Controversial single tops all-time UK downloads
According to a new countdown compiled by the Official Charts Company, ‘Blurred Lines’ — which also features vocals from TI and Pharrell Williams — has sold a record-breaking 1.54m copies since it was released last May.
The bestselling single of 2013, it was banned at several universities and was the subject of campaigns from women’s rights groups after some said the lyrics were derogatory and sexist.
The accompanying video in which Thicke was surrounded by naked dancing models prompted calls for age ratings to be applied to pop tracks.
It overhauls the previous biggest selling download, Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’, which has now sold 1.53m copies to date. The top five is completed by 2011’s ‘Moves Like Jagger’ by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera, ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ by Gotye featuring Kimbra released the same year, and ‘I Gotta Feeling’ by Black Eyed Peas, which was first released in 2009.
Pop star Thicke said: “I’m so honoured, the success of ‘Blurred Lines’ is a dream come true.”
The track entered the chart at number one in its first week, and reached 1m sales in eight weeks.
