The Kalush Orchestra of Ukraine posed after winning the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest in Turin, Italy, on May 15th. (Yara Nardi / Reuters)
In a symbolic victory more than three months after the Russian invasion, Ukraine won the highest honors at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
The annual songwriting and performance competition is often seen as an opportunity to celebrate a diverse range of musical styles, appreciate his sometimes kitschy presentations, and feel national pride. The winner is voted on by groups of professional musicians and TV viewers across Europe, although audiences cannot vote for a participant from their own country.
Participants were urged to abstain from political topics, but the mood of the day could change voices, and Ukraine was recognized as the favorite in this year’s competition.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky praised the group on Instagram seconds after announcing Ukraine’s victory.
“Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe!” he said in the post. Hinting at the rule that the winner of the competition from the previous year will host the competition, he said: “Next year Ukraine will host Eurovision! For the third time in its history. And I believe – not for the last. We will do our best to one day host the participants and guests of Eurovision in Mariupol, Ukraine. Free, calm, restored! “
The participant from Ukraine was a band called Orchestra Kalush, which performed a folk / hip-hop song called “Stephanie” for the vocalist’s mother.
Kalush is the name of the city where the singer Oleh Psyuk grew up, at the foot of the Carpathians, about 575 miles west of Kyiv.
Initially, the folk rap group finished second in Ukraine’s national team, but they were raised after it turned out that the original winner had previously traveled to Russia’s annexed Crimea. They were discovered when the country entered on February 22, two days before Russian troops invaded Ukraine.
“As we speak, our country and our culture are in danger. But we want to show that we are alive, Ukrainian culture is alive, it is unique, diverse and beautiful,” the band’s frontman Oleg Psyuk told CNN earlier.
Eurovision is one of the most watched events in the world, without sports, with hundreds of millions of spectators and often starts or resumes the careers of songwriters, artists and featured songs thanks to such a wide presence.
Traditionally, the nation’s winner will host next year’s event, attracting thousands of spectators and entertainment journalists and drawing attention to the country’s tourism industry.
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