In 2022, Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest and promptly sold their winners’ trophy for $900,000 to raise money to help with the war effort. The distinctive crystal microphone was auctioned on Facebook and funds were used to buy drones for Ukraine’s military.
In an interview with Deadline, this year’s entrants have pledged to make similar efforts, telling us any money they raise from the contest will go towards rebuilding a school in the Dnipropetrovsk region destroyed by a Russian missile in 2022.
Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil reflected on the significance of Kalush Orchestra’s Eurovision victory that same year. Alyona said: “For Ukraine, it was very important because it was [about] attention. Then they sold their trophy, created a lottery and were able to spread information about the truth [of the war]. We have [to deal with] a lot of propaganda.”
Alyona and Heil are currently fifth favorites to emulate Kalush Orchestra’s success, and fans of the pair and their performance can donate to the school fund via United24’s website, where they can also bid for a personal meeting with the musical duo.
Alyona, who was previously a kindergarten teacher, said she would “sell everything, my hair, everything,” to help with the effort.
For the contest, the pair, who previously collaborated on a folk album, have brought their contrasting styles – Alyona is a rapper, Heil more operatic – to a song inspired by Ukrainian saints Theresa and Maria, representing love and kindness. The song was created in a studio in Kyiv while war raged outside.
Alyona said: “The circumstances that we have in Ukraine, they are a part of this song. It was written under the attacks, under alerts, and our people are so used to it, we don’t even hide. What comes, comes. It’s the new reality.”
One of Europe’s most celebrated female rappers, Alyona is clearly politically active. She wears a T-shirt that she translates as “Free the Defenders” – and explains it refers to the 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers who have been behind Russian lines since the beginning of the war. But both women are clearly mindful of the European Broadcasting Union’s rules on Eurovision entries staying apolitical – Israel had to change their lyrics in March for this reason – and instead stress their message of peace, love and unity.
Just as the UK had to host in place of Ukraine in 2023 following Kalush Orchestra’s victory, Alyona and Heil realise that, should they win, their country would be similarly ill-placed to host the event next year. “In a Utopian world,” said Alyona, “but we don’t know what comes next. Maybe in the west of Ukraine it would be possible. But our air space is not closed, and people are afraid of coming.”
In the meantime, it’s all about getting the message out that Ukraine is still in business, culturally, musically, socially.
Heil said: “Our message is not to make people fight, but to unite and help each other. We feel that music can unite, and musically and culturally we can give so much as a nation, we just need to be visible, and we’re thankful for this opportunity.
Like a true diplomat, Alyona added: “It’s important not just to ask for things, but to say thank you.”
The pair’s song includes the line, “Soon it will be over”. When asked how optimistic they are of this coming true, Alyona shrugged, smiled and added: “It helps us to wake up every morning.”
The Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmo, Sweden, with the semi-finals on May 7 and 9, and the final on May 11.
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