FANS were surprised this week to hear Ed Sheeran admit that he borrows from other acts.
He is being sued by two artists who say he used part of their song on his hit Shape Of You, which he denies.
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But he isn’t the only star to take inspiration from others.
Many artists turn lesser-known songs into big hits. Did you know these tracks were covers?
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
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THE Neighbours star’s song had been recorded three times before she turned it into an international hit in 1997.
First Danish singer Lis Sørensen had a go, followed by the American band Ednaswap and finally Norwegian singer Trine Rein did a version.
Tainted Love – Soft Cell
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MARC ALMOND heard this long-forgotten 1964 B-side by Gloria Jones being played in a Northern Soul club and gave it a synth pop sound for his band with David Ball.
It became the biggest hit of 1981 in the UK, selling more than a million copies.
Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
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THIS ultimate 80s hit turned American singer Cyndi Lauper into a household name after it became a worldwide smash in 1983.
Yet it was first written and released by little-known Robert Hazard in 1979, when it did not trouble the charts.
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I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
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WHEN Dolly Parton heard the first bars of Whitney Houston’s No1 track in 1992 she says: “It rang a bell, but it didn’t hit because she was kind of talking it.”
Yet when Whitney reached the chorus, Dolly knew it was a cover of her song from 1973.
Step On – Happy Mondays
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WHEN Shaun Ryder sang “He’s gonna step on you again” in 1990 he was repeating the title line of John Kongos’ 1971 track.
It proved to be the Madchester band’s biggest hit, reaching No5 in the UK singles charts, which was one spot lower than the Kongos original.
Hanging On The Telephone – Blondie
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JACK LEE, who wrote the punk pop classic for his band The Nerves, readily gave permission for Blondie to cover Hanging On The Telephone in 1978 because his electricity was about to be cut off.
It reached No5 in the UK charts.
Ray Of Light – Madonna
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BRITISH duo Curtiss Maldoon’s largely ignored 1971 self-titled album included a song called Sepheryn, which 27 years later caught the attention of producer William Orbit.
He said it would make a great song for Madonna, who turned it into a Grammy-winner.
Blue Suede Shoes – Elvis Presley
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MANY of The King of Rock ’n’ Roll’s best-known songs were in fact cover versions, including this iconic track.
Yet not only did Carl Perkins write it, he had a bigger hit with it too. It sold more than a million copies for Perkins in 1955.
Twist and Shout – The Beatles
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JOHN LENNON and Paul McCartney were one of the most prolific songwriting duos of all time, but the 1963 hit was not one of theirs.
The song flopped when The Top Notes released it in 1961, before doing far better for soul group The Isley Brothers in 1962.
I Think We’re Alone Now – Tiffany
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TOMMY James And The Shondells enjoyed two No1s in the US and several other hit singles including this in 1967.
However, it is Tiffany Darwish’s cover version, which reached No1 in the UK 20 years later that gets all the airplay.
I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
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AMERICAN glam rocker Alan Merrill wrote and released this rock anthem in 1975 as a B-side for his band The Arrows.
Once Joan Jett got hold of it, the song stayed at the summit of the US charts for seven weeks in 1982.
