Ukrainian band wins Eurovision tune competitors as battle with Russia continues

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Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra received the Eurovision Tune Contest within the early hours of Sunday in a transparent present of fashionable assist for the war-ravaged nation that went past music.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the victory, Ukraine’s third since its 2003 Eurovision debut, and mentioned “we’ll do our greatest” to host subsequent yr’s contest within the hotly contested port metropolis of Mariupol. He underlined “Ukrainian Mariupol,” including: “free, peaceable, rebuilt!”
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Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine have a good time after successful the Grand Closing of the Eurovision Tune Contest at Palaolimpico enviornment, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Might 14, 2022. (G3 Field Information Photograph/Luca Bruno)
“I’m positive our victorious chord within the battle with the enemy shouldn’t be far off,” Zelenskyy mentioned in a put up on Telegram messaging app.
Kalush Orchestra’s frontman, Oleh Psiuk, took benefit of the large world viewers, final yr numbering greater than 180 million, to make impassioned plea to free fighters nonetheless trapped beneath a sprawling metal plant in Mariupol following their efficiency.
“Assist Azovstal, proper now,″ Psiuk implored from beneath a brilliant bucket hat that has turn out to be the band’s trademark amongst followers.
He later informed a information convention that individuals can assist by “spreading data, speaking out this, reaching out to governments to assist.”
Kalush Orchestra’s tune, “Stefania,” was the sentimental and bookmakers’ favourite among the many 25 competing performers within the grand finale. The general public vote from house, through textual content message or the Eurovision app, proved decisive, lifting them above British Tik Tok star Sam Ryder, who led after the nationwide juries in 40 international locations forged their votes.
The 439 fan votes is the best variety of televote factors ever obtained in a Eurovision contest, now in its 66th yr. Psiuk thanked the Ukrainian diaspora and “and everybody around the globe who voted for Ukraine. … The victory is essential to Ukraine. Particularly this yr.”
“Stefania” was penned by Psiuk as a tribute to his mom, however since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion it has turn out to be an anthem to the motherland, with lyrics that pledge: “I’ll all the time discover my manner house, even when all roads are destroyed.”
Kalush Orchestra itself is a cultural venture that features folklore specialists and mixes conventional folks melodies and up to date hip hop in a purposeful protection of Ukrainian tradition. That has turn out to be an much more salient level as Russia by means of its invasion has sought falsely to say that Ukraine’s tradition shouldn’t be distinctive.
“We’re right here to indicate that Ukrainian tradition and Ukrainian music are alive, and so they have their very own and really particular signature,” Psuik informed journalists.
The plea to free the remaining Ukrainian fighters trapped beneath the Azovstal plant by Russians served as a somber reminder that the massively fashionable and at occasions flamboyant Eurovision tune contest was being performed out in opposition to the backdrop of a battle on Europe’s japanese flank.
The Azov battalion, which is among the many plant’s final 1,000 defenders, despatched their thanks from the warren of tunnels beneath the plant, posting on Telegram: “Thanks to Kalush Orchestra on your assist! Glory to Ukraine!”
Town itself has been the location of a number of the worst destruction of the two 1/2-month battle, as Russia seeks to safe a land bridge between separatist-controlled Donbas and Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
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Kalush Orchestra from Ukraine arrives for the Grand Closing of the Eurovision Tune Contest at Palaolimpico enviornment, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Might 14, 2022. (G3 Field Information Photograph/Luca Bruno)
The six-member, all-male band obtained particular permission to go away the nation to characterize Ukraine and Ukrainian tradition on the music contest. One of many authentic members stayed to battle, and the others will probably be again in Ukraine in two days, when their non permanent exit allow expires.
Earlier than touring to Italy, Psiuk was operating a volunteer group he arrange early within the battle that makes use of social media to assist discover transportation and shelter for folks in want
“It’s onerous to say what I’m going to do, as a result of that is the primary time I win Eurovision,” Psuik mentioned. “Like each Ukrainian, I’m able to battle and go till the top.” .
Whereas the assist for Ukraine within the tune contest was in the end overwhelming, the competition remained huge open till the ultimate fashionable votes have been tallied. And battle or not, followers from Spain, Britain and elsewhere getting into the PalaOlimpico venue from all through Europe have been rooting for their very own nation to win.
Nonetheless, Ukrainian music fan Iryna Lasiy mentioned she felt world assist for her nation within the battle and “not just for the music.”
Russia was excluded this yr after its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, a transfer organizers mentioned was meant to maintain politics out of the competition that promotes range and friendship amongst nations.
Again in Ukraine, within the battered northeastern metropolis of Kharkiv, Kalush Orchestra’s participation in Eurovision is seen as giving the nation one other platform to garner worldwide assist.
“The entire nation is rising, everybody on the planet helps us. That is extraordinarily good,″ mentioned Julia Vashenko, a 29-year-old trainer.
“I imagine that wherever there may be Ukraine now and there is a chance to speak in regards to the battle, we have to discuss,″ mentioned Alexandra Konovalova, a 23-year-old make-up artist in Kharkiv. “Any competitions are necessary now, due to them extra folks find out about what is occurring now.”
Ukrainians in Italy additionally have been utilizing the Eurovision occasion as a backdrop to a flashmob this week to attraction for assist for Mariupol. About 30 Ukrainians gathered in a bar in Milan to look at the published, many sporting a brilliant bucket hat just like the one Psiuk sports activities, in assist of the band.
“We’re so pleased he referred to as on serving to to save lots of the folks in Mariupol,” mentioned lawyer Zoia Stankovska in the course of the present. “Oh, this victory brings a lot hope.”
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Cornelia Jakobs from Sweden arrives for the Grand Closing of the Eurovision Tune Contest at Palaolimpico enviornment, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Might 14, 2022. (G3 Field Information Photograph/Luca Bruno)
The winner takes house a glass microphone trophy and a possible profession enhance — though Kalush Orchestra’s first concern is peace.
The occasion was hosted by Italy after native rock band Maneskin received final yr in Rotterdam. The victory shot the Rome-based band to worldwide fame, opening for the Rolling Stones and showing on Saturday Evening Dwell and quite a few journal covers of their sometimes genderless costume code.
Twenty bands have been chosen in two semifinals this week, and have been competing together with the Large 5 of Italy, Britain, France, Germany and Spain, which have everlasting berths as a consequence of their monetary assist of the competition.
Ukrainian commentator Timur Miroshnichenko, who does the dwell voiceover for Ukraine’s broadcast of Eurovision, was taking part from a basement in an undisclosed location, moderately than from his traditional TV studio.
“On the fifth or fourth day of the battle, they shot our TV tower in Kyiv,” he mentioned. To maintain broadcasting, “we needed to transfer underground someplace in Ukraine.”
Displaying Eurovision in Ukraine was necessary, on-line and on TV, he mentioned.
“This yr, I feel it’s extra symbolic than ever,” Miroshnichenko mentioned.
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Ukraine was capable of take part within the music contest “because of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the resistance of our folks,” he mentioned.