Ed Sheeran has voiced his intention to quit music if his ongoing copyright suit does not go in his favour.
The singer has been accused of copying parts of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” to make his hit song “Thinking Out Loud,” which he has vehemently denied and described as “insulting.”
During the ongoing trial, it was shown that the two songs have a lot in common in their melody and chords. However, Sheeran claimed it did not confirm that he was guilty of the allegations.
Read on to learn more.
‘If That Happens, I’m Done’
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Sheeran is currently embroiled in a copyright claim filed against him by the family of Marvin Gaye’s songwriting collaborator Ed Townsend. The suit claims the “Shape of You” singer copied the late icon’s “Let’s Get It On” for his hit single “Thinking Out Loud.”
Although Sheeran has since vehemently denied the allegations, he shared as he took the stand in Manhattan federal court on Monday that he plans to hang up his musical boots if a jury returns a guilty verdict.
He also called claims that he violated Gaye and co-writer Ed Townsend’s classic work “insulting” to his efforts and dedication to pursuing a music career.
“If that happens, I’m done; I quit,” Sheeran said of his feelings toward the ongoing trial, per Daily Mail. “I think it’s insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone cut it short.”
Ed Sheeran Denies Ripping off Marvin Gaye’s Song
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During Monday’s hearing, Sheeran also denied an exhibit submitted weeks earlier by attorneys for Townsend’s heirs.
The exhibit is a video of Sheeran switching seamlessly between the two songs in question during the show, which lawyers claim proves he did what he was accused of.
In his defense, Sheeran insisted during cross-examination that he often combined “Thinking Out Loud” with Van Morrison’s “Crazy in Love” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”.
He shares that “a lot of the songs have similar chords,” which makes it easy to mix them up for many of his shows, but that doesn’t mean he rips off any of them.
He added, “If I did what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be pretty stupid to stand on stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.”
Ed Sheeran Slams Plaintiff’s Expert Witness
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Another exhibit that Sheeran claims is false is the plaintiff’s expert witness, musician Alexander Stewart.
Stewart had argued the previous week that “Thinking Out Loud” and “Let’s Get It On” had the same harmonic rhythm and seemed to show melodic similarities in the song section.
However, Sheeran denied his claims, saying Stewart had made some changes to the chords and melody of “Thinking Out Loud” when he played it in court to make it sound like Gaye’s song. He then questioned Stewart’s expertise for allegedly trying to make things fit his own narrative.
“If I have to be honest, what he’s doing here is criminal,” Sheeran said. “I don’t know why he’s allowed to be an expert.’”
The plaintiffs are reportedly seeking $100 million in damages, which will be determined in a second case if a jury finds Sheeran guilty.
Ed Sheeran Wins Copyright Battle For ‘Shape of You’
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In the meantime, it is not yet certain who will come out on top in the suit, as both sides have a track record of winning copyright suits.
Last year, Sheeran won a UK copyright battle claiming he copied parts of Sami Chokri’s 2015 “Oh Why” for his 2017 hit “Shape of You”, per CBC.
After winning the suit, the British pop star later voiced her displeasure at the “baseless culture of lawsuits aimed at extorting money from artists eager to avoid the expense of litigation.”
Meanwhile, in 2015, Gaye’s family won a lawsuit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams, claiming they ripped off the iconic song “Got to Give It Up” for their hit, “Blurred Lines.”
The families were awarded damages of up to about 7.4 million dollars, each ABC News.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
