High school marimba player racks up millions of views with AC/DC cover

Layla Clark’s marimba performance of AC/DC’s "Thunderstruck" has attracted millions of views across social media platforms. The Thomas Jefferson High School senior’s rendition went viral after a user on X shared the clip, which was originally filmed by her mother a year ago. The video showcases Clark playing the wooden-keyed instrument during the marching band’s rendition of the rock classic.

The clip resurfaced on X, where a user described asking his phone to play happy music in the morning and receiving the video in response. He labeled the performance an "A+" and reposted it. Celebrities and other users quickly followed, amplifying the reach of the footage.

Clark said the routine required extensive practice. "Yes, it was so hard," she stated. "It took me forever to actually get it down. And I'm not gonna lie, I still don't have it perfected." Despite her self-assessment, the performance generated enough buzz to become a local phenomenon before it reached a wider audience.

Teachers at the school reacted faster than the student body, according to Clark. "My phone, like my e-mail, my school e-mail, was blowing up from teachers like, 'Did you see your video? You're viral. You're viral.,'" she recalled. The sudden attention has become a manageable part of her final year of high school.

Clark plans to attend college next year with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. When asked why audiences respond so well to the video, she cited viewer feedback suggesting the music brings them joy.

The performance has shifted from a schoolyard curiosity to a national topic, driven by repeated sharing on major social media apps.