In December 2017, before the term
bardcore was widely known, a medieval version of "
Toxicity" by
System of a Down was published on
YouTube by Algal the Bard. By 2020, it had achieved a few million views.
The Guardian dates the origin of bardcore as a distinct trend to 20 April 2020, during the
COVID-19 lockdown, when German
YouTuber Cornelius Link released "Astronomia (Medieval Style)". The track is a remake of
Tony Igy's 2010 electronic dance track "
Astronomia", which had gained widespread attention as the soundtrack to the
coffin dance meme. Hildegard von Blingin' (a play on the name of the medieval composer
Hildegard von Bingen) then re-released with an added vocal track using a medieval-style adaptation of the original lyrics. By the end of June, both versions had reached 4 million views. The trend was joined by other YouTubers, including
Latvian band
Auļi, Graywyck, Constantine Bard and Samus Ordicus. The artwork accompanying bardcore songs in YouTube are frequently medieval-style representations of the song being covered, often in the style of the
Bayeux Tapestry or
illuminated manuscripts. In October 2020, tracks by prominent Bardcore artists Beedle The Bardcore, Hildegard Von Blingin’, and Stantough were featured on a prime-time
BBC Radio 1 show. == See also ==