Pharrell is defending his work on "Blurred Lines," the title track off Robin Thicke's latest album, amid legal discourse about it sounding a lot like Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up." "All you have to do is read the sheet music," he told the Associated Press. "It's completely different."

This summer, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for an outstanding 12 consecutive weeks, beginning June 22. In August, Thicke filed a preemptive lawsuit, hoping to get a ruling that the Marvin Gaye estate has no copyright claim to it. Prior to that, it was reported, Thicke offered a six-figure payout deal to the Gaye family, which was declined.

"[Marvin Gaye] is the king of all kings, so let's be clear about that," Pharrell said, before insisting that, "anybody that plays music and reads music, just simply go to the piano and play the two. One's minor and one's major — and not even in the same key." 

Pharrell produced the song, which also features T.I., and provided vocals. All three men have writing credit for it.

"Got to Give It Up," which topped the Hot 100 in the '70s, was written by Gaye, who also performed the lead vocals, background vocals and instrumentation, alongside several other musicians and members of his family. Motown producer and engineer Art Stewart oversaw the production.

Though the Gaye family has yet to make an official legal move, Gaye's son, Marvin Gaye III, has said that he's receiving counsel from a lawyer.

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(Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)