U2 Celebrates Canada's Birthday

U2’s Bono and The Edge rang in the first of July with about 45,000 people in Ottawa to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. The Irish musicians covered 'Rain' by The Beatles in addition to performing their own song, 'One.'

Bono also praised Canada on stage for their inclusive politics, saying, "Whether you have just arrived from Syria or your roots go back thousands of years, this is your home and we are grateful guests in it. When others build walls, you open doors. When others divide, your arms are open wide. Where you lead, others follow."

The U2 members weren’t even paid for the gig, instead donating their time as a gift for the celebration. “The Irish have been welcomed here for hundreds of years, from the famine where many of us were refugees, to now where we arrive by choice,” Bono said, also mentioning the Irish contribution to Canada of “(about) 17,000 Irish pubs.”