Ukraine’s Eurovision track entry showcases how cultural id can evolve : NPR

SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:

Ukraine gained the world’s largest track contest final yr, and this week, it is co-hosting this yr’s competitors in Liverpool. It is the Eurovision Tune Contest, recognized and beloved for over-the-top theatrics. It is also a platform to showcase cultural id and, within the case of Ukraine’s entry this yr, how id can evolve. NPR’s Joanna Kakissis experiences.

JEFFERY KENNY: La la la (ph).

ANDRIY HUTSULIAK: La la la (ph).

My identify is Andriy.

KENNY: And I’m Jeffery.

HUTSULIAK: And we’re Tvorchi.

KENNY: We’re Tvorchi, digital music duo from Ukraine.

JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE: Meet Andriy Hutsuliak and Jeffery Kenny, the duo representing Ukraine at Eurovision this yr. Their band’s identify means inventive in Ukrainian. And after we spoke at NPR’s bureau in Kyiv just lately, they began strumming a bandura, an outdated Ukrainian stringed instrument.

HUTSULIAK: Something sounds good on this.

KAKISSIS: Hutsuliak and Kenny started making music 5 years in the past in western Ukraine, once they had been each coaching as pharmacists.

HUTSULIAK: You already know, it was fascinating to observe these experiments. You keep in mind the way it was?

KENNY: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

HUTSULIAK: You get it – tin, tin, tin (ph). So put some drops in that tubes.

KENNY: Typically it’s important to, like, combine it and blend it and wait. Typically you bought to warmth it up.

KAKISSIS: They usually see music the identical manner.

KENNY: (Singing) It is previous midnight, taking a look at phrases…

KAKISSIS: Kenny’s from Lagos, Nigeria, the place he was born Jimoh Augustus Kehinde. Jeffrey Kenny is his stage identify. He moved to the western Ukrainian metropolis of Ternopil in 2013 when he was simply 16 years outdated to attend college.

KENNY: After I first got here, like, it is exhausting to not stand out. You already know, it is exhausting to not – like, you simply stroll down the road, and, like, folks simply, like, gazing you. So it was humorous. However, you understand, now folks simply get used to, like, seeing one another.

KAKISSIS: Earlier than Russia’s full-scale invasion, many African college students studied in Ukraine. After the invasion, many fled, and a few stated they confronted discrimination by Ukrainian border guards. Kenny does not excuse that, however he says he sees Ukraine altering.

KENNY: One thing so complicated as, you understand, with the ability to, like, settle for one another’s variations and be one household – sure, it takes time. However I really feel like, you understand, it is my second dwelling. So…

KAKISSIS: Hutsuliak calls himself and Kenny the boys from Ternopil as if to say, you do not have to be a white, Orthodox Christian to be Ukrainian.

HUTSULIAK: Folks grew to become extra open-minded, extra various to new issues. And in addition the atmosphere was turning into higher and higher. So undoubtedly we’re a easy instance that Ukrainians selected us to characterize complete nation.

KAKISSIS: Ukraine has showcased variety up to now at Eurovision. In 2016, a Crimean Tatar gained the track contest. Ukraine additionally gained Eurovision final yr…

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “STEFANIA”)

KALUSH ORCHESTRA: (Singing in non-English language).

KAKISSIS: …With a track devoted to Ukrainian girls. Kenny says he is discovered the bravery of Ukrainian men and women inspiring.

KENNY: Like, it made me perceive, you understand, selflessness, if I can say. And also you simply wish to do one thing so issues can get higher, you understand, with out the promise of, like, revenue or something.

KAKISSIS: Tvorchi’s Eurovision track, referred to as “Coronary heart Of Metal,” is about resilience.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HEART OF STEEL”)

TVORCHI: (Singing) Guess I bought a coronary heart of metal.

KAKISSIS: It is impressed by an epic siege final spring within the southern metropolis of Mariupol, the place Ukrainian troopers and civilians barricaded themselves below a large metal plant referred to as Azovstal. Hutsuliak says he was astonished at how lengthy they held out.

HUTSULIAK: You may have a look at the Ukrainians and take inspiration.

KAKISSIS: You wish to be the robust coronary heart. You wish to be the center of metal.

HUTSULIAK: We do not wish to be pitied.

KAKISSIS: And with that, Hutsuliak and Kenny placed on their sun shades. They appear prepared for the stage, and so I’ve to ask.

How do you are feeling about singing “Coronary heart Of Metal” for us right here in our improvised Tiny Desk live performance (laughter)?

KENNY: OK. (Inaudible) let’s go.

(Vocalizing) Dun, dun, dun, da-dun, dun, dun, da-dun (ph).

OK. That is a very good tempo.

(Singing) Do not be scared to say simply what you assume ‘trigger regardless of how dangerous, somebody’s listening.

KAKISSIS: Kenny additionally provides a line in Ukrainian that speaks to the battle nonetheless raging. He sings, “regardless of the ache, I’ll proceed to combat.” Tvorchi will compete on the Eurovision finals in Liverpool on Saturday.

KENNY: (Singing) Coronary heart of metal.

KAKISSIS: Joanna Kakissis, NPR Information, Kyiv.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “HEART OF STEEL”)

TVORCHI: (Singing) Do not care what you say. Yeah, yeah. Do not care how…

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