Former pop star looks unrecognisable as he busks for change in Mexico City

Once upon a time he was a household name with a string of hits, an armful of awards and a growing reputation as one of the most talented singers of his generation. 

But one could be forgiven for forgetting all that while passing the long-haired, bare-footed bohemian busker as he quietly plucked an acoustic guitar on a Mexico City street this week. 

Dressed in a robe and harem-style trousers, sporting a beard and seated on a stool in the centre of a patterned blanket, Daniel Bedingfield looked unrecognisable as he played to the general public in vastly different surroundings to the cavernous arena settings he once commanded more than 20-years ago. 

Back then, the now 43-year old singer-songwriter was enjoying the fruits of overnight success after debut single Gotta Get Thru This rocketed to number one in the UK chart and number 10 in the Billboard Hot 100 following its release in 2001. 

A debut album named after the track also fared well, reaching number two in the UK album chart, going five times platinum and selling more than four million copies worldwide. 

Follow-up singles If You’re Not The One and Never Gonna Leave Your Side, released in 2002 and 2003 respectively, also climbed to number one before the New Zealand born star gradually dropped out of the spotlight. 

All change: Daniel Bedingfield looked unrecognisable as he played to the general public on a Mexico City street this week 

Quite a difference: Dressed in a robe, harem-style trousers and seated on a stool in the centre of a patterned blanket, Bedingfield plucked a guitar during a busking session on Wednesday

Taking to his Instagram platform on Wednesday, Bedingfield shared a short video of himself playing on the street alongside a small suitcase emblazoned with the words: ‘Nomadic Jurassic.’ 

A tattered guitar case in front of the singer holds a few tossed, dog-eared Pesos, while an elderly woman seated on a bench to his rear appears to be unaware of his celebrity past as he plucks out a tune.  

Captioning the video, Daniel – whose younger sister Natasha is also a successful singer – wrote: ‘New beginnings in cdmx.’

Incredible: Bedingfield fans went wild after the singer showed off his incredible glow up in a new and rare social media snap of himself posted on Friday

 One wrote: ‘Looking mighty fine!’ before another said: ‘Wow! Look at you – stunning! So good to see you!’

Garage sensation: Bedingfield at the height of his fame. The singer sold more than four million copies of debut album Gotta Get Thru This following its release in 2002

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Earlier this year Bedingfield fans went wild after the singer showed off his incredible glow up in a new and rare social media snap of himself posted on Friday.

The singer looked ruggedly handsome as he posed, sporting a slimmer look and bushy beard.

Fans of the pop star were delighted that he shared a picture of himself – the first in six months – and pointed out his hunky new look. 

Here he is! The singer was last seen on TV in 2016 when he appeared on Lorraine (pictured)- causing a stir among fans who delighted at his interview 

Big name: His other hits included James Dean, I Can’t Read You, Nothing Hurts Like Love and Wrap My Words Around You (pictured in 2004) 

He wrote in the caption: ‘Loving the strength returning to my heart finally, after all that Trump, covid, stuck in America bullshit. I’m free!’

Bedingfield was last seen on TV in 2016 when he appeared on Lorraine – causing a stir among fans who delighted at his interview. 

The then 36-year-old appeared on the chat show, alongside singer Heidi Range, to promote West End musical War Of The Worlds, which they both were appearing in at the time.