“The enemy is trying to destroy our culture. But we are here to prove that we still exist, that we deserve to be seen. We deserve to be known. We’re asking for help to protect our culture,' Kalush Orchestra’s Oleh Psiuk says
to win the 66th edition of the contest as they compete against 25 countries with their song “Stefania,” a Ukrainian-folk-meets-hip-hop concoction that Psiuk wrote about his mother before the conflict broke out. Now, it has been adopted by listeners as a broader allegory about Mother Ukraine. “After the war, a lot of people seem to be finding new meanings there,” Psiuk says over Zoom, via a translator, on the penultimate evening of the competition.
And then there is the Kalush Orchestra and their chances. “A huge conversation that’s taking place among journalists and fans is whether Ukraine should win because of sympathy,” Adams says. It makes him uncomfortable to have to separate our emotional reactions to the narrative of Ukraine from the music itself, though. “Music is feeling, right? Music is here to tell stories.
The historical references, at least, are intentional: “As a band, Kulash Orchestra is trying to mix together the old folklore that’s been forgotten by now with the new, contemporary hip-hop, and bringing it together into this vibe that is like nothing else that you know,” Psiuk explains. “The whole world is watching us perform. And it is important that we promote Ukraine successfully, that we do Ukraine proud.
When the competition is complete, Psiuk and his bandmates will return directly to their homes in Ukraine. They received a temporary permit fromto represent their country, but that ends this weekend. “If we have to, of course we will take arms and we will go fight for our land,” Psiuk says.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kalush Orchestra: The Eurovision entry singing to save Ukraine in 2022🎵🇺🇦 The Ukrainian hip-hop-meets-folk group are the bookies’ firm favourites to take the prize in Italy, and its frontman is well aware of just how symbolic a victory would be back home
Read more »
Kalush Orchestra: The Eurovision entry singing to save Ukraine in 2022🎵🇺🇦 The Ukrainian hip-hop-meets-folk group are the bookies’ firm favourites to take the prize in Italy, and its frontman is well aware of just how symbolic a victory would be back home
Read more »
Sam Ryder on Ukraine, TikTok and why he doesn’t need to win EurovisionThe UK’s Eurovision 2022 entry — with his song Space Man — tells Ed Potton about the joy of social media and his friends in Kalush Orchestra, the competition favourites
Read more »
Vote Ukraine for Eurovision glory, Mogg message to patriotic BritsVote for Ukraine in Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest, Jacob Rees-Mogg has encouraged patriotic Brits.
Read more »