Ukrainian rapper’s tribute to his mother wins hearts ahead of Eurovision contest
As Russian missiles pound Ukrainian cities and villages, one band’s entry within the Eurovision Track Contest has emerged as an anthem for the war-ravaged motherland.
Initially written as a tribute to the mom of Kalush Orchestra’s frontman, Stefania is the most-watched tune on YouTube among the many 35 nationwide entries that may compete within the Eurovision Track Contest subsequent week in Turin, Italy.
The vastly standard worldwide occasion, which was considered final 12 months by 183 million folks, runs yearly and options primarily European international locations.
Whereas some odds-makers and information analysts have pegged others to win, the upbeat, melodic tune by Kalush Orchestra is rapidly changing into a sentimental favorite.
“I will at all times discover my method residence, even when all roads are destroyed,” Kalush Orchestra frontman Oleh Psiuk writes in Stefania.
The lyrics have turn into extra poignant after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pressured greater than 11 million to flee the nation.
WATCH | Official music video for Kalush Orchestra’s tune Stefania:
“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 at his resort in Turin, carrying a shiny bucket hat that makes him immediately recognizable to anybody who has streamed Stefania.
“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 turn into actually near the hearts of so many individuals in Ukraine,” he stated.
Efficiency will ship political message
Mixing conventional Ukrainian people music with hip hop, Kalush Orchestra’s Eurovision efficiency may have an added political message, representing the distinctiveness of Ukrainian tradition towards Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declare that the previous Soviet republic has at all times been a part of Russia.
“We ourselves present that Ukrainian tradition and [an] Ukrainian ethnic code exists,” Psuik stated. “Our goal is to make Ukrainian music standard, not solely in Ukraine however throughout Europe. And Eurovision is the most effective platform for that.”
Stefania incorporates outdated Ukrainian melodies and distinctive musical pitches from a difficult-to-play woodwind instrument referred to as a telenka, performed by singer Tymofii Muzychuk.
The band members combine breakdancing with hopak, a Ukrainian people dance, in an lively efficiency punctuated by Psiuk’s rap interludes. Costumes function embroidered Cossack shirts and vests combined with modern streetwear.
Psiuk and 5 bandmates, all males between the ages of 21 to 35, obtained particular permission from Ukrainian authorities to journey to Turin to take part in Eurovision, touring by land to Poland after which flying to Italy. One authentic band member stayed behind to struggle.
Psiuk, 27, left behind a community of volunteers he organized two days into the struggle to assist mete out logistical assist to folks throughout Ukraine looking for shelter or transport. All will return to Ukraine when the tune contest finishes.
“We really feel an enormous duty,” Psiuk stated. “It is crucial for us to be as helpful to the nation as attainable. We need to characterize our nation decently.”
After Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s entry to the Eurovision was kicked out of the competition in a transfer organizers stated aimed to maintain politics out of the occasion.
Embracing people and hip hop
Kalush Orchestra is greater than only a musical group. It’s a cultural mission that features folklore students and purposefully combines hip hop with conventional Ukrainian music, dance and costumes, some long-forgotten, in line with Psiuk.
The six-month-old mission takes its identify from Psiuk’s hometown of Kalush, which is tucked within the Carpathian Mountains, south of the western metropolis of Lviv. It is an evolution from the unique Kalush hip-hop group that Psiuk additionally fronted.
Ukraine has gained the Eurovision competitors twice, each instances with songs carried out primarily in Ukrainian: by Ruslana in 2004 and Jamala in 2016.
Psuik attributes Ukraine’s success to “the peculiar character that our music has.”
“I actually hope that after we carry out it on the Eurovision Track Contest, Ukrainian music shall be much more standard and heard,” he stated.
