Last Sunday a St. Albert Gazette newspaper carrier was shocked and thrilled when a singer she’d never met crashed her concert at West Edmonton Mall.
It turns out the offender was British pop superstar Ed Sheeran, a man Sydney Bourbeau, 13, describes as “my hero.” Within the blink of eye, the budding singer became the news instead of delivering it.
Bourbeau was performing Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud as part of Resonate Music School’s fundraiser for the Edmonton Humane Society when the redheaded singer dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans joined her onstage for an impromptu concert.
Sheeran, who was in Edmonton to perform a concert as part of his world tour, had just left HMV when he heard the cover being performed. On the spur of the moment, he joined Bourbeau
“I saw someone walk up on the stage. I had just taken the mic off the stand so I could walk around and I thought it was someone taking the mic stand,” said Bourbeau.
When the Grade 8 V. J. Maloney student realized it was her idol, “I started to freak out and he hugs me. It was so shocking. I don’t remember what happened. It was so surreal.”
They sang a duet of the second verse and chorus before Sheeran left the stage as quickly as he appeared.
“It was shocking, but it was so cool. I’ve loved him for four years.”
Later Sunday afternoon, Sheeran’s manager texted her offering two tickets to the Grammy-nominated singer’s Rexall Place concert.
During the concert, Sheeran’s manager once more tweeted Bourbeau with a backstage invitation.
“I didn’t read it until I got home. My heart just sank.”
Despite having missed the backstage pass, Bourbeau reveals that the crooner gave her a day to remember for the rest of her life.
“He’s a great supporter of his fans. He knows that without fans he wouldn’t be where he is. He’s very humble and genuine.”
Throughout this experience, Sheeran witnessed the power of celebrity first hand. The event was publicized in news media across Canada, the United States, Britain, New Zealand and Australia. Just after a brief interview with Global News, Bourbeau smiled and said, “It’s crazy, but it’s fun.”
