The 2022 Grammys had been already set to be a history-making night time, however a shock look from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sealed the deal.
Halfway by way of the telecast of the sixty fourth annual awards ceremony on Sunday night time in Las Vegas, the embattled chief supplied a plea to all these watching all over the world amid Russia’s unprovoked invasion of his nation.
In a pre-taped video from a Kyiv bunker, Zelenskyy delivered a strong speech reportedly filmed inside 48 hours of the printed, in line with Selection, as a part of a particular tribute to Ukraine.
Drawing putting connections between conflict and the facility of music, Zelenskyy requested, “The conflict. What's extra reverse of music?” earlier than relaying the tragic affect of the invasion.
“The silence of ruined cities and killed folks,” he stated. “Our kids draw swooping rockets, not capturing stars. Over 400 youngsters have been injured and 153 youngsters died, and we'll by no means see them drawing. Our mother and father are glad to get up within the morning in bomb shelters however alive. Our family members don’t know if we shall be collectively once more. The conflict doesn’t allow us to select who survives and who stays in everlasting silence.”
“Our musicians put on physique armor as an alternative of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals. Even to those that can’t hear them,” Zelenskyy continued. “However the music will break by way of anyway. We defend our freedom. To reside. To like. To sound. On our land, we're preventing Russia, which brings horrible silence with its bombs.”
He concluded his remarks with a name to the celebrity-packed occasion on the MGM Grand Backyard Area: “Fill the silence together with your music. Fill it in the present day. Inform our story. Inform the reality in regards to the conflict in your social networks and TV. Assist us in any means you possibly can, however not silence. After which peace will come.”
Zelenskyy went on to say he holds a dream for the cities which were hardest hit by the conflict, together with Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha and Mariupol.
“I've a dream of them dwelling,” he stated. “And free. Free such as you on the Grammy stage.”
The video launched a efficiency of John Legend’s new track, “Free,” which featured a poem learn by Ukrainian refugee Lyuba Yakimchuk and accompaniment by Ukrainian musicians Siuzanna Iglidan and Mika Newton.
The stirring efficiency ended by directing viewers to a donation web page to assist the war-torn area’s refugees.
Previous to the Grammys telecast, rumors swirled earlier this month about whether or not Zelenskyy would seem on the Academy Awards with each co-host Amy Schumer and one in all Hollywood’s most vocal Ukraine supporters, Sean Penn, supporting the concept.
However a lot to Penn’s dismay ― the actor threatened to “smelt” his Oscars in public if the academy selected to not let Zelenskyy converse ― the Ukrainian president didn't seem in the course of the ceremony.
As an alternative, the Oscars featured a 30-second second of silence, which ended with a plea to these tuning in to the awards present: “We ask you to assist Ukraine in any means you're able. #StandWithUkraine.”
Watch Legend’s efficiency beneath.
Post a Comment