Ukraine’s entry to the Eurovision Music Contest seems to be set to win over the hearts of viewers through the competitors subsequent week.
With Russia banned from this 12 months’s contest and the remainder of Europe watching Putin’s invasion of Ukraine with horror, it’s straightforward to see why Ukraine is without doubt one of the favourites to win this 12 months.
This 12 months, Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra will symbolize the nation with their tune “Stefania”.
“Stefania” is already the most-watched tune on YouTube of the 35 nationwide entries forward of the Eurovision closing on 14 Might. Usually the quantity of streams a tune has earlier than the competitors is an efficient indication of how the nation will carry out. Many oddsmakers have put Ukraine as one of many likeliest to win this 12 months.
Even when Ukraine doesn’t win with “Stefania”, the Kalush Orchestra will nonetheless depart viewers with an emotional expertise. The tune is devoted to steer singer Oleh Psiuk’s mom and in addition delves into his expertise of the struggle.
“I’ll all the time discover my manner residence, even when all roads are destroyed,’’ say the lyrics to “Stefania”.
Lots of the lyrics have been written about his mom earlier than the invasion. However because the invasion, among the lyrics have taken on a brand new poignancy. Now, Psiuk believes the tune is an anthem to a war-ravaged motherland.
“Certainly, some stuff in right here was written lengthy earlier than the struggle, and it was devoted to my mom,’’ Psiuk instructed The Related Press from Turin, the place the Eurovision closing shall be held.
“After it began with the struggle and the hostilities, it took on further that means, and many individuals began seeing it as their mom, Ukraine, within the that means of the nation. It has develop into actually near the hearts of so many individuals in Ukraine," he stated.
A singular nationwide identification
The aim of the tune can be to display Ukraine's individuality and identification, distinguishing it from Russia.
Conventional Ukrainian people music merges with hip-hop to create “Stefania”’s distinctive soundscape. There are outdated Ukrainian melodies and using a Telenka, a singular and troublesome to play woodwind instrument.
Even the dance the band will carry out is uniquely Ukrainian. Hopak, a Ukrainian people dance is mixed with break dancing as Kalush Orchestra carry out in Cossack/streetwear combo costumes.
“We ourselves present that Ukrainian tradition and Ukrainian ethnic code exists,’’ Psuik stated. “Our goal is to make Ukrainian music well-liked, not solely in Ukraine however throughout Europe. And Eurovision is one of the best platform for that.”
Performing because the nation fights
Named after the city of Kalush, south of Lviv, the place Psiuk is from, the group fashioned six months in the past as a cultural mission.
Greater than only a band, Kalush Orchestra contains folklore students and purposefully combines hip hop with conventional Ukrainian music, dance and costumes, some long-forgotten.
The group was given particular dispensation to go away Ukraine for the competitors. Males of conscription age have been banned from leaving the nation to assist with the struggle effort and all of the members should return to Ukraine after the competitors.
The Kalush Orchestra needed to journey by land to Poland to exit the nation after which journey to Italy.
“We really feel an enormous accountability,’’ Psiuk stated. “It’s crucial for us to be as helpful to the nation as potential. We need to symbolize our nation decently.”
Waiting for the ultimate, he added, “I actually hope that after we carry out it on the Eurovision Music Contest, Ukrainian music shall be much more well-liked and heard.”
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