Most radio stations host the likes of pop idols who are known all over the world.
As much as we like to hear live performances from our favorite celebrities, it’s nice to be treated to something a little more raw and real from time to time—and that’s exactly what we were given when a homeless man came off the streets of New York City to perform on the Opie and Anthony Show.
The performer was known as Daniel “Homeless” Mustard.
The bearded man, wearing a flat cap and a large, ratty coat, strummed on his borrowed guitar and belted out the lyrics to Radiohead’s “Creep” in what the hosts dubbed the “greatest cover ever.”
According to Opie Radio, Homeless Mustard had been homeless in New York for some time and came to the NYC studio after after being up all night after being in jail and hospital. He’d told the hosts, Gregg “Opie” Hughes and Anthony Cumia, that he was a musician—but I bet they never expected the expert singing and guitar playing talent they were met with!
Homeless Mustard’s gravely voice added real passion to an already emotional song.
As he belted out the chorus, we truly felt the pain and hopelessness behind the lyrics. But we felt hope in the song, too. At one point, Homeless Mustard sang his own take on the lyrics: “I don’t care if it hurts, I wanna have control,” swapping them for, “It’s okay if it hurts, don’t wanna have control.”
His guitar playing is second-to-none, accompanying his singing perfectly.
For someone who may not have played in months, maybe even years, Mustard’s rendition is exceptional! Unsurprisingly, the video has been viewed more than 32 million times, making Homeless Mustard a viral sensation. In fact, since the video was released, Mustard has made something of a name for himself in the music industry.
He went on to record an EP titled “Daniel Mustard EP,” which was released on in November 2010.
He then released a second EP, “Fragments of Bone,” which he funded from a Kickstarter campaign. This album contains his version of “Creep,” the song he has become known for.
Mustard has a YouTube channel, Daniel Mustard’s Homeless Songs, where you can find more of his renditions of classic hits like The Beatles’ “The Long and Winding Road” and The Lemonheads’ ‘”My Drug Buddie.” For those who listen to the Opie and Anthony Show, he also became a much-beloved guest on their program. Judging by his talented delivery on this song, we’re guessing the world will see a lot more of him in the future.
We haven’t heard much of Daniel recently, but we’re hopefully he’s still making music even while out of the limelight!
It’s thought that 553,742 people in the United States experience homelessness on a given night. Many of them are normal people like Daniel “Homeless” Mustard, with talents and aspirations, whose circumstances have led them to be on the streets.
We were deeply inspired by Homeless Mustard’s performance. We hope that since his musical success, he has been able to seek the support he needed to find a home and live safely and comfortably going forward.
Take a look at the video below—it’s an emotional one, so get your tissues at the ready!
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