Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra, contemporary off its Eurovision victory, launched a new music video Sunday (May 15) of its successful hit Stefania that options scenes of war-ravaged Ukraine and girls in fight gear, because the annual tune contest took on ever extra political tones.
The video was launched hours after Kalush Orchestra introduced Ukraine its third Eurovision win, pulling forward of Britain within the grand last after the votes from a number of the estimated 200 million viewers from 40 taking part nations had been tallied.
Band members posed for photographs and signed autographs exterior their Turin resort Sunday, en path to an interview with Italian host broadcaster RAI. They should return to Ukraine on Monday after being given particular permission to go away the nation to attend the competitors.
Russia was barred from the Eurovision Song Contest this yr after its Feb 24 invasion of Ukraine, a transfer organisers stated was meant to maintain politics out of the competition that promotes range and friendship amongst nations.
But politics however entered into the fray, with Kalush frontman Oleh Psiuk ending his successful efficiency Sunday evening with a plea from the stage: “I ask all of you, please assist Ukraine, Mariupol. Help Azovstal proper now!” he stated, referring to the besieged metal plant within the strategic port metropolis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the victory, saying he hoped Ukraine would have the ability to host the competition subsequent yr and predicting the “victorious chord within the battle with the enemy is just not far off”.
Stefania was penned by lead singer Psiuk as a tribute to his mom, however since Russia’s invasion it has develop into an anthem to the motherland, with lyrics that pledge: “I’ll all the time discover my manner house, even when all roads are destroyed.”
The new music video options girls troopers carrying youngsters out of bombed-out buildings, greeting youngsters in shelters and leaving them behind as they board trains. The video credit stated it was shot in cities which have seen a number of the worst destruction of the war, together with Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka and Hostomel.
The video was clearly made earlier than the band left Ukraine because it options band members and – presumably – actors performing within the rubble.
“Dedicated to the courageous Ukrainian individuals, to the moms defending their youngsters, to all those that gave their lives for our freedom,” it stated.
Kalush Orchestra consists of folklore specialists and mixes conventional folks melodies and modern hip hop in a powerful protection of Ukrainian tradition that has taken on added that means as Russia has sought falsely to claim that Ukraine’s tradition is just not distinctive.
At an early Sunday press convention after the competition, Psiuk in his trademark pink bucket hat stated the win was notably significant given the war and the favored help that pushed Ukraine to victory.
“We are right here to indicate that Ukrainian tradition and Ukrainian music are alive, they usually have their very own and really particular signature,” Psuik stated. – AP
