“Carol of the Bells” is one of Lindsey Stirling’s favorite Christmas songs – as well as a track on her fourth studio album, Warmer in the Winter.
The official YouTube video was released on December 1, 2017, and now has over 49 million views. And once you see it, you won’t be surprised.
Who is Lindsey Stirling?
Lindsey Stirling (born September 21, 1986) is an American violinist and dancer. And be that we mean both – at the same time!
Her choreographed violin performances began with her YouTube channel in 2007. From classical to electronic dance music, her unique talents have been melting minds from the get-go.
Stirling was even named in Forbes magazine’s 30 Under 30 In Music: The Class Of 2015.
Many people recognize her from her television debut on America’s Got Talent in 2010, in which she got to the quarter-finals.
Now, she’s received over 3 BILLION views of her videos on YouTube. So it’s safe to say she’s a pretty big deal.
In September 2017, Stirling competed on season 25 of Dancing with the Stars and finished in second place with her dance partner Mark Ballas.
Song and dance
While in the past she’s admitted that playing the violin and dancing at the same time is very difficult and she has to learn to play the song perfectly before she even begins trying to move around while playing it, you wouldn’t know that by watching her!
In her video for “Carol of the Bells,” she has some help as well, in the form of 4 dancers.
Together, they make for one stunning and talented team of entertainers floating around a large warehouse amidst some magical snow.
“Lindsey can play so good.. she can make it snow indoors,” joked a commenter.
The soundtrack
Despite being written as a holiday tune, the original lyrics had nothing to do with Christmas.
It was a Ukrainian folk song written as a “winter well-wishing song” written in 1916 by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovich and titled “Shchedryk.”
It was originally written to tell “the tale of a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the plentiful year that the family will have. The song’s title is derived from the Ukrainian word ‘shchedryj,’ which means “bountiful,” according to Anthony Potoczniak, a Rice University anthropology graduate student who studied the song’s history.
We certainly see these “birds” chirping around the empty warehouse to proclaim the arrival of the season!
It truly is a spectacular visual event – and we’re more amazed by the minute by what Stirling is able to do with her violin.
“Never seen someone high kick while playing the violin before. Well done!” remarked a veiwer.
Is it ballet? Is it hop-hop? Somthing in between?
It hardly matters because she’s inventing a whole new genre. And while we have to admit we weren’t immediately sold on a dancing violinists, Lindsey Stirling impressed us behind our wildest dreams.
After a last shot of her stunning scenery, she plucks her strings to finsih up.
And she ends with a major flourish! Just like the whole song deserves.
We promise you’ll never hear the song they same way again.
Be sure to scroll down below to see this beautiful performance.
Stirling even has yet a new album out, so bse sure to check her out on Facebook at @lindseystirling.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
