During such a tragic and frightening time in Eastern Europe, beacon of light 7-year-old Amelia Anisovych—whose rendition of Frozen’s “Let it Go” went viral from a bomb shelter in Kyiv—performed the Ukrainian national anthem at a charity event before thousands of people in Poland on Sunday.
After her moving performance in the cement bunker, Anisovych became an immediate global sensation, receiving praise and thanks from every corner of the world.
A clip from her latest performance was featured in a video shared by TVN24, a Polish news organization...
| W Atlas Arenie odby\u0142 si\u0119 koncert charytatywny pod has\u0142em "Razem z Ukrain\u0105". Koncert, b\u0119d\u0105cy wyrazem solidarno\u015bci z narodem ukrai\u0144skim, obfitowa\u0142 w pe\u0142ne emocji chwile \n\nTo dzi\u0119ki Pa\u0144stwu uda\u0142o si\u0119 zebra\u0107 blisko osiem milion\u00f3w z\u0142otych. DZI\u0118KUJEMY!\nhttps://tvn24.pl/polska/ukraina-koncert-razem-z-ukraina-w-lodzi-zebrano-blisko-8-milionow-zlotych-dla-polskiej-akcji-humanitarnej-na-wsparcie-ukrainy-5644302\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/zHfawnRS95— tvn24 (@tvn24) 1647901885
...and her full performance—seen below—swiftly spread online.
The lyrics from "Let It Go" had taken on a powerful new context when in her native language, Anisovych sang:
“Let it go, let it go. I am one with the wind and sky."
"Let it go, let it go, you’ll never see me cry."
"Here I stand and here I stay. Let the storm rage on.”
Struck by the profoundness of her performance and message to fellow Ukrainians, the young singer was invited to perform at the “Together With Ukraine” event, the proceeds of which went to providing aid to Ukrainian citizens who have been left homeless, displaced or otherwise victimized by the Russian invasion.
The bunker performance even got the attention of Idina Menzel, musical theatre extraordinaire who made the song famous after singing it for the 2013 Disney film Frozen.
Menzel reposted the video, captioning the tweet:
“We see you."
"We really, really see you.”
We see you. We really, really see you. https://twitter.com/Ankita20200/status/1500496884255051776\u00a0\u2026— Idina Menzel (@Idina Menzel) 1646624026
Also notable was the response by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, co-writer of “Let it Go.”
She tweeted:
“Dear Little Girl with the beautiful voice ..."
"My husband and I wrote this song as part of a story about healing a family in pain."
"The way you sing it is like a magic trick that spreads the light in your heart and heals everyone who hears it."
"Keep singing! We are listening!”
Dear Little Girl with the beautiful voice,\nMy husband and I wrote this song as part of a story about healing a family in pain. The way you sing it is like a magic trick that spreads the light in your heart and heals everyone who hears it. Keep singing! We are listening!https://twitter.com/Ankita20200/status/1500496884255051776\u00a0\u2026— Kristen Anderson-Lopez (@Kristen Anderson-Lopez) 1646663547
Since then, Anisovych has served as a symbol of hope for Ukraine.
Her performance at the “Together With Ukraine” event deepened the world’s admiration for her and touched the hearts of the hopeless. She confidently took center stage on Sunday dressed in traditional Ukrainian white embroidered garments.
Celebrities, like Tim McGraw, weighed in on the awe-inspiring moment:
“Hope, hope is what we have to hold on to.”
Hope, hope is what we have to hold on to \n\nAmelia Anisovych age 7 performing the Ukrainian national anthem \n\n#StandWithUkraine\ufe0fpic.twitter.com/1NoRWRRyY9— Tim McGraw (@Tim McGraw) 1647912118
The rest of the world just fell in love.
" ... 7-year-old Amelia Anisovych, who sang "Let It GO" from a #Kyiv bomb shelter, melted an entire arena of hearts at a benefit concert for #Ukraine in #Lodz, #Poland, singing the Ukrainian national anthem. A capella and in perfect pitch!"
ICYMI 7-year-old Amelia Anisovych, who sang "Let It Go" from a #Kyiv bomb shelter, melted an entire arena of hearts at a benefit concert for #Ukraine in #\u0141\u00f3d\u017a, #Poland, singing the Ukrainian national anthem. A capella and in perfect pitch!\n#SlavaUkraini #\u0421\u043b\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0423\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043d\u0456https://twitter.com/LUKASZKIJEK/status/1505638159249457158\u00a0\u2026— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6Paula Chertok\ud83d\uddfd\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6Paula Chertok\ud83d\uddfd\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1647932063
Seven year old Amelia Anisovych, singing the Ukraine national anthem at a charity concert, after having sheltered from bombs in a bunker, will defeat the Russian barbarian #Putin by inspiring the whole world.https://twitter.com/JamesAALongman/status/1505839536944910339\u00a0\u2026— Richard Fox (@Richard Fox) 1647861285
One person noted:
"This young refugee's national anthem performance exemplifies the spirit and courage of her nation's people."
My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of the Ukraine as they continue their struggle against an evil enemy. This young refugee\u2019s national anthem performance exemplifies the spirit and courage of her nation\u2019s people. #PrayForUkrainehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KrI7jPWzHzA\u00a0\u2026— Greg Bennett (@Greg Bennett) 1647903138
Where fear and dismay have been the central theme of the Ukrainian crisis, viewers are feeling a reprieve with Anisovych’s story, happy to know she is safe.
One person tweeted:
"Amelia Anisovych singing Ukraine national anthem."
"I prayed this little Angel would get out of Ukraine safe."
"With so much suffering, [i]ts heart warming to know that some good has come out of such tragedy."
"Amelia is an inspiration for millions."
Amelia Anisovych singing Ukraine national anthem. I prayed this little Angel would get out of Ukraine safe. With so much suffering, Its heart warming to know that some good has come out of such tragedy. Amelia is an inspiration for millions.\n#GloryToUkraine #TogetherWithUkrainehttps://twitter.com/joncoopertweets/status/1505890635928248326\u00a0\u2026— JohnnyZ From The AZ \ud83c\udff4\u200d (@JohnnyZ From The AZ \ud83c\udff4\u200d) 1647868780
Another added:
"The 7 year old girl spent six days underground with little food & water, before fleeing Ukraine for Poland ... in early March."
This performance of the Ukrainian national anthem by Amelia Anisovych at a charity concert in Poland just gives me goosebumps. \n\nThe 7 year old girl spent six days underground with little food & water, before fleeing Ukraine for Poland in early March.pic.twitter.com/4wVy2SL8cK— GS7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@GS7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1647876870
Some tears are good tears. Like the ones you will cry when you watch this\u2014of little Amelia Anisovych, who came to fame by singing "Let it Go" in a Ukrainian bomb shelter. And now, safe in Poland, she sings her national anthem. OMG. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrI7jPWzHzA\u00a0\u2026 #ukraine #Amelia— Ted McIntyre (@Ted McIntyre) 1647894501
Today, Anisovych takes safe refuge in Poland with her grandmother and brother, although her parents remained in Ukraine.
While she explained the performance was a dream come true, she said she’d, of course, prefer to be with her parents in a free and safe Ukraine.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
