The Czech group Vesna has been chosen to wave the Czech flag next May in Liverpool after achieving the highest score in the first Czech contest in fifteen years.
The group was chosen as the winner through the votes that have been cast over a week in the application created specifically for this purpose. In the selection of the winner, 70% of the international audience and 30% of the national audience had a say. My Sister’s Crown was the winning option of the night and will be the song that represents the Czechia in Liverpool next May.
Learn more about Vesna (Eurovision 2023 Czechia)
Vesna is a Czech folk group founded in 2016 by Patricie Fuxová, singer-songwriter and group leader, at the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory in Prague. Patrice Fuxová wanted to create an exclusively female band that reclaimed femininity and Slavic sisterhood.
Bára Šůstková, Andrea Šulcová and Tanita Yankovová were the first members of the Czech group. However, in 2018 Andrea and Tanita left the group and were replaced by pianist Olesya Ochepovská and drummer Markéta Vedralová. In 2023, Tanita Yankovová returned to the group and they incorporated Tereza Čepková, becoming the sextet we know today. The permanent members of the band come from the Czechia, Slovakia, and Russia. Vesna’s music uses elements of folklore set to modern pop, creating their characteristic blend of dreamy and lively music on stage.
The group has released two albums, including duets with Vojta Dyk and Frantisek Cerný (Cechomor). In 2019, Vesna received a nomination for the Andel Awards and was chosen as the opening act for Scandinavian singer Aurora. During the COVID19 pandemic, they released their second album, Anima, which was released in 2020. After the second album, they have released several singles such as Vse stoji (Ne dojamem) (2021) and Pomiluj mě, Love me and Забудь её (2022).
In 2023, the group Vesna presented their song My Sister’s Crown at the ESCZ 2023, the Czech pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, and won the competition. This earned them the right to represent the Czechia in Liverpool.
“My Sister’s Crown”: Vesna’s song for Liverpool
“My Sister’s Crown” by Vesna is an anthem of empowerment and sisterhood. The song’s lyrics have a strong feminist theme and advocate for women’s freedom and independence. It speaks about a strong and capable sister who will not be subdued by anyone. Additionally, it advocates for women’s right to be treated with respect and not be subjected to discrimination or violence.
The song also includes phrases in other languages such as Bulgarian and Ukrainian, expressing solidarity with women worldwide who are fighting for equality and justice.
The lyrics also touch on themes of inequality and violence against women, with lines like “No one wants more dead boys” and “The blood is on your God’s head”. The song encourages women to come together and support each other, choosing love over power.
“My Sister’s Crown” Lyrics
Original lyrics
Moje sestra do kouta nepůjde
Ani tebe poslouchat nebude
Moje sestra v srdci je divoká
Copy zaplést, nikdy si nenechá
Moje sestra do kouta nepůjde
Ani tebe poslouchat nebude
My sister’s crown
Don’t take it down
Don’t take it down
Nobody has right to do it
She’s beautiful
And capable
She is her own queen
And she will prove it
You can take your hands back
No one wants more boys dead
We’re not your dolls
We’re not your dolls
Life’s not a moneybag
Blood’s on your God’s head
You can’t steal our souls
You can’t steal our souls
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
My sister’s crown
Don’t take it down
Daĭ rŭka ne se strakhuvaĭ
S drugite sestri popluvaĭ
V moreto ni nyamame myasto za tezi omrazi
Pazi, pazi
Ne tŭguvaĭ
Khop trop momite ne sa non-stop na razpolozhenie
Ti prosto che sme sestri do kraĭ znaĭ
You can take your hands back
No one wants more boys dead
We’re not your dolls
We’re not your dolls
Life’s not a moneybag
Blood’s on your God’s head
You can’t steal our souls
You can’t steal our souls
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
My sister’s crown
Don’t take it down
My sister’s crown
Don’t take it down
All the sisters of the world
Come together with a prayer
Choose love over power
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
Sestro krasiva
Oj ty silna
Chorobra jedina
Korona tvoja
V srdcích jsme s tebou
We ѕtаnd for you
Czechia in Eurovision
The Czechia was one of the Central European countries that took the longest to participate in Eurovision, debuting only in 2007 (unlike its neighbors Poland, Hungary, or Slovakia, who debuted in 1994). In their first edition, they sent Kabát with the song “Malá dáma” to Helsinki, achieving a sad last place in the semi-final.
Their first qualification for the Eurovision final did not come until 2016, after their return in 2015 (the country did not participate between 2010 and 2014 due to poor results, with Gabriela Gunčíková’s “I Stand” only reaching 25th place in the final with 41 points).
In 2018, they reached their peak in the contest, with a magnificent 6th place thanks to Mikolas Joseph and his “Lie to Me”, with a total of 281 points in the final held in Lisbon.
However, the following years were somewhat cold for the country, but in 2022 they offered one of the best national selections of the season and once again made it to the final with We Are Domi and their “Lights Off”, becoming one of the favorites for many Eurofans. In the semi-final, they managed to reach the 4th place, although they ultimately finished in a disappointing 22nd place in the grand final.