Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ Is The UK’s Best Selling Single Of 2013

Robin Thicke’s song “Blurred Lines” is the best-selling single of 2013 in the UK.

Despite its outrageously controversial lyrical content, the singer’s tune was among the most popular tracks of the year. The folks over at the Official Charts Company report that “Blurred Lines” sold an impressive 1.44 million copies since its release. As BBC News points out, there’s still several weeks left in the year to move more copies.

Robin Thicke’s song, which finds the crooner teaming up with producer and rapper Pharrell Williams, spent a total of five weeks at the top of the charts in the United Kingdom. Daft Punk landed in the number two position with their effort “Get Luck,” a song that sold around 1.28 million copies in the country since hitting retail.

Also included in the UK’s list of best-selling singles were Katy Perry’s “Roar,” Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors,” Pink’s “Just Give Me a Reason,” and Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man.” Award-winning singer Taylor Swift’s track “I Knew You Were Trouble” was also a popular choice with buyers in 2013.

However, just because a ton of people bought Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” in the UK doesn’t mean everyone on the planet was a huge fan of the track. Judging from writer Rob Sheffield’s recent essay over at Rolling Stone, the controversial song is easily the worst song of the year and then some.

“Congratulations, Robin Thicke! ‘Blurred Lines’ is the worst song of this or any other year. I can’t remember the last time there was a hit song this ghastly – the sound of Adam Sandler taking a falsetto hate-whizz on Marvin Gaye’s grave. I guess the year’s not over yet so it’s theoretically possible a worse contender could emerge, but I don’t see it happening,” Sheffield wrote in his frequently hilarious write-up.

The Guardian pointed out last month that the University College London student union decided to ban “Blurred Lines” outright due to its lyrical content. The outlet also noted that 20 other student unions also decided to kick Robin Thicke’s song to the curb, suggesting that not everyone in the UK appreciate the guy’s musical effort.

Here’s a list of the UK’s most popular singles of 2013.

1. Robin Thicke – “Blurred Lines”
2. Daft Punk – “Get Lucky”
3. Avicii – “Wake Me Up”
4. Passenger – “Let Her Go”
5. Naughty Boy ft. Sam Smith – “La La La”
6. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – “Thrift Shop”
7. Pink ft. Nate Ruess – “Just Give Me A Reason”
8. Katy Perry – “Roar”
9. Justin Timberlake – “Mirrors”
10. Bastille – “Pompeii”
11. Rudimental ft. Ella Eyre – “Waiting All Night”
12. OneRepublic – “Counting Stars”
13. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – “Can’t Hold Us”
14. John Newman – “Love Me Again”
15. Bruno Mars – “When I Was Your Man”
16. Taylor Swift – “I Knew You Were Trouble”
17. Will.i.am ft. Britney Spears – “Scream + Shout”
18. Ellie Goulding – “Burn”
19. Icona Pop – “I Love It”
20. Olly Murs – “Dear Darlin'”

Are you a fan of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”?