-- Even though Pharrell is engaged in a battle with Marvin Gaye's estate over Robin Thicke's megahit "Blurred Lines," he wants to make one thing clear – he has incredible respect for the late soul legend.


"I'm a huge fan of Marvin Gaye. He is a genius. He is the patriarch," Pharrell said on Thursday night.


The hit making singer and producer collaborated with Thicke on the No. 1 smash, which some have said sounds very similar to Gaye's "Got to Give it Up." Last month, Pharrell, Thicke and the song's other collaborator, T.I., filed a lawsuit asking a judge to determine that it does not copy Gaye's song and a song by George Clinton. It was a pre-emptive strike against future claims from Gaye's heirs that the song takes from Gaye's composition without credit.


Pharrell told The Associated Press on Thursday night that the two songs are not similar at all.


"If you read music, all you have to do is read the sheet music. It's completely different," he said while on the red carpet during an event for the Calvin Klein Collection during Fashion Week.


Gaye "is the king of all kings, so let's be clear about that. And we take our hats off to him," he said. "But 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."


The Grammy winner has had a huge year; he was also a collaborator on the other big song of the summer, Daft Punk's "Get Lucky."


"I'm thankful. It's awesome," he said. "You know, the people are doing it. You know what I mean? They don't have to, but the fact that they have, it's a really awesome experience and moment, you know?"




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  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Drew Barrymore shopped at Barneys store on Madison Avenue in New York City on Sept. 12.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the Tusk Awards in London on Sept. 12.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Nicole Kidman arrived in style to the Calvin Klein Fashion Show, part of New York Fashion Week in New York City on Sept. 12.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Olivia Munn grabbed some iced tea while walking though the East Village in New York City on Sept. 11.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Reese Witherspoon was spotted chit-chatting on her phone, which was covered in a custom Minnie & Emma's iPhone case, in Century City, Calif., on Sept. 11.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian made a stop at an office building while filming "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 11.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Katie Holmes posed backstage at the Michael Kors fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2014 at The Theatre at Lincoln Center on Sept. 11.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    A reportedly pregnant Gwen Stefani dropped off her son Zuma at school in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 11.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Julianne Moore made an appearance on NBC's "Today" show in Rockefeller Center on Sept. 10, 2013 in New York City.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Kristin Cavallari showed support for her husband, Jay Cutler, with her Chicago Bears-inspired nails at the Colgate Optic White Beauty Bar at NYC's Salon Ziba on Sept. 10.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Rihanna attended a photocall to launch Rihanna for River Island SS14 collection in London on Sept. 10.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Jessica Alba did some shopping with a friend in New York City on Sept. 10.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Morena Baccarin and Mandy Patinkin attended a special screening of "Homeland" at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. on Sept. 9.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Stacy Keibler was spotted out and about wearing a jumpsuit in NYC on Sept. 9.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Lea Michele wore a purple coat as she took a solemn walk through Central Park while filming scenes for "Glee" in NYC on Sept. 9.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Victoria Beckham was spotted out and about in New York City on Sept. 9.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Miley Cyrus greeted her fans as she left the NRJ Radio studios in Paris on Sept. 9.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Selena Gomez looked lovely as she arrived at BBC Radio 1 studios in London, England on Sept. 9.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Katharine McPhee shopped for designer fall fashion pieces at Marshalls in West Hollywood, Calif., on Sept. 9.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Bar Refaeli was seen arriving and leaving the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, Calif., on Sept. 8.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Hilary Swank arrived on a flight to attend the 2013 Toronto Film Festival in Toronto, Canada on Sept., 8.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Charlie Hunnam attended FX's "Sons Of Anarchy" Season 6 Premiere Screening at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on Sept. 7.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Julianne Hough rocked a crop top while making her way out of a workout session in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 6.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Naomi Watts looked stunning in a white evening gown as she left her hotel for the premiere of "Diana" in London, England on Sept. 5.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Heidi Klum was spotted out during New York Fashion Week on Sept. 5 in New York City, New York.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Channing Tatum enjoyed a night out at Groucho Club in London, UK on Sept. 4.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Dakota Fanning and her much-older model boyfriend went hand-in-hand for a stroll around New York City on Sept. 4.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Nicole Richie was seen wearing a denim dress outside her hotel after attending the Style Awards in New York City on Sept. 4.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Michael C. Hall was seen with his girlfriend departing LAX Airport where he also signed a few autographs for fans on Sept. 4.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Justin Timberlake arrived at the KISS FM studio looking cool and casual in a black fedora and sunglasses on Sept. 4 in London, England.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Josh Duhamel was full of smiles as he stepped out in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 3, just days after welcoming a son named Axl into the world.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Dianna Agron was seen out and about at the East Village neighborhood in New York City on Sept. 3.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Scarlett Johansson was all smiles as she arrived at the 70th Venice International Film Festival on Sept. 3 in Venice, Italy.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Olivia Wilde left her hotel dressed to impress in London, England on Sept. 2.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Hayden Panettiere rocked a teeny bikini while vacationing in Miami, Fla., on Sept. 1.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Brooke Burke looked stunning sitting on the Can-Am Spyder in Malibu, Calif., on Sept. 2.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Ashley Tisdale and Christopher French hiked Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 31.




  • Celebrity Photos: September 2013


    Maria Menounos was spotted at a Los Angeles drug store looking to extend her color with Jergens Natural Glow + Protect moisturizer on Sept. 2.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Kourtney Kardashian made an appearance at 'Kardashian Khaos' at the Mirage hotel and casino in Las Vegas, Nev., on Aug. 31.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Emmanuelle Chriqui rocked a yellow string bikini as she and boyfriend Adrian Bellani hit the beach in Miami, Fla., on Aug. 29.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Khloe Kardashian tried to keep a low profile under an oversized hoody as she headed into a Los Angeles gym on Aug. 29.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Ashley Benson grabbed an iced coffee after her workout at the gym on Aug. 29 in West Hollywood, Calif.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Mark Wahlberg left the set of "Transformers 4" to grab some lunch in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 28.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Heidi Klum looked amazing at "America's Got Talent" Season 8 Red Carpet Event at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Aug. 28.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Jessica Biel carried an umbrella as she stepped out in New York City on Aug. 28.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Olivia Wilde stepped out of her apartment and headed into the city on Aug. 28 in New York.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    George Clooney and Sandra Bullock seen together arriving at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on Aug. 28.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Cate Blanchett attended the "Blue Jasmine" premiere at UGC Cine Cite Bercy on Aug. 27 in Paris, France.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Hilary Duff left a Pilates class in Burbank, Calif., on Aug. 27.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Reese Witherspoon treated herself to a manicure at Bella Cures nails in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 27.




  • Celebrity Photos: August 2013


    Katie Holmes on the set of her new film "Miss Meadows" in Ohio on Aug. 26.