When a haunting classic meets raw street talent, magic happens. Karolina Protsenko’s violin cover of “The House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals doesn’t just revisit a rock ballad—it completely transforms it. No words, no flashing lights—just strings, soul, and a sidewalk. And yet, in under 3 minutes, it hooks over 865,000 viewers and counting.
Standing under the open sky, Karolina delivers one of her most emotional performances to date. With every stroke of her bow, she breathes life into the 1964 hit—her notes trembling with tension, rising with sorrow and glowing with eerie beauty. The original song tells a dark tale of loss and regret, and Karolina’s version somehow makes it even more heartbreaking without saying a single word.
The House Of The Rising Sun – The Animals | Violin Cover – Karolina
The crowd? Spellbound. Passersby slow down, stand still, and soak in the sound as though witnessing a moment they’ll never forget. Many whip out their phones, others close their eyes, and a few visibly wipe away tears. On YouTube, one user wrote, “This feels like a movie scene,” while another said, “Her violin literally speaks.”
But this isn’t the first time Karolina has turned a sidewalk into a stage—and definitely not the last. After stunning fans with her melancholic rendition of “The House of the Rising Sun,” she followed it up with another powerhouse performance: her tear-inducing cover of “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”
Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler | Karolina Protsenko – Violin Cover
That performance has already passed 3.3 million views and continues to grow as fans fall for her cinematic, wordless storytelling.
You can find her on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook, where she shares street sessions, behind-the-scenes moments, and full-length performances that remind us all what music can feel like when it’s real.