TURIN, Italy (AP) — Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra has won the Eurovision Song Contest, showing popular support for a war-ravaged country, a band beyond music.
The group and the song “Stefania” defeated 24 other artists in the grand finale of the competition on Sunday morning. A public vote via text message from home or the Eurovision app proved decisive, putting them above British TikTok star Sam Ryder, who took the lead after national judges voted in 40 countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiEGYOruLk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the victory, which was the third for Ukraine since Eurovision in 2003. “We will do our best,” he said, to hold the competition next year in the devastated port city of Mariupol, which is almost entirely occupied by Russian troops. .
Describing the city, Zelensky underlined the “Ukrainian Mariupol” and said “free, peaceful, rebuilt!” said.
“I am confident that our successful chord in the battle with the enemy is not far off,” Zelensky said in a message to the Telegram messenger.
Kalush Orchestra lead singer Oleg Psyuk drew on a large global audience of over 180 million last year to make a fiery appeal to the freedom fighters still trapped under the massive steelworks in Mariupol.
“Now help Azovstal,” Psyuk begged, speaking from under the shiny Panama hat, which became the band’s beacon for fans after their successful performance.
He later said at a press conference that people can help “by spreading the word, talking about it, asking governments for help.”
The 439 fan votes make it the most televised votes received in the Eurovision Song Contest, which is 66 years old. Psyuk thanked the Ukrainian diaspora and everyone in the world who voted for Ukraine. … Success is very important for Ukraine. Especially this year.”
“Stefania” was written by Psyuk as a tribute to his mother, but after the Russian invasion on February 24, it became a song to the Motherland with the words: “I will always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed . . ”
The Kalush Orchestra itself is a cultural project involving folklorists and blending traditional folk melodies and modern hip-hop in a defense targeted at Ukrainian culture. This has become all the more important because Russia is trying to falsely claim that Ukrainian culture is not unique to its aggression.
“We are here to show that Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian music are alive and have their own special style,” Pswick told reporters.
The call for the release of the remaining Ukrainian fighters captured by the Russians under the Azovstal plant became a stark reminder of the Eurovision Song Contest, which is famous and sometimes playing on the battlefield in eastern Europe.
The Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion, which was among the last 1000 defenders of the power plant, sent a thank you through the maze of tunnels under the power plant, writing to Telegram: “Thank you Kalush Orchestra for your support! Victory to Ukraine! ”
The city itself was the site of the worst destruction in the 2.5-month war, as Russia sought to build a bridge between the separatist-controlled Donbas and Crimea, which it united in 2014.
A six-member all-male group received special permission to leave the country to represent Ukraine and Ukrainian culture in a music competition. One of the original participants remained to protest, while the others would return to Ukraine two days later when their temporary exit permits expired.
Before leaving for Italy, Psyuk ran a volunteer organization he created at the start of the war, which uses social media to help find transportation and accommodation for those in need.
“It’s hard to say what I’m going to do because this is my first time winning Eurovision,” Pswick said. “Like every Ukrainian, I am ready to fight and go to the end.”
Despite overwhelming support for Ukraine in the song contest, the contest remained open until the final votes were counted. War or not, the fans who came to Pala Olimpico stadium from different parts of Europe from Spain, England and other countries rejoiced for the victory of their country.
But Ukrainian music lover Irina Lasiy said she felt her country’s global support “not only in music” but in the war.
Russia was not included this year after its invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Organizers said the movement aims to avoid politics in a competition that promotes diversity and friendship among people.
In Ukraine, in the devastated northeastern city of Kharkiv, the Kalush Orchestra’s participation in Eurovision is seen as giving the country another platform to garner international support.
“The whole country is rising, everyone in the world is supporting us. Great, ”said 29-year-old teacher Yulia Vashchenko.
“Wherever there is Ukraine today and there is an opportunity to talk about the war, we need to talk,” said Alexandra Konovalova, 23-year-old makeup artist from Kharkov. “Any competition is important now, because thanks to them more people will know what’s going on right now.”
Ukrainians in Italy have also used Eurovision as a backdrop for this week’s flash mob to enlist Mariupol’s help. About 30 Ukrainians gathered at a bar in Milan to watch the broadcast, and many donned bright Psyuk Panama hats to support the group.
“We are glad that he called for help to save the people of Mariupol,” lawyer Zoya Stankovskaya said on air. “Oh, this victory brings so much hope.”
While peace is the Kalush Orchestra’s first concern, the winner will take home a glass microphone trophy and potential career advancement.
The event was held in Italy following the success of local rock band Maneskin in Rotterdam last year. This feat brought the Roman group worldwide fame, opening for the Rolling Stones and appearing on Saturday Night Live and on the covers of many magazines in their usual gender-bending attire.
Twenty groups were selected in this week’s two semi-finals and competed for permanent places thanks to the financial support of the competition, along with the big five from Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain.
The Ukrainian commentator Timur Miroshnichenko, who voiced the Ukrainian broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest, attended not from the usual TV studio, but from a basement in an unknown place.
“On the fifth or fourth day of the war, our television tower in Kiev was hit,” he said. To continue the broadcast “We must go underground somewhere in Ukraine.”
According to him, the Eurovision show in Ukraine is important both online and on TV.
“This year, I think, is more symbolic than ever,” Miroshnichenko said.
“Thanks to the resistance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and our people,” she said, participating in the Ukrainian music competition.
____
Reported by Barry from Milan. Contributed by Vasilisa Stepanenko from Kharkov, Ukraine.
Source: Breitbart
