Ukrainian Kalush Orchestra favorite at Eurovision Song Contest, but participation uncertain

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Kalush Orchestra favorite at Eurovision Song Contest

Oleh Psiuk may win the Eurovision Song Contest, but for the frontman of Kalush Orchestra it is not a priority on his list. The Ukrainian rapper has his hands full looking for medication, food and emergency aid for the inhabitants of his country, where he still works, in the city of Kalush. Nevertheless, he is hopeful to be on the podium in May, he tells our media.

“There are many people who do not fully understand how serious the situation in Ukraine is at the moment. It may look like a war movie, one that takes place far away and that is none of your business.

But know: it is not that far away.” Psiuk ends the conversation. He asks us if he can make a call.

“For us, it’s reality. We wake up every day to explosions, we see people we love die almost every day. If you think this is something that shouldn’t happen in 2022, then you can say something about it.

Use social media to speak up, talk to your friends and your family about what you can do to make a difference, if everyone tries, every day, something that can help Ukraine, this can stop and hopefully soon. “

Psiuk is the frontman of the group Kalush, which is popular in Ukraine, and for about five months also that of the Kalush Orchestra. In daily life he is a rapper and he writes his own lyrics and the lyrics for the folk singer of the band. 

He tours Ukraine and the rest of Europe. But since the Russian invasion of Ukraine a month ago, there has been little time for music.“It may look like a war movie, but it’s not that far away.”

Volunteer or join the armed forces

“We are all busy with other things now, because the most important thing now is to help our country. We do that as best we can, in all kinds of ways. For example, I have my own organization for volunteers and with about thirty others trying we help others as best we can.

We search for medicines, collect food and help people who have fled to western Ukraine to find a safe place to stay. One of our band members is now in the territorial forces. We do what we can do, all in our own way,” said the rapper.

With the song Stefania , the band is expected on the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest in May, where according to the bookmakers they currently have by far the greatest chance of winning. 

But where their musical competitors have been rehearsing for months, the band members have not seen each other for weeks. Psiuk is positive, he thinks that shouldn’t be a problem.

“I don’t think it will affect our performance. We are just very attractive guys, so it should be fine,” he says with a smile. “It would be nice if we could get together quietly and rehearse on a daily basis, but that is not the case.

Still, I know that when we see each other again, it will be immediately good. Then we rehearse continuously and we get still the level we are used to.”

Ukrainian Kalush Orchestra favorite at Eurovision Song Contest, but participation uncertain

Images of war with Stefania as soundtrack

The popularity of the band, which pays tribute to mothers with Stefania , becomes clear when you look on social media. Ukrainians share images of what their daily lives are like now with the song as the soundtrack:

how they come across a bomb, how they tape their windows against explosions, or how they walk into a bomb shelter for the umpteenth time.

Although Stefania has nothing in the text that points to the current situation here, everyone will find something in it that he or she feels a connection with. ‘Mother’ can not only stand for my mother or yours, but also for the motherland Because of that, it can feel like we’re singing and rapping about Ukraine.

But people also think about their own mothers, who they can’t see now, because they’re far away from them, or who they can’t talk to, because of the circumstances.”

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