Ed Sheeran plays guitar in New York court as he tries to prove he didn’t copy Marvin Gaye track
Ed Sheeran got his guitar out in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday as he gave evidence in his copyright trial.
Sheeran sang and performed a brief rendition of his track Thinking Out Loud during his testimony, in a trial that will decide if the song violates copyright on Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On.
The mini-performance began an hour into his testimony, when he was asked by his layer to explain how he came up with the track, which hit number one in 2014 in more in a dozen countries, including the UK, US and Ireland.
He reached behind him to grab his guitar, telling the jury writing a song was second nature to him, adding he uses his own version of phonetics to create songs quickly – claiming he could write up to nine in a day.
Sheeran then sang the words, “I’m singing out loud”, just enough to be heard, before saying “and then the words fall in”, as he attempted to convince the jury about how he wrote the music.
He added: “I’m not the world’s most talented guitar player.”
That was followed by him knocking the microphone in the witness stand with his hand, before apologising.
Then he launched into the track itself, which heirs of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer on Let’s Get It On, say has “striking similarities” and “over common elements” to the famed 1973 song.
“When your legs don’t work like they used to,” he sang, adding a few more bars, after which he returned the guitar to the rack behind him.
The judge then adjourned court until next week.
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Ed Sheeran arrives at court
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Elsewhere in his testimony, Sheeran responded to a video that shows him segueing between Thinking Out Loud and Let’s Get It On on stage, saying it was “quite simple to weave in and out of songs” that are in the same key.
Sheeran also explained how joining a church choir when he was four years old fuelled his love for music, and that he left school at 17 to perform up to three times a night, playing anywhere that would have him, from bingo halls to restaurants to “anywhere nobody was”.
Talking about songwriting, he also admitted he “can’t read music – I’m not classically trained in anything”, adding: “When inspiration hits, you get excited, and it just comes out.”
Towards the end of his evidence session, Sheeran was asked by his lawyer why an expert called by the plaintiffs had demonstrated how the chords in Thinking Out Loud are similar to Let’s Get It On.
He replied: “He was saying that because it helps his argument.”
The trial resumes on Monday.
Oasis have said they are “shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan” at their Wembley Stadium concert on Saturday.
Together with their bandmates, Liam and Noel Gallagher have offered their “sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved”.
Metropolitan Police said officers on duty at the stadium responded, alongside venue medics and the London Ambulance Service, to reports a person had been injured at around 10.20pm.
The statement continued: “A man – aged in his 40s – was found with injuries consistent with a fall. He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.”
According to media reports, the man fell from the stadium’s upper tier.
A concertgoer on social media said they saw the incident and described it as “horrific”.
Liam and Noel Gallagher on stage at their first reunion gig. Pic: AP
Metropolitan Police said: “The stadium was busy, and we believe it is likely a number of people witnessed the incident, or may knowingly or unknowingly have caught it on mobile phone video footage.
“If you have any information that could help us to confirm what happened, please call 101.”
Oasis performed at the venue as planned on Sunday night, delivering the final concert of a five-night run at Wembley.
Addressing fans at the stadium, singer Liam said: “This one’s for all the people who can’t be here tonight, but who are here if you know what I mean, and aren’t they looking lovely. Live Forever.”
The band then played the track of the same name.
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Oasis support act Richard Ashcroft paid tribute on Instagram, writing: “I was shocked to hear of the death of one of the audience last night sending my love to the family and friends.”
A spokesperson for Wembley Stadium said: “Our thoughts go out to his family, who have been informed and are being supported by specially trained police officers.”
They will then head to Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the United States, before returning to Wembley for two more dates in September.
The reunion tour began at the start of July and marks the Gallagher brothers’ first performances together since Oasis split acrimoniously in 2009.
The BBC has responded after it was reported that two Strictly Come Dancing stars have been accused of taking cocaine.
The broadcaster is said to have hired an external law firm to probe the drug-taking allegations, which a source said were “well-known” on the show, The Sun on Sunday reports.
The claims were reportedly made on behalf of celebrity contestant Wynne Evans in a legal submission to the BBC in March.
In response, a BBC spokesperson told Sky News: “We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us. We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns.
“It would not be appropriate for us to comment further.”
Sky News understands that it is not unusual for the BBC to engage an external individual to provide additional expert resource to help deliver a BBC-led investigation. In these cases, they would report to an established BBC team.
PA file pic
The allegations published in The Sun on Sunday include a source saying that one Strictly star had told another about a third celebrity on the show: “Have you seen their pupils… they’re off their face.”
“The BBC have known about these allegations for some time, and acknowledged receiving them. Now they are taking firm action,” the source reportedly said.
The two individuals accused of drug taking have not been named.
It is the latest crisis to hit the BBC and Strictly.
In July last year, Amanda Abbington accused Strictly dancer Giovanni Pernice of “abusive or threatening behaviour”. The actress, who was paired with Pernice, withdrew from the show in 2023.
The BBC upheld “some, but not all” of the allegations, with Abbington describing an apology from the corporation as a “vindication”, while Pernice denied displaying “abusive or threatening behaviour”.
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Also in July 2024, Strictly professional dancer, Graziano Di Prima confirmed he was leaving the show amid reports of alleged misconduct.
Separately, Laura Whitmore alleged “inappropriate behaviour” during her time on the show.
In January this year, Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans made “inappropriate and unacceptable” comments at the Strictly Come Dancing live tour launch, for which he later apologised.
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