Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding (Karolina Protsenko – Violin Cover)
Music has the power to transcend boundaries, languages, and generations. When a popular pop ballad like “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding gets reimagined through the delicate, expressive sound of a violin, it creates an entirely new emotional experience. That’s exactly what young violin prodigy Karolina Protsenko accomplishes in her heartfelt street performance of this international hit. With her signature passion and grace, she brings fresh life to the song, capturing the hearts of her audience on the street and viewers across the globe.
Karolina Protsenko, a Ukrainian-American violinist, has become known not just for her technical skill but for the way she communicates emotions through music. Her performances, often recorded during busking sessions on popular streets like the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California, are both powerful and intimate. One of her standout performances is her rendition of “Love Me Like You Do,” a song that originally surged in popularity as part of the “Fifty Shades of Grey” soundtrack and became one of Ellie Goulding’s signature hits.
The original version of “Love Me Like You Do” is sweeping, filled with cinematic strings and Ellie Goulding’s ethereal voice. It’s a pop anthem about vulnerability, desire, and emotional surrender. Karolina’s violin cover manages to maintain that cinematic quality while adding her own touch of softness and innocence. The violin, with its ability to mimic the human voice, sings in Karolina’s hands. Each note she plays feels like a word unspoken, as if the violin is whispering the lyrics directly into the hearts of listeners.
One of the most enchanting elements of Karolina’s performance is the setting. She often plays on busy pedestrian streets where people walk by, stop, and form spontaneous audiences. The environment is unscripted and raw, yet Karolina creates an atmosphere of beauty and calm amid the everyday hustle. With her signature smile, she greets her audience, and when her bow touches the strings, everything around seems to fade. Passersby often slow their pace, drawn in by the hauntingly beautiful melody. Many pause, enchanted, watching this young violinist transform a pop song into a classical-like experience.
Karolina’s version of “Love Me Like You Do” does not require lyrics to convey the meaning. Her bow glides with precision and emotion, bringing out the longing and sweetness of the melody. The song’s high notes soar with yearning, while the lower tones offer grounding and warmth. There’s a quiet intensity to her playing that reflects both the strength and vulnerability present in the original version. It’s this balance that makes her cover so compelling.
Visually, Karolina often appears like a character out of a storybook—her long hair flowing, a bright outfit that reflects her youthful spirit, and an aura of pure joy. Yet despite her young age, the depth of emotion she channels is mature and profound. In “Love Me Like You Do,” we see a young artist expressing the complexities of love and affection with remarkable clarity. The audience feels her connection to the music, and that connection becomes contagious.
What makes this cover stand out among many violin renditions of pop songs is Karolina’s ability to blend technical skill with heartfelt performance. She doesn’t just play the notes; she embodies the song. The dynamics in her playing—the crescendos and decrescendos, the moments of tension and release—mirror the emotional journey of the song’s narrative. It’s storytelling without words.
Many viewers have commented on the emotional impact of the performance. Whether watching live or on YouTube, listeners often describe being moved to tears. One might expect such emotion from a full orchestra or a seasoned soloist, but Karolina delivers that same depth with just a violin, a small speaker, and a sidewalk as her stage. The purity of her music, unfiltered and authentic, strikes a chord in people from all walks of life.
The arrangement of the song also deserves attention. Karolina’s version simplifies the lush production of the original, allowing the melody to shine through unencumbered. Stripped of lyrics and electronic beats, the song’s structure becomes more apparent, and the focus shifts to the contours of the melody itself. This minimalist interpretation lets the emotion breathe, inviting listeners to interpret the music through their own experiences.
There’s also something symbolic about a young girl performing such a mature song on a public street. It suggests hope and innocence, even in the context of a song that speaks to romantic passion. Karolina’s youthful energy softens the theme, offering a different perspective—one that speaks more of admiration, connection, and pure emotion than the adult complexities of love. It’s a reminder that music can be reinterpreted through different lenses, and still retain—or even gain—emotional power.
The impact of Karolina’s “Love Me Like You Do” cover extends far beyond the street corners where she performs. Her videos have garnered millions of views, shared across social media platforms by fans worldwide. In a digital world where content often feels rushed or artificial, Karolina’s performance feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s genuine, it’s touching, and it’s a testament to the power of music to bring people together, even if just for a few minutes.
As Karolina continues to grow as a musician and artist, performances like this one showcase the beginnings of a truly remarkable career. But even more than a career, her music is a gift—a reminder of how beauty can emerge in the most unexpected places. Whether it’s a popular pop hit or a classical masterpiece, Karolina Protsenko turns every piece into a personal expression, and her violin becomes the voice of feelings too deep for words.
In conclusion, Karolina Protsenko’s violin cover of “Love Me Like You Do” is more than a performance—it’s an emotional journey. Through her talent, warmth, and sincerity, she captures the essence of the song and reshapes it into something new and uniquely her own. It’s a performance that invites us to feel, to pause, and to fall in love with music all over again.
Don’t miss out on her latest stunning performance—watch the full video hope you guy like it 👇👇