For the last several Christmas Eves, U2's Bono has appeared on the streets of Dublin to "busk" (i.e., sing/perform in exchange for donations) on behalf of a charity that helps the homeless.
Image source: YouTube raw video
This Christmas Eve was no different, as a wild crowd gathered around Bono and Irish songwriter Glen Hansard — who plays for The Frames and The Swell Season and starred in the 2007 film "Once," winning an Oscar for Best Original Song ("Falling Slowly") — while the pair prepared to sing and play without amplification.
No worries. The rowdy group erupted, drowning out Bono's voice on the chorus to "Merry Xmas Everybody," a 1973 song by the English group Slade. The mood was electric.
Then Bono quieted the throng and introduced the final song: "For the child who was born...in the straw of poverty, I would like to sing an actual carol."
With that Bono began intoning "O Come All Ye Faithful."
The out-of-control crowd, once in a frenzy, demonstrated a noticeable shift in tone, especially as they sing along with Bono the well-known chorus: "O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord."
Bono singing "O Come All Ye Faithful" to crowd on street in Dublin, Ireland. (Image source: YouTube raw video)
As Bono has done from time to time with his own songs, he forgets a few of the lyrics...but the spirit he makes room for is something to behold.
Here's the clip, straight from Grafton Street:
This post has been updated.
(H/T: Daily Mail)
--
[related]