Ed Sheeran is finally being sued over “Thinking Out Loud.” From the moment I heard that song, I said it was “Let’s Get it On” by Marvin Gaye. Now the estate of Gaye’s co-writer and producer Ed Townsend is suing Sheeran over the song. It’s about time.
According to Reuters, the lawsuit says: “The Defendants copied the ‘heart’ of ‘Let’s’ and repeated it continuously throughout ‘Thinking,'” the lawsuit said. “The melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic compositions of ‘Thinking’ are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of ‘Let’s.'”
I’m surprised there isn’t more of this, frankly. Bruno Mars’s “Locked out of Heaven” and Nico and Vinz’s “Am I Wrong” each sound like Sting songs so much that when they start playing on the radio, that’s what you think they are. The pop music world is now riddled with copies, songs that steal a “vibe” and so on of original hits. When you hear an actually good new song, you’re surprised someone thought of it.
“Thinking Out Loud” has annoyed me from Day 1. Good luck to Townsend’s heirs. By the way, I just read that Townsend, who died in 2003, earned a Purple Heart during the Korean War. Just sayin’…
Also, if you’re young, or you’ve forgotten, go listen to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On” and “What’s Going On” albums. They are breathtaking. I also really love “Here My Dear,” which was his divorce pay off album to Anna Gordy. He was such a genius.
Marvin:
Ed Sheeran:
