Before the eyes of almost 200 million viewers, Ukraine used the ESC for a dramatic appeal against Russia’s war. The TV audience’s response is unparalleled in Grand Prix history.
«Slava Ukrayini!» – Glory to Ukraine! – shouts singer Oleh Psjuk with his pink felt hat when his country is proclaimed the winner for the third time in the history of the ESC.
The rapper from western Ukraine, who turns 28 this Monday, and his band Kalush Orchestra triumph in Turin with the song “Stefania”. In a competition that has never been more political because of Russia’s war of aggression against the country. In the end it is a great triumph for Ukraine in wartime.
Great euphoria
The euphoria in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, where there is already a curfew for the ESC final and the award ceremony due to the war, is palpable on Sunday. A train on the Ukrainian railways is to be called the “Stefania Express” in the future – after the winning song that Psjuk dedicated to his mother. President Volodymyr Zelenskyj takes the success as an omen for the fight against Russia’s invasion: “I am convinced that our victorious chord in the battle with the enemy is not far off.”
The presenter of public television, Timur Miroshnychenko, is crying with happiness, snot and water, his voice breaks off when he speaks. “We’re winning on the musical front, and we’re winning on that front as well. Armed Forces of Ukraine, this victory is for you, for everyone who is defending our country today,” he sobbed. “Don’t hold back your emotions. If you want to cry, cry.”
“Slava Ukrajini!”, the saying of ESC winner Oleh Psjuk, has long been a dictum, a battle cry. When the last note of his song faded away at the performance on Saturday evening in Italy, the Ukrainian was over with the funny: “I ask all of you: Please help Ukraine, Mariupol, help Asovstal – right now.” In German this means: “I ask you all: Help Ukraine, Mariupol, Azovstal.”
Around 1,000 Mariupol defenders are holed up in the Azov Steelworks, waiting to be rescued. Psjuk also asks for international mediation at a press conference after his victory, which is ongoing but has not brought any breakthrough so far.
A historic result
They are the two sentences of the evening, the call for help to an audience of millions in Turin, all over Europe, even in Australia. And the audience answers: In 28 of the 39 other countries, the audience gives the Ukrainians the highest rating: douze points – 12 points. The German audience also gave the Ukrainians top marks. In the end, the Ukrainian participants won with 631 points on Sunday night. A historic result.
This raises one question: Where will the ESC 2023 be held? War is currently raging in Ukraine, which makes it impossible to hold the game as of now. Nevertheless, President Volodymyr Zelenskyj definitely wants the largest music competition in the country: “Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe! Next year Ukraine hosts Eurovision! For the third time in our history,” says Zelenskyj. He believes that this will not be the last victory.
In 2004, the Ukrainian singer Ruslana won with “Wild Dances”; In 2016, Jamala won with the song “1944”, also a political song, even then Ukraine saw itself at war with Russia over the east of the country. But for almost three months now, the bloodshed has gripped large parts of the country.
The suffering of the people at parties and shows has not been forgotten. But for Ukraine, the new ESC victory is also a reason to celebrate as a powerful European music nation. Since the Eastern European country has only been taking part since 2003 and has sometimes sat out, it is considered the most successful participant ever.
The Russian war also represents a clear break for the Ukrainian music industry, since many artists have previously earned their money primarily in Russian-speaking countries. The majority of them now openly acknowledge their origins and support the Ukraine and its army with messages and benefit concerts. Only a few, such as the ESC candidate from 2008, Ani Lorak, have withdrawn completely and are waiting.
Great solidarity
On the night of Turin, Europe celebrates Ukraine striving for freedom. Tailwind even from the competition: artists show solidarity in the show. Germany’s representative Malik Harris, who finishes last with six points, turns his guitar over at the end of his song. On the back, unlike previous appearances, is a Ukraine flag with the inscription “Peace”. The Icelandic women also have Ukraine flags on their instruments. They shout: “Peace for Ukraine!” – Peace for Ukraine.
Actually, that’s a no-go at the ESC. “Texts, speeches and gestures of a political nature” are explicitly forbidden on the show according to the rules. However, the European Broadcasting Union EBU decides on a different interpretation of the statements – with understanding instead of sanctions. The EBU to the dpa: “We (…) consider the statements made by the Kalush Orchestra and other artists in support of the Ukrainian people more as a humanitarian gesture and less as a political one.”
The symbol of the sun
So in the end, the EBU shows leniency in the face of the suffering in Ukraine. But she probably didn’t recognize another, more subtle message before the show: Kalush Orchestra is celebrated in the social networks of Ukraine for the sun symbol that the band built into the stage design at the performance. The symbol represents the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Russia wants to take complete control of the Donetsk region, where Mariupol is located.
Singer Psjuk makes it clear that he wants to fight against it. He still wants to spend time with his girlfriend, his mother and family. But there is a war in his country: “We have temporary permission to be here and in two days we will be in Ukraine. It’s hard to say what we’re going to do. Like every Ukrainian, we are ready to fight and go to the end.”
How serious this is is shown by a video released by the Ukrainian authorities on Sunday, which is supposed to show how Russia firebombs the steel plant in Mariupol. The rain of fire, it is said in Russian hate comments, is Moscow’s response to Ukraine’s victory.
Russian media reported the victory, but unlike in previous years, state television is not allowed to show the show. Russia was expelled from the ESC because of the attack on Ukraine. The Russian hacker group Killnet openly states that they want to fight the ESC – also because it allegedly promotes homosexuality.
But the 2022 ESC winner is undeterred. The morning after the victory, Kalush Orchestra releases a new clip with the song against the backdrop of the Russian war-ravaged Kiev suburbs of Irpin, Borodyanka and Hostomel. “Dedicated to the brave people of Ukraine, to the mothers who protect their children, to all those who gave their lives for our freedom,” the credits read. The song has become a “war anthem” for many Ukrainians. “But if ‘Stefania’ is the anthem of our war, I want it to be the anthem of our victory,” writes Oleh Psjuk in the text accompanying the video.