Pink – What About Us – Street Musician – Karolina Protsenko – Violinist
In the heart of a bustling street filled with the hum of footsteps, distant conversations, and the clinking of nearby cafés, a violin begins to cry—not in sorrow, but in longing. The opening notes of Pink’s What About Us fill the air, not with a voice, but through the emotional bowing of Karolina Protsenko, a young street violinist whose presence turns ordinary days into unforgettable moments.
Karolina isn’t your typical musician. With her long, golden hair flowing and a smile that instantly captures the heart, she brings more than music to the streets—she brings magic. Her interpretation of What About Us is not just a cover; it’s a dialogue with the world, a musical question posed not through lyrics, but through deeply felt sound.
The Power of the Street
Street performances, by nature, are spontaneous and raw. They carry an authenticity that is sometimes lost in polished concert halls. Karolina embraces this world with open arms, turning sidewalks into stages. Her performance of What About Us taps into the core of what makes busking special: connection.
People don’t expect to cry while walking down a shopping street or to be moved emotionally while heading to work. But Karolina’s violin, drawing out each phrase of the song with depth and emotion, surprises them. Some stop and listen. Others close their eyes. And some, inevitably, shed a tear.
Pink’s original song speaks about broken promises and a longing for truth and unity. It’s a cry for attention, for answers, and for healing. Without using a single word, Karolina conveys the very same message, her violin acting as a voice for the voiceless, a gentle yet powerful reminder that music can speak what words often cannot.
A Violin That Speaks
Watching Karolina play, one can’t help but notice how her entire body moves with the music. She doesn’t stand still—she dances. Each sway, step, and turn is in sync with the emotional tone of the song. Her movements are not choreographed; they’re instinctive, born from feeling. It’s this combination of violin and dance that makes her performances so unique, and so touching.
During What About Us, as the chorus intensifies, Karolina’s bow flies across the strings with urgency, asking the song’s titular question over and over through rising melodic arcs. Her technique is impressive, yes—but it’s the vulnerability she allows through her playing that truly elevates the performance.
She doesn’t just play the violin. She feels through it.
A Young Star with an Old Soul
Born in Ukraine and raised in the United States, Karolina Protsenko began busking at a young age. Since then, she has become an internet sensation, amassing millions of views and followers around the world. Yet despite her fame, she remains grounded and sincere, always focusing on the joy of performing and sharing her music.
Her cover of What About Us reflects maturity far beyond her years. While many performers might approach the song as just another pop tune, Karolina seems to understand its message on a deeper level. Perhaps it’s her own experiences as an immigrant, or perhaps it’s simply her empathetic nature—but whatever the reason, the result is a performance that resonates.
This song, released by Pink in 2017, became an anthem for those seeking justice and equality, particularly in times of social unrest. Karolina taps into this collective emotional memory and translates it with her instrument. The result is both beautiful and haunting.
The Audience: A Collective Experience
One of the most touching aspects of Karolina’s street performances is watching how people respond. When she plays What About Us, something changes in the crowd. Strangers gather together in a semicircle, drawn in not by flash or volume, but by sincerity.
Some hold hands. Some film the moment, eager to preserve a memory they hadn’t expected to find. Some children begin to dance nearby, swept up in the spirit of the melody. Karolina often smiles when she sees them, encouraging their joy without missing a note.
Music, at its best, brings people together—and Karolina’s version of What About Us does just that. In a world often divided by noise and difference, her violin becomes a unifying thread, stitching small human moments into something greater.
Violin as a Voice
Why does this performance stand out among thousands of street covers?
Because Karolina doesn’t try to imitate the vocals of Pink. Instead, she allows the violin to interpret the vocal line in its own way—bending notes subtly, adding vibrato where the voice might waver, and sustaining key emotional phrases to linger longer in the air.
Her mastery of dynamics—knowing when to play softly and when to crescendo—gives the piece life. The quieter sections feel almost like whispers, gentle and intimate. Then suddenly, a swell of sound reminds you of the chorus’s plea: “What about us?”
It’s a dialogue between silence and sound, between hope and heartbreak.
A Message for the World
In times when the world feels uncertain, when headlines are heavy, and people feel disconnected, Karolina’s performance serves as a reminder of humanity’s most powerful tools—art, music, and empathy.
Without speaking, without singing, she opens a space for reflection. And through the familiar strains of Pink’s anthem, she brings that message to the streets, where everyday people are given the gift of unexpected beauty.
Whether you’ve heard the song a thousand times or not at all, hearing it through Karolina’s violin feels new. It’s no longer just a song—it’s a question asked directly to your heart.
Final Thoughts
Karolina Protsenko is not just a street performer. She is a storyteller, an emotional translator, and an artist in the truest sense. Her rendition of What About Us showcases everything that makes her special: technical skill, emotional intelligence, and a deep desire to connect.
On any given day in a city street, people pass by countless performers. But when Karolina plays, they stop—not because they’re told to, but because something inside them is moved. The question What About Us hangs in the air, not demanding an answer, but inviting contemplation.
And through her bow, her violin, and her heartfelt delivery, Karolina reminds us of the most important truth: that even in a chaotic world, art will always find a way to heal, unite, and inspire.
Don’t miss out on her latest stunning performance—watch the full video below and experience the magic for yourself! 👇👇