat (Photo by Gems/Redferns)
Jim Britt via Getty Images
Soul singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye at Golden West Studios in 1973 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jim Britt/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
GAB Archive via Getty Images
Photo of Marvin GAYE; Marvin Gaye portrait (Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns)
Pictorial Parade via Getty Images
Headshot of American soul singer Marvin Gaye (1939 - 1984), wearing a knit cap, 1977. (Photo by Pictorial Parade/Getty Images)
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
R&B singer Marvin Gaye poses for a portrait at an event on October 31, Halloween of circa 1977 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Rob Verhorst via Getty Images
Marvin Gaye performs on stage at De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1st July 1980. (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns)
Ebet Roberts via Getty Images
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Photo of Marvin GAYE, Marvin Gaye performing on stage, barechested (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)
David Corio via Getty Images
ROYAL ALBERT HALL Photo of Marvin GAYE, Marvin Gaye at Royal Albert Hall, London 1979 (Photo by David Corio/Redferns)
Ebet Roberts via Getty Images
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Photo of Marvin GAYE, Marvin Gaye performing on stage, barechested (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Marvin Gaye (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)
NBC via Getty Images
MOWTOWN 25: YESTERDAY, TODAY, FOREVER -- Pictured: Marvin Gaye -- Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank
Betty Galella via Getty Images
Marvin Gaye and children Frankie and Nona (Photo by Betty Galella/WireImage) *** Local Caption ***
David Corio via Getty Images
ROYAL ALBERT HALL Photo of Marvin GAYE, Marvin Gaye at Royal Albert Hall, London 1979 (Photo by David Corio/Redferns)
Ed Caraeff via Getty Images
Soul singer Marvin Gaye plays in a celebrity basketball game at The Forum for The Soulville Foundation in August, 1977 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ed Caraeff/Getty Images)
John Minihan via Getty Images
6th October 1976: American soul singer Marvin Gaye (1939 - 1984) walking ahead of his Rolls Royce in Notting Hill, London. (Photo by John Minihan/Evening Standard/Getty Images)
David Redfern via Getty Images
SEPTEMBER 01: ROYAL ALBERT HALL Photo of Marvin GAYE, Marvin Gaye perfoming on stage (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns)
Richard E. Aaron via Getty Images
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Photo of Marvin GAYE, Marvin Gaye performing on stage, singing to a woman (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)
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