Just when you finally got “Blurred Lines” out of your head a few minutes, it’s back. Hey, hey, hey.
The original song has sparked a lawsuit, numerous spoofs, and a second video to add clothing to female dancers. But don’t expect any of that in an Atlanta twist on Robin Thicke’s mega hit.
Sorry ladies, even former Braves catcher Javy Lopez is fully dressed in "Baselines," a musical tribute to the recent National League East pennant winners.
The video and song, rewritten and sung by Atlanta’s Aaron Chewning, debuted before Monday night’s game at Turner Field. Chewning, 24, plays the role of Robin Thicke in the video, complete with the black suit, white oxford shirt and sunglasses. It wasn’t quite as easy as it looks, Chewning told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“Check the cuff links, try to look like James Bond and be cool,” Chewning said.
It turns out that singing along with Thicke on the radio is much easier than recording the tracks.
Those harmonies required several tracks, Chewning said. Behind-the-scenes recording work from his friend Jordan Roe helped Chewning achieve Thicke’s sound. From start to finish, the song and video were produced in about nine days, Chewning said.
In his work as comedian, Chewning often incorporates music, and earlier this season, he created another video for the Braves. When the organization hired him to do a video spoof to drum up postseason excitement, Chewning said “Blurred Lines” seemed like a logical choice. It wasn’t that hard to write the Braves-centered lyrics, he said.
“We got the Uptons. We got the Johnsons. We’re pretty awesome,” Chewning sings.
Members of the Braves’ Tomahawk team, mascot Homer, and “Heavy Hitters” drummers also appear in the video, along with local rapper Austin Miles.
But the most famous face in “Baselines” belongs to Lopez, a member of the 1995 World Series champion Braves team. Not only was Lopez one of Chewning’s favorite players, but he was also a natural when it was time to shoot the video Friday at Studio Space in Chamblee. Remedy Films produced the video.
“He was great,” Chewning said of Lopez. “He was having fun. And he’s still buff and in great shape.”
Who knows if the video spoof and song will spark the team in the playoffs. But the song sure is catchy.
The lyrics for "Baselines" are posted on Chewning's website for those who want to sing along.
