Busking, described as publicly performing for gratuities, has been present in every culture of the world dating back to antiquity, says the World Heritage Encyclopedia.
With the advent of the internet and online videos busking has become a lot less prominent, but one 12-year-old girl from Ireland has recently gone viral for her stunning street performance of Ed Sheeran’s hit song “Supermarket Flowers.”
The song, which was featured on Sheeran’s Divide album, was actually written from his mother’s point of view during the time she lost her mother (his grandmother). Pop Sugar explains, “The lyrics reflect the unimaginable loss he knew [his mother] must have been feeling, and he wanted to honor his grandmother’s memory by keeping it on the album.”
Sometime in June, 12-year-old Allie Sherlock uploaded a video of her performing the touching ballad— and the internet has been in complete awe ever since!
Allie’s voice seems to capture attention from the very first bars, as she sings:
“I took the supermarket flowers from the windowsill; I threw the day-old tea from the cup. Packed up the photo album Matthew had made, memories of a life that’s been loved.”
The depth of the young girl’s voice seems mature beyond her years and is coupled perfectly with the melodic notes she strums on her acoustic guitar.
You can literally feel the emotions in the words as she performs the chorus, singing:
“Hallelujah, you were an angel in the shape of my mum. When I fell down, you’d be there holding me up; spread your wings as you go, and when God takes you back, we’ll say Hallelujah, you’re home.”
I’m not crying, you’re crying! But seriously guys, this one is a tear-jerker.
Since Allie has been busking on Grafton Street, she has become a bit of a local celebrity, but it was this stunning performance that launched her into superstardom, even garnering an invite for her to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show— an opportunity which was ultimately turned down.
Her father Mark tells The Independent, “There’s been a few people on to us about different things. She had the Ellen Show in America contact her but she’s only 12 and she just enjoys a bit of busking.”
For her part, Allie agrees that busking is just for fun, saying:
“I want to keep practicing all the time and singing, and so it’s like a hobby, really. Maybe I’ll do weddings. I’d like to see what happens in the future before deciding anything.”
Regardless of what this little girl decides, there’s no doubt that the days of her future will be bright with success!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
