U2's Bono and The Edge perform hauntingly beautiful orchestral cover of ABBA's 'S.O.S'

Over the weekend U2's Bono and The Edge paid tribute to their longtime friends, ABBA, with a hauntingly beautiful orchestral cover the Swedish band's 1975 hit 'S.O.S.'

Taking to the stage at BBC Radio 2's Piano Room, the superstars switched out the quartet's sunshiny '70s arrangement for a slower acoustic affair, clad with strings and Bono's signature croon.

Speaking to host Gary Davies before the performance, the Irish rockers explained that their love for ABBA wasn’t easy to embrace.

"There is something about ABBA. I can remember ABBA as like the national anthem for young mothers," Bono admitted.

"Certainly at closing time at our local pub, often young women would sing 'Thank You For The Music’ 'and I would sing it and I was very thankful for the music!

"I didn’t have the courage to own up to [liking ABBA] when I was 16 in the middle of punk rock," he continued.

"We’re big fans of this Scandinavian band, appreciators of their work in a way that grew over years. We are fans of the Bee Gees which people wouldn’t have imagined,” The Edge added. “We’re fans of lots of great songwriters who aren’t necessarily seen as very hip, and I guess we’re just appreciators of their work."

Beautiful!