KIEV The logo of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest features the colors of the Ukrainian flag, but in Ukraine itself, the Eurovision Song Contest is conspicuous by its absence. Ukrainians seem to expect a war counterattack more than a singing competition.
Last year, the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra took home five wins with their song Stefania. However, due to the war, the competition cannot be held in Ukraine.
The spirit of war is also present in Ukraine’s Eurovision this year, performed by the Tvorchi duo in Liverpool. The song’s name Heart of Steel refers to the defense of the Azovstal steel factory seen during the siege of Mariupol.
– The song is about strength, courage, self-confidence and staying strong internally and externally, soloist of the duo Jeffrey Kenny says.
“Despite the pain, I will continue my fight”
caught up with the Tvorchi duo at Kyiv Central Station a few days before they left for Liverpool. A concert was held at the station, in which, in addition to the duo, five representatives from previous years performed.
The concert was almost the only Eurovision-related audience event in Kyiv. It was opened at the same time charity takeover (you switch to another service)where money is collected for new Kesko cabinets.
Ukrainians’ desire to help and unyieldingness inspired Tvorch, and the artists tried to convey this in their verse.
– We added strong Ukrainian words to the song, “despite the pain, I will continue my fight”. It means that even in a difficult situation one must remain confident and cheerful and pursue one’s goal, the other half of Tvorch Andrii Hutsuljak tells.
The Tvorchi duo was born in 2018 in the city of Ternopil, where Hutsyljak and Kenny from Nigeria were studying medicine. The men met by chance on the street, when Hutsyljak wanted to test his English skills with a foreigner.
In 2020, Tvorchi participated in the Ukrainian visa qualifiers, but did not make it as a representative. After the show, Kenny apologized to the organizers for the technical errors and decided not to participate in the games anymore.
The decision did not go well, and in this year’s national competition, Tvorchi received the best score from the spectators and the second best from the jury.
Because of the war, the show was held in an underground shelter. The public voted for their favorites through the Dija civil service application.
Ukraine can be seen and heard in Liverpool
In Ukraine, because of the war, it is not possible to organize street and bar stands, so Ukrainians have to settle for home stands.
Instead, in Liverpool, which is organizing the visas this year, Ukraine is widely featured. A group of Ukrainian artists will participate in all three live broadcasts.
The five-piece stage will feature, for example, Ukraine’s five-piece representatives and winners of previous years, Kalush Orchestra, Go_A, Jamala, Marija Yaremchuk and represented Ukraine in Helsinki visas in 2007 Verka Serdjutška.
One of the three presenters is also from Ukraine. He is the singer of the band The Hardkiss Julija Sanina.
given to Yleisradio of Ukraine in an interview (you move to another service) Sanina said that she is mentally ready to participate in the biggest event in Europe.
– For me, the most important thing is that attention is paid to Ukraine. That is currently the task of all those who speak for Ukraine in public, Sanina said.
The host himself will sing tomorrow, Tuesday, in the first semi-final. According to Sanina, her performance connects Ukraine and Great Britain musically. The war in Ukraine is not forgotten on stage either.
– Music cannot be separated from politics or the events we are in the middle of now, Sanina emphasized.
“Cha Cha Cha is a great song”
This year’s representative of Ukraine is also going to speak about the war in Liverpool.
– The most important thing for us is to win the war and bring peace to our country. But if we won in Eurovision, we would be happy, says Andrii Hutsuljak.
But if their own victory is not a priority, who would they call to win?
Hutsyljak and Kenny admit that they haven’t gotten to know all the competing songs, but they praise this year’s genre-formation. Among the most memorable artists, they mention Finland WrapperIreland’s Wild Youth and Great Britain Mae Muller’s.
– I don’t have a clear favorite, but I think Cha Cha Cha is a great song. It has a good beat and is very catchy, says Jeffrey Kenny.