When the whole crowd sings along with Josh Groban on “You Raise Me Up” live, the warm feeling will make your soul take flight

For listeners who see Josh Groban as more than a singer, his rendition of “You Raise Me Up” in London’s Hyde Park carried deeply personal associations. Some fans connected the words to God or to loved ones who had died; others said the performance stirred a feeling they could not explain.

The performance came during BBC Radio 2’s Last Night of the Proms. At 2:53, in the bridge, Groban invited the audience to sing. The crowd answered by joining together on the familiar hook, supported by the choir appearing with him onstage.

The BBC Concert Orchestra supplied the song’s lush orchestral setting beneath Groban’s heartfelt vocal. Its lead violinist opened the number with a part that was simple yet powerful. Together, Groban, the orchestra, the choir and the participating audience created the kind of concert moment his fans value.

BBC’s upload of the Hyde Park performance reached 8.7 million views. Beneath the video, commenters recounted personal stories about the song’s meaning in their lives. Other responses praised Groban’s voice and the orchestra, with one viewer saying the rendition caused goosebumps and an attendee expressing gratitude for witnessing it in person.

Watch the full performance on page two