Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra, recent off its Eurovision victory, launched a brand new track video on Sunday of its successful hit “Stefania” that includes scenes of war-ravaged Ukraine and ladies in battle equipment, as the yearly music contest took on ever extra political tones.
The video used to be launched hours after Kalush Orchestra introduced Ukraine its 3rd Eurovision win, pulling forward of Britain within the grand finale because of a surge of fashionable votes from one of the vital estimated 200 million audience from 40 collaborating nations.
Band participants posed for footage and signed autographs out of doors their three-star Turin resort on Sunday, packing their very own baggage into taxis en path to an interview with Italian host broadcaster RAI ahead of heading house. They will have to go back to Ukraine on Monday after being given particular permission to go away the rustic to wait the contest; maximum Ukrainian males between age 18 and 60 are barred from leaving in case they’re had to struggle.
That stark truth made for a bittersweet second on Sunday in Turin, as Kalush vocalist Sasha Tab needed to say good-bye to his spouse Yuliia and two youngsters, who fled Ukraine a month in the past and live with a bunch Italian circle of relatives in close by Alba. She and the youngsters had been on the band’s resort and he or she wept as Tab held his daughter in his palms ahead of entering the cab.
Russia used to be banned from the Eurovision Track Contest this yr after its February 24 invasion of Ukraine, a transfer organisers stated used to be intended to stay politics out of the competition that promotes range and friendship amongst international locations.
However politics nonetheless entered into the fray, with Kalush frontman Oleh Psiuk finishing his successful efficiency on Sunday night time with a plea from the level: “I ask all of you, please assist Ukraine, Mariupol. Lend a hand Azovstal at this time!” he stated, regarding the besieged metal plant within the strategic port town.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the victory, announcing he was hoping Ukraine would be capable to host the competition subsequent yr and predicting the “victorious chord within the combat with the enemy isn’t a ways off.”
“Stefania” used to be penned by way of lead singer Psiuk as a tribute to his mom, however since Russia’s invasion it has change into an anthem to the motherland, with lyrics that pledge: “I’ll at all times to find my means house, although all roads are destroyed.”
The brand new track video options girls infantrymen sporting youngsters out of bombed-out structures, greeting youngsters in shelters and leaving them at the back of as they board trains. The video credit stated it used to be shot in cities that experience noticed one of the vital worst destruction of the warfare, together with Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka and Hostomel.
The video used to be obviously made ahead of the band left Ukraine because it options band participants and — possibly — actors appearing within the rubble.
“Devoted to the courageous Ukrainian other people, to the moms protective their youngsters, to all those that gave their lives for our freedom,” it stated.
Ukrainians cheered the victory on Sunday as a much-needed spice up, and the nationwide rail operator introduced that the teach that passes thru Kalush, the birthplace of Psiuk, will probably be renamed the “Stefania Specific.”
“Each little victory is necessary for each and every Ukrainian, for our Ukraine, for each and every certainly one of us,” Kyiv resident Svitlana Nekruten stated.
Albert Sokolov, an evacuee from Mariupol, stated he had certainly Ukraine would emerge victorious.
“I listened to this music in Mariupol once we had been being bombed so I used to be certain that they might win,” he stated on Sunday in Kyiv.
Russians stated the vote used to be in the long run political, but in addition confirmed that Kalush Orchestra and Ukraine had improve.
“Eurovision is at all times about politicized possible choices; some eventualities name for a definite selection,” Moscow resident Olga Shlyakhova stated. “After all, I believe the general public improve Ukrainians. They are able to’t suppose otherwise, as a result of they are aware of it’s a tragedy. That’s why they selected (the winners) with their hearts.”
Anastasiya Perfiryeva, every other Moscow resident, famous the preferred vote that used to be so decisive within the victory.
“It used to be extraordinary individuals who voted. They supported (the winners). Smartly finished. I believe that in spite of everything the staff used to be sturdy, and the improve from out of doors is at all times delightful.”
Kalush Orchestra contains folklore mavens and mixes conventional people melodies and fresh hip hop in a robust protection of Ukrainian tradition that has taken on added that means as Russia has sought falsely to say that Ukraine’s tradition isn’t distinctive.
At an early Sunday information convention after the competition, Psiuk in his trademark crimson bucket hat stated the win used to be in particular significant given the warfare and the preferred improve that driven Ukraine to victory.
“We’re right here to turn that Ukrainian tradition and Ukrainian track are alive, and they have got their very own and really particular signature,” Psuik stated.
