Pop star Ed Sheeran testified Tuesday against allegations that he was involved in the melody of Marvin Gaye’s classic «Let’s Get it On» when he created his hit «Thinking Out Loud.»
The singer-songwriter was quickly on his feet when he was called to the stand in Manhattan federal court to face cross-examination by Keisha Rice, an attorney for the estate of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer, who first filed the lawsuit in 2017.
The plaintiffs were also represented by civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump.
The civil lawsuit claims that Sheeran’s hit bears «striking similarities» to the 1973 hit «Let’s Get It On» and shares «overt common elements» with the classic, which is protected by copyright.
When asked about his live mix of the two songs during a stage performance that was captured on video, Sheeran said he’s done it with other songs, arguing that if he really stole «Let’s Get it On,» it wouldn’t be. prudent to highlight. this way.
«If I did what they accuse me of, I’d be an idiot to stand in front of people,» said Sheeran, 32.
Crump told the jury earlier in the day that the merger of the two songs amounted to «a confession.»
“We have a smoking gun,” he said of the mash-up video.
Sheeran has championed his artistry, including a No. 1 hit he said he wrote himself, as well as other songs he said were written with partners. «Thinking Out Loud» was co-written with Amy Wadge, who has not been named in the lawsuit but plans to take the stand during the trial.
In a quieter moment, Sheeran said he first heard «Let’s Get it On» in the 1999 film «Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,» which drew laughs.
«It’s true,» he said.
Sheeran said he has associated «Thinking Out Loud», released in 2014, with Van Morrison and that the single was known among his team as «the Van Morrison song».
A month after the song’s release, Morrison, known for songs like «Brown Eyed Girl,» turned up at Sheeran’s hotel and told him he «liked her,» Sheeran said of «Thinking Out Loud.»
He said that he came up with the song after a grandfather died. The song is about finding love in old age, she told the court.
«I was in a new relationship at the time,» Sheeran said.
The defense, which did not cross-examine the star, said Sheeran would be taken to the stand one more time during his presentation.
A jury sat down Tuesday to begin what was expected to be a two-week trial.
The Associated Press contributed.