This year Ukraine has chosen Kalush Orchestra as its representatives on Eurovision 2022 that will take place in Turin this month with the song “Stefania”. But who are Kalush Orchestra? In this article you will have the opportunity to know more about Ukraine’s band for Eurovision 2022.
About Kalush Orchestra
Stefania is the song Ukraine has selected for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The group won the ticket to Turin after a heated controversy with the winner of Vidbir 2022, where Alina Pash was disqualified and the runners-up in the national final took over the job of representing the country at the European contest.
Kalush is a Ukrainian band formed in 2019. It made its debut in the music industry with the song ‘Ne marynui’. After two music singles, the band signed a contract with the record label Def Jam Records in the same year of their debut.
Two years later, in 2021, they released their first album titled ‘Hotin’, and just four months later, they recorded and released their second studio album, ‘Yo-Yo’ with rapper Skofka.
By the end of 2021, the group had established itself as a rap genre band with a strong influence and roots in Ukrainian folklore. The original team (Oleh Psiuk, Ihor Didenchuk and MC Kilimmen) is joined by artists Tymofii Muzychuk and Vitalii Duzhyk. This decision changed the name of the group to Kalush Orchestra.
In February 2022 the band took part in Vidbir 2022, the Ukrainian national pre-selection for Eurovision. With their song “Stefania” they managed to score a total of 14 points, which earned them second place. After much controversy and the withdrawal of the winner (Alina Pash), the group became the heir to the right to represent the country in Turin.
From their election to the present day, Ukraine has been embroiled in a war with the Russian government, but finally the Ukrainian public body Suspilne has informed that the group will be able to travel to Turin after obtaining official permission to do so.
Lyrics
Стефанія мамо мамо Стефанія
Розквітає поле, а вона сивіє
Заспівай мені мамо колискову
Хочу ще почути твоє рідне слово
Вона мене колисала дала мені ритм і напевне силу волі не забрати в мене, бо дала вона
Напевне знала може більше і від Соломона
Ламаними дорогами прийду я завжди до тебе
Вона не розбудить, не будить, мене в сильні бурі
Забере в бабулі дві дулі, ніби вони кулі
Дуже добре знала мене не була обманута, як була дуже втомлена, гойдала мене в такт
Люлі люлі люлі…
Стефанія мамо мамо Стефанія
Розквітає поле, а вона сивіє
Заспівай мені мамо колискову
Хочу ще почути твоє рідне слово
Я не в пеленах но ма но ма, хватить, як би я не виріс на виріст за речі платить
Я не мала дитина, вона далі нерви тратить, я гуляв, шляк би тебе трафив
Ти все молода о мамо на піку, якщо не ціню опіку на піку слави мені в тупику
Забивайте піку цю піку, я би попік спік, своєю любов’ю
Люлі люлі люлі…
Стефанія мамо мамо Стефанія
Розквітає поле, а вона сивіє
Заспівай мені мамо колискову
Хочу ще почути твоє рідне слово
Стефанія мамо мамо Стефанія
Розквітає поле, а вона сивіє
Заспівай мені мамо колискову
Хочу ще почути твоє рідне слово
Ukraine in Eurovision
Ukraine first entered the contest in 2003 and rapidly became one of the most successful countries in the competition.
In 15 appearances at the Eurovision Song Contest, Ukraine has never missed a Grand Final. 9 of those 14 entries have finished in the top 10, 5 have finished in the top 3, and 2 have been winners.
Ruslana became Ukraine’s first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004 and the Contest was held in the capital Kyiv the following year. Jamala scored Ukraine’s second victory in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016.
In 2019, Ukraine had to withdraw after broadcaster UA:PBC was unable to come to an agreement with the winner, number 2 and 3 of Vidbir 2019, their national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019.
The country won the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and hosted the event in both 2009 and 2013.