Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra鈥檚 upbeat, melodic entry for this month鈥檚 Eurovision Song Contest was written as a tribute to the frontman鈥檚 mother.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has become an anthem to the war-ravaged motherland.
鈥淪tefania鈥� is the most-watched song on YouTube among the 35 national entries that are slated to compete when the Eurovision contest takes place next week in Turin, an industrial city in northern Italy.
While some oddsmakers and data analysts have predicted other contestants will win, the song by Kalush Orchestra is quickly becoming a sentimental favorite.
鈥淚鈥檒l always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed,鈥欌�� Kalush Orchestra frontman Oleh Psiuk wrote in the lyrics for 鈥淪tefania.鈥�
His words have become more poignant as missiles pound Ukrainian cities and villages, forcing over 11 million to flee since Russia invaded the country.
鈥淚ndeed, some stuff in here was written long before the war, and it was dedicated to my mother,鈥欌�� Psiuk told The Associated Press at his hotel in Turin.
鈥淎fter it all started with the war and the hostilities, it took on additional meaning, and many people started seeing it as their mother, Ukraine, in the meaning of the country. It has become really close to the hearts of so many people in Ukraine,鈥� said the songwriter, who wore a bright bucket hat that would make him instantly recognizable to anyone who has streamed 鈥淪tefania.鈥�
Kalush Orchestra鈥檚 Eurovision performance will have an added political message, representing the uniqueness of Ukrainian culture against Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 bellicose claim that the former Soviet republic was always part of Russia.
鈥淪tefania鈥� incorporates old Ukrainian melodies and unique musical pitches from a primitive, difficult-to-play woodwind called a telenka, played by lead singer Tymofii Muzychuk.
The band members mix break dancing with Hopak, a Ukrainian folk dance, in an energetic performance punctuated by Psiuk鈥檚 rap interludes. Costumes feature embroidered Cossack shirts and vests mixed with contemporary streetwear.
鈥淲e ourselves show that Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian ethnic code exists,鈥欌�� Psuik said. 鈥淥ur purpose is to make Ukrainian music popular, not only in Ukraine but all over Europe. And Eurovision is the best platform for that.鈥�
Psiuk and five bandmates, all men between the ages of 21 to 35, received special permission from Ukrainian authorities to travel to Turin to participate in Eurovision, traveling by land to Poland and then flying to Italy. One original band member stayed behind to fight.
Psiuk, 27, left behind a network of volunteers he organized two days into the war to help mete out logistical help to people across Ukraine seeking shelter or transport.
All will return to Ukraine when the song contest finishes.
鈥淲e feel a big responsibility,鈥欌�� Psiuk said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important for us to be as useful to the country as possible. We want to represent our country decently.鈥�
Kalush Orchestra is more than just a musical group. It is a cultural project that includes folklore scholars and purposefully combines hip hop with traditional Ukrainian music, dance and costumes, some long-forgotten, according to Psiuk.
The 6-month-old project takes its name from Psiuk鈥檚 hometown of Kalush, which is tucked in the Carpathian Mountains, south of the western city of Lviv. It鈥檚 an evolution from the original Kalush hip hop group that Psiuk also fronted.
After Russia鈥檚 Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Russia鈥檚 entry to the Eurovision was kicked out of the contest in a move organizers said aimed to keep politics out of the hugely popular event, which was viewed last year by 183 million people.
Psiuk said Russia鈥檚 exclusion from Eurovision, along with other cultural and sporting events, could send a message to Russians 鈥渨ho may say they do not understand the situation in full 鈥� that there is a reason that the whole world, Europe, is banning them.鈥�
Ukraine first joined the Eurovision Song Contest 19 years ago. It has won twice since, both times with songs performed primarily in Ukrainian: by Ruslana in 2004 and Jamala in 2016.
Psuik attributes Ukraine鈥檚 success to 鈥渢he peculiar character that our music has.鈥�
鈥淚 really hope that after we perform it at the Eurovision Song Contest, Ukrainian music will be even more popular and heard,鈥欌�� Psiuk said.
鈥擟olleen Barry , The Associated Press
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