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| Ed Sheeran sings and plays guitar at copyright trial in New York | Ed Sheeran sings and plays guitar at copyright trial in New York |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Ed Sheeran sang and played guitar to a New York jury at a civil trial that will decide whether he copied Marvin Gaye's Let's Get it On. | |
| For roughly an hour, Sheeran described his entire musical career and performed parts of the song in question, Thinking Out Loud. | |
| Heirs of Gaye's co-writer are claiming that he stole elements of the chart-topping hit. | |
| But in court, Sheeran cradled a guitar as he described his artistic process. | But in court, Sheeran cradled a guitar as he described his artistic process. |
| "I draw inspiration a lot from things in my life and family," said Sheeran, denying that he had been influenced by Gaye's legendary 1973 R&B hit. | "I draw inspiration a lot from things in my life and family," said Sheeran, denying that he had been influenced by Gaye's legendary 1973 R&B hit. |
| He told the jury how his 2014 song was written at his home in England with friend and collaborator Amy Wadge. | He told the jury how his 2014 song was written at his home in England with friend and collaborator Amy Wadge. |
| He said the process began during a brainstorming session, with him saying the phrase "I'm singing out now", which was ultimately changed to become the title of the song. | He said the process began during a brainstorming session, with him saying the phrase "I'm singing out now", which was ultimately changed to become the title of the song. |
| "When I write vocal melodies, it's like phonetics," Sheeran said. | "When I write vocal melodies, it's like phonetics," Sheeran said. |
| Ed Sheeran tells copyright trial he's not an idiot | Ed Sheeran tells copyright trial he's not an idiot |
| He then picked up an acoustic guitar from behind the witness stand and played the chord progression for the song before singing the opening words. | He then picked up an acoustic guitar from behind the witness stand and played the chord progression for the song before singing the opening words. |
| The musician also said the song had been inspired by his grandparents' love for each other, his grandfather's recent death and a new romantic relationship he had just begun. | The musician also said the song had been inspired by his grandparents' love for each other, his grandfather's recent death and a new romantic relationship he had just begun. |
| Sheeran's testimony came after a musicologist called by the plaintiffs on Wednesday testified that the two songs share similarities. | Sheeran's testimony came after a musicologist called by the plaintiffs on Wednesday testified that the two songs share similarities. |
| According to the Associated Press, Sheeran began his testimony by bumping his hand against the witness stand microphone before uttering a quick "sorry". | |
| He also reportedly told the packed courtroom: "I'm not the world's most talented guitar player." | He also reportedly told the packed courtroom: "I'm not the world's most talented guitar player." |
| WATCH: Ed Sheeran arrives at court for copyright trial | WATCH: Ed Sheeran arrives at court for copyright trial |
| WATCH: Ed Sheeran arrives at court for copyright trial | WATCH: Ed Sheeran arrives at court for copyright trial |
| Sheeran also said that he writes music quickly, up to nine songs in a day. | Sheeran also said that he writes music quickly, up to nine songs in a day. |
| As the trial began earlier this week, US District Judge Louis Stanton warned the seven-member jury that despite the fact that music will be played in court: "We don't allow dancing." | As the trial began earlier this week, US District Judge Louis Stanton warned the seven-member jury that despite the fact that music will be played in court: "We don't allow dancing." |
| In their opening statement earlier this week, lawyers for the plaintiffs played video of Sheeran at a concert in Zurich transitioning between playing Thinking Out Loud and Gaye's soul classic, claiming that it amounts to a "smoking gun" confession. | |
| Heirs of Gaye's co-writer, Ed Townsend, argue that Sheeran, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Publishing owe them money for allegedly stealing the song. | |
| If the jury finds the pop star liable for copyright infringement, the trial will enter a second phase to determine how much he owes. | If the jury finds the pop star liable for copyright infringement, the trial will enter a second phase to determine how much he owes. |
| Sheeran is expected to resume his testimony on Monday. | Sheeran is expected to resume his testimony on Monday. |
| The latest trial comes one year after Sheeran was cleared at a trial in London of claims he copied his hit song Shape Of You. | The latest trial comes one year after Sheeran was cleared at a trial in London of claims he copied his hit song Shape Of You. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Copyright | Copyright |
| Ed Sheeran | Ed Sheeran |
| New York | New York |
| United States | United States |
| Music | Music |