Brendan Graham song sung for Barack Obama

Irish songwriter Brendan Graham found himself at the centre of an historic moment on Tuesday, when a song of his was performed at the Friends of Ireland luncheon in Washington.

Irish Tenor Anthony Kearns chose to sing the song 'O, America' – the lyrics for which were written by Brendan Graham to music composed by US writer William Joseph – at a dinner that was attended by the US President, Barack Obama, as well as An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. The performance was greeted by a standing ovation, which was led by the US President. The House Speaker, John Boehner, who sat between Obama and Kenny, was reported to have wiped away a tear after the emotional performance.

The Irish songwriter first heard the strains of the melody for the song in the corridor of an LA hotel – and then heard it again later, at a showcase by William Joseph, which was hosted by multi-Grammy winning producer, David Foster.

”I instantly fell in love with the melody – called 'Sweet Remembrance Of You'", Graham recalls, ”and William generously gave me permission to try to find words to it.”

Which the Irish songwriter duly did. The idea that it should be an anthem to America came to Graham, when listening to the melody, while driving from Dublin to Mayo, the day after he got back to Ireland.

”It was the longest road home, ever,” the songwriter, who is best known as the co-writer of the global megahit 'You Raise Me Up' – says, ”stopping at lay-bys and farm-gates all down the way, scribbling a bit here and there, in case I’d forget. Songs come in strange ways…and you just have to go with them – having no earthly idea where they might end up… if anywhere!

”So, it is a huge good fortune for William and myself that this particular song, should find its way to be performed before President Obama, President of the United States, the country for whom the song was written – and, too, in the presence of Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.

”Songs always travel hopefully and sometimes, thankfully they arrive," Graham added. "I am thankful to Anthony Kearns for choosing to sing 'O, America!' at this prestigious occasion, between Ireland and the United States… and giving this song its moment to arrive."

Meanwhile, 'You Raise Me Up', perhaps the single most successful song in contemporary music over the past five years globally, has been chosen for the new Mitsubishi Motors 'Drive @Earth' worldwide online/motor show etc., campaign. The campaign originates in Japan, where 'You Raise Me Up' has already been used in three major television campaigns, separately for Panasonic, Sony and Twining's Tea. The song, in a shorter form, is also being used in the local Japanese Mitsubishi campaign.

"The song first came to popularity in Japan, when the version by Celtic Woman was skated to by Olympic Gold Medallist, Shizuka Arakawa, as her Gold Medal Exhibition piece, at the Turin Winter Olympics," Brendan Graham told Hot Press. "Subsequently, the song enjoyed further success in Japan, when it became the theme song from the successful TV animated series of Romeo and Juliet. This version was performed by Lena Park."

Continuing a remarkable sequence of successes, 'You Raise Me Up' was also the theme song in the TV drama series, Byakkotai, about the Battle of Boshin and the fall of the teenage sons of Samurai.

'You Raise Me Up' was co-written with Brendan Graham by the Norwegian musician and composer, Rolf Lovland.