Son unexpectedly asked dad to join him on stage. His dad almost cried when he heard what the song was about

There are few moments more vulnerable than expressing who you are in front of a parent. When musician Nick Hagelin’s son, Bash Hagelin, asked him to perform with him at school, it seemed like a simple request. But when the lyrics started, Nick realized his son was using the song to say something personal, with him standing right beside him. Nick shared the moment in a video on Instagram (@nickhagelin), where the two stood on stage under soft lighting. His son wore a black jacket and band tee, standing before the mic with confidence. He opened with the line, "I don't care if it hurts." The song was Radiohead's "Creep," and as the lyrics continued, so did the idea that this wasn't just a performance.

The video cuts between the school stage and home footage showing clips of his son as a toddler in physical therapy, learning to walk, adjusting to braces, and moving through daily routines with focus and care. What stands out is the child's struggle with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC), a condition begotten at birth where one's joints go stiff and become difficult to move, often leading to multiple fractures. Having struggled with such pain since childhood, his singing the lines "I want a perfect body. I want a perfect soul" seemed to break his father, and all those watching along. Nick kept playing beside him, listening as his son sang, "I wish I were special. What the hell am I doing here?" The lyrics reflected real experiences and were rooted in years of work, physical challenges, and growing up learning how to move through the world in his own way. The performance was a way for his son to express something that mattered, something major he had overcome, with his dad beside him.

That kind of moment, where music becomes a form of emotional honesty, has been explored in research as well. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found that shared musical experiences between parents and children can strengthen emotional bonds and give children a way to communicate feelings they may not know how to express with words. With a parent present, music becomes a safe space to be understood.

Viewers were touched by this emotional performance and expressed their thoughts in the comments. @barbieluvsmoz wrote, "You're so f*** special and you do belong here." @angie_kilcullen_art commented, "Incredible. Bash, you have an AMAZING voice and you are incredibly special… in all of the best ways. Keep shining your bright light!!!" @nicolecheriemusic said, "So absolutely brave of that kid to get up and perform in front of everyone! And he simply ROCKED!!! How beautiful!" @failtothex wrote, "The father weezered the whole audience in the end. What a banger move to pull off!" @kandeejohnson penned, "YOU ARE MORE THAN PERFECT!!! You are incredibly, fantastically AMAZING!!!!!" @styleethic wrote, "Ohhh I will happily cry over that satisfied and proud lil smile at the end any time!"

@tahnizzle shared, "I also have AMC! You truly belong here because your voice is truly breathtaking! Keep singing and shining your light!" @georgepatsy chimed in, "I so get it, my beautiful son, not perfect physically, but a tremendous guiding light to more than he realises. Music has also been one of his passions. Every age releases another talent, now 44. Who knows what the future will provide? Regardless, it will come from his soul, this I am sure of." @streetpeopleoflosangeles quipped, "Thank you for sharing all those moments with us. Puts life in perspective. Great job, young man, you keep fighting and singing!!"

You can follow Nick Hagelin (@nickhagelin) on Instagram for more music content.