Please allow us to introduce Alyssa Baker, a talented singer-songwriter from Vancouver, Canada. Her cover of the Elvis Presley hit Can’t Help Falling In Love has racked up more than fifteen million views and 263,000 likes on YouTube, and fans love it so much that some have crossed the line from comments to poetry.
Commenter David Dzien exclaimed, “I want this version played at my wedding. It’s slow, stripped down, intimate, unguarded– like the layers of love are peeled away for all to see, just like a wedding should be. This version evokes a candle, rolling in a light breeze.”
It’s unclear if David is actually getting married or if it’s hypothetical, but let’s wish him luck either way. If this comment should demonstrate anything, though, it’s how deeply it’s touched the hearts and souls of the people who have watched it. Although it was only Elvis’ eighth highest-selling hit it has remained enduring popular since its release. It is a staple of weddings, anniversaries and Valentine’s Day and The King’s deep and melodic voice adds superb depth and feeling to the track.
She starts by stripping the song down to the essentials. She sits alone at the piano, no backing vocals or extra instruments. Just the piano and the beauty of her voice. Her voice has a gorgeous husky quality that compliments the song beautifully. She sways gently as she sings, embodying the music, and different emotions flit across her face making it impossible to take your eyes off her.
Even though it’s a recorded performance it seems so quiet and personal that you almost feel like you’re spying or intruding when you watch it. It’s an enthralling performance and once you’ve seen it you’ll understand why she has 113,000 subscribers on YouTube, all clamouring for more music.
Alyssa was born on October 17th, 1998, in Calgary. Her parents moved to Vancouver when she was four and that is where she grew up. Even as a young child, Alyssa was obsessed with music. She would listen to the radio and learn as many songs as she could. Then, like the future star she is, she would put on concerts for friends and family.
When she graduated from kindergarten her parents offered her a treat for doing well. Instead of a Barbie, a board game, or a pretty new dress, she asked for singing lessons and that was only the beginning. As well as singing Alyssa began writing music when she was twelve and is also an accomplished musician. She can play the piano, guitar, banjo and ukulele.
She released her first EP, simply named Alyssa Baker, when she was only sixteen and a second named Undone two years later. Her music is available on Spotify and gets 26,000 listens per month. Although she may not have reached the mainstream yet, her dreamy, poppy sound makes it certain she will be there soon. If you would like to see more from Alyssa Baker, you can subscribe to her YouTube channel or follow her on Instagram.