For the members of the Kalush Orchestra, their presence at Eurovision is an opportunity to claim their identity against the Russian invasion
«We are now also spokesperson for Ukraine. Although it is a music festival, we show our aesthetics and our culture. We offer another story about Ukraine so that everyone remembers that we exist. The members of the Kalush Orchestra, the representatives of Ukraine in Eurovision, are clear that their participation in the festival to be held this week in Turin goes beyond music. With their country invaded by Russia, which is not participating in the contest, the five members of this idiosyncratic group, which mixes rap with Ukrainian folk music, are favorites to take the victory in Saturday’s final. In the first semi-final, which was held on Tuesday evening, they managed to qualify without any problems and get the audience on their feet with the performance of their song “Stefania”, a song that recalls the mother of the group leader, Oleh Psiuk, and pays tribute to all mothers.
“Many countries supported us in the semi-finals with a genuine empathy for us. Thank you very much to everyone”, confirm the members of the Kalush Orchestra in an interview with this newspaper. “We are here to prove that Ukrainian music exists. Glory to Ukraine!” they insist, repeating this historic expression of their country’s nationalism, revived again with the onset of the Russian invasion on February 24. Their success in this edition of Eurovision, according to the bookmakers, is not only linked to the impact of the war on public opinion and to the logical empathy for the attacked country. “Before the conflict, we were already among the 5 favorites”, recall the members of the Kalush Orchestra, for whom the great need of their compatriots for good news does not mean extra pressure.
However, they do not hide their desire to win. “We want to do it not only for ourselves, but also for all Ukrainians, to show them that this is the first victory of all those to come,” they say, alluding to the optimism with which they view the outcome of the war. against Russia. “Participating in Eurovision is an opportunity to present our culture at an international level and also show on stage the strength of Ukrainian spirit and courage.” This justification of the Ukrainian identity that they are putting forward with their music, yes, they are not willing to take it to the neighboring country. “No,” they answer bluntly when asked if they agree to give a concert in Russia. They speak more about their Spanish rival in the Eurovision Song Contest, Chanel: «She is a talented artist and a worthy representative of her country. We are excited to play on the same stage as them.”
When the festival is over, the members of the Kalush Orchestra return to their country, where one of the other members of the group has stayed to fight the Russians. “We represent all Ukrainians here,” Psiuk told a press conference, explaining how “Stefania” was born. “It’s a song about my mother. I’ve never dedicated a song to him and I’m not at all sure that our relationship has been particularly intense in the past, but I know he deserves it. This is the best thing I ever did for her. With the outbreak of war, the meaning has been extended to all mothers who protect their children».
Asked about the fact that Ukraine should host the festival edition of the festival next year if they win in Turin, Psiuk assured that it would be possible despite the effects of the war: “If it finally happened, Eurovision would be organized in a developed and It would be the third time for this Eastern European nation, having already won the competition in 2004 and 2016. Since its debut in 2003, Ukraine has never been excluded from a final of the festival, which is experienced with great passion among the population and as an opportunity to claim their own culture for the world.
The name of the Kalush Orchestra comes from the city where the leader of the group was born, located in the west of the country, near the Carpathians. The clothes that the members of this group wear on stage are precisely inspired by the traditional clothing of the Hutsul, an indigenous people of that region, especially its shamans.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
