As usual, Ukraine was one of the first countries to select its representatives for the Eurovision 2023 song contest. This year, the event will take place in Liverpool, United Kingdom, after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) determined that it was not “safe” to hold the event on Ukrainian soil due to the ongoing war between the country and Russia since February of last year.
The mechanism to choose the successors of Kalush Orchestra, winners of Eurovision 2022 with the song «Stefania», was once again their legendary ‘Vidbir‘ contest. This competition ended with a duo as the winner, Tvorchi, who with their song «Heart Of Steel» will try to maintain the good record of the Eastern European country.
Get to know Tvorchi (Eurovision 2023 Ukraine)
Andrii Hutsuliak, as producer, and vocalist Jimoh Augustus Kehinde, known as Jeffery Kenny, are the faces behind Tvorchi, the duo representing Ukraine in the upcoming Eurovision song contest. The group has been around for only 5 years, but has already managed to release four studio albums, win various awards in the music industry, and convince viewers of Vidbir 2023 that they should be the ones to perform in Liverpool next May.
Their style mixes electronic music with rhythms more typical of pop, creating a sound that is completely up-to-date, with songs primarily in English, which has allowed them to develop a musical career outside their home country.
Both met during their studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the National Medical University of Ternopil and realized they shared the same passion for music. They released their first single, «Slow» on May 30, 2017, which was well received, so only four months later, on September 4, they released their second song, «You».
Due to the success of their early songs, Tvorchi managed to release their first studio album on February 2, 2018. The album, titled ‘The Parts’, features some of the duo’s most well-known songs and perfectly represents the musical style that predominates in most of their songs. One of the most famous songs on this album was «Molodist».
Just one year later, on February 14, 2019, the group surprised fans by releasing their second album, ‘Disco Lights’. The song «Believe» was one of the singles from this album and one of the duo’s most successful songs to date. It received over 400,000 views on YouTube and ranked ninth on the Google Play charts in Ukraine during the first 24 hours.
As a result of this notoriety, Tvorchi performed at various music festivals throughout the summer of 2019, including Faine Misto, Atlas Weekend, and Ukraine Song Project. During this period, the group also released the single “Ne tantsiuiu».”
In 2020, the duo attempted to represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest and decided to participate in Vidbir 2020 with the song «Bonfire». However, the song did not receive support from either the public or the jury, and finished the competition in fourth place, with the group Go_A chosen to represent the country.
Despite this professional setback, the duo continued to create music, leading to the release of their third studio album, ’13 Waves’, in September, which was recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is Tvorchi’s most successful album to date, having received over two million plays on platforms like Spotify during the first week after its release.
In 2021, the duo won the ‘Culture Ukraine’ online music award in two categories: ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Best Single in English’. The duo was also nominated for the 2021 YUNA Music Awards in four categories, including ‘Album of the Year’. In 2022, they released «Boremosia», their latest song before appearing at Vidbir.
«Heart Of Steel», their song for Liverpool
The duo Tvorchi will perform «Heart Of Steel» in the Grand Final on May 13, after Ukraine won the festival in 2022. The song is an ode to the unbreakable and strong spirit of people who are made of freedom and steel. It has a strong symbolism and a powerful message dedicated to all those who persevere despite difficulties.
In the group’s own words, “The song is about all those who, despite hopelessness, carry a heart of steel in their chest. We want our unbreakable spirit to be heard everywhere,” they explained in an interview. The song was written during the early months of the war in Ukraine, with “steel” being a symbol of Ukrainian resistance to invasion. The duo Tvorchi has sought to convey the emotions of their experience through music.
Lyrics of «Heart Of Steel»
Original lyrics
Sometimes gotta let it go
Sometimes gotta look away
Sometimes you just gotta know
When to stick your middle finger up in the air
I cannot explain
Tell you how I feel
Life is just a game
And I’m playing for the win
Don’t be scared to say just what you think
‘Cause no matter how bad, someone’s listening
Don’t care what you say
Don’t care how you feel
Get out of my way
‘Cause I got a heart of steel
Don’t care what you say
Or how you feel
Oh, I got a heart of steel
You just like to act a fool
Tryna get in my head like
When I turn on my headlights
I can see right through you
Tryna get a reaction
I just hit the action move
You know I can never lose
You like the attention too
This has never been about you
Don’t be scared to say just what you think
‘Cause no matter how bad, someone’s listening
Don’t care what you say
Don’t care how you feel
Get out of my way
‘Cause I got a heart of steel
Don’t care what you say
Or how you feel
Oh, I got a heart of steel
Don’t care what you say
Or how you feel
Oh, I got a heart of steel
Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest
Ukraine has been part of the European contest since Riga 2003, when in its first participation with Oleksandr Ponomariov and his “Hasta La Vista”, they failed to advance beyond 14th place. The following year, Ruslana with her “Wild Dances” swept with 280 points and achieved the country’s first victory.
In the following editions, the country continued with its great track record, reaching two second places with Verka Serduchka and her “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” (2007) and Ani Lorak with her “Shady Lady” (2008). Meanwhile, Zlata Ognevich with her “Gravity” achieved 3rd place in Malmö 2013.
In 2016, after its absence in Vienna in 2015, Jamala with her “1944” won the crystal microphone despite not being the favorite of the juries or the televote, achieving Ukraine’s second triumph.
Ukraine has participated since 2003, except in 2015 and 2019. In addition, they have always made it to the Grand Final, successfully passing the eliminations. Out of their 17 participations, they have placed in the Top 10 in 11 occasions. Their worst result was achieved in Kiev 2017 with O.Torvald and their “Time”, only reaching 24th place with 36 points.
Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, has hosted the European Song Contest twice. In 2005, at the Palace of Sports with Maria Efrosinina and Pavlo Shylko as hosts, and in 2017 at the International Exhibition Centre with Oleksandr Skichko, Volodymyr Ostapchuk, and Timur Miroshnychenko as presenters.
In the last edition held in Turin, Italy, the group Kalush Orchestra achieved Ukraine’s third victory thanks to the televote in a festival marked by the war conflict in the country. “Stefania” obtained 631 points, which were enough to reach the top of the leaderboard and win the crystal microphone.
In the past, the complex situation in the country has prevented the celebration of the Eurovision Song Contest in Ukrainian territory. Therefore, the 2023 edition will take place in Liverpool, United Kingdom, under the organization of the BBC, who came in second place last year.