Ed Sheeran takes the stand, serenades courtroom with covers"

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran recently took the stand in a copyright trial and surprised everyone in the courtroom with his musical talent. As part of his defense against accusations of copyright infringement, Sheeran picked up his guitar and performed covers of songs by Nina Simone and Van Morrison for the court.

Sheeran's performance was a bold move, but it may have helped to humanize him in the eyes of the jury. In recent years, many high-profile musicians have faced lawsuits alleging that they have copied parts of other artists' songs in their own work. While some of these cases have been dismissed, others have resulted in large payouts to the original creators.

Sheeran's legal troubles began in 2016 when he was accused of copying parts of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" for his hit song "Thinking Out Loud." The case was eventually settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. In the current trial, Sheeran is being accused of copying elements of the song "Amazing" by Matt Cardle in his own song "Photograph."

Despite the seriousness of the trial, Sheeran's impromptu performance added a touch of levity to the proceedings. His covers of "Ain't Got No, I Got Life" by Nina Simone and "Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison were met with applause from the courtroom.

It remains to be seen how the trial will be resolved, but Sheeran's performance may have won him some fans in the courtroom. While he is certainly no stranger to controversy, it is clear that he remains a talented musician with a passion for his craft. Whether or not he is found guilty of copyright infringement, there is no denying that his music has touched the lives of millions of people around the world.