Eurovision 2007

I decided to write a post about this year's Eurovision and Ukraine's entry after all.

Initially I had thought that Vasyl's post at his uamuzik blog would suffice, and kind of agreed that Verka Serduchka was an embarassment.

But, well, even then I had to admit that altho I found the visuals rather revolting, I found the tune quite catchy. (Yes, I am a true "radio" person... give me audio any day!)

Anyway, I was chatting with my radio colleague Pavlo this morning, and admitted to him that Verka has actually been growing on me. We agreed that really, whether or not you like his/her act, s/he does do what s/he does well, i.e. show biz.

It seems, tho, that in coming around, I'm swimming against the current, as usual. Pavlo (who was a prominent broadcaster in Ukraine before coming to Canada a few years ago and so knows these things) told me that Verka has never been really appreciated at home, i.e., in Ukraine, because s/he uses a lot of "surzhyk" ... Ukraine's equivalent of the Canadian prairie Ukie lingo known as "half na piv". Language being a touchy issue amongst Ukrainians, I guess that's understandable. But s/he made a decent living touring ... mostly in Russia, where s/he was very popular.

The operative word here is "was." Apparently, Russians have no sense of humour whatsoever and their noses can get seriously out of joint over even imagined slights. It seems an influential Russian national (or two) interpreted Verka's nonsense phrase (lasha tumbai) in the Eurovision entry as meaning "Russia goodbye" and then, as per usual, the rumour took root. So now post-Eurovision, Verka is persona non grata in Russia. Sheesh. They really need to get a grip, learn to lighten up a bit. Life is short... Oh well.

Although I am not a big fan of drag queens, I think there is room for a variety of styles of artistic expression in a vibrant culture. That gives everyone choice, and (at least in theory) keeps everyone happy. So while it's not something you'll likely find on Nash Holos, I still tip my hat to Verka Serduchka for great showman(person?)ship and audience draw.

Since I discovered Eurovision a few years ago, I've come to the conclusion that it is sure a lot more interesting than American Idol or the Canadian version. Maybe because it's just entertainment for its own sake, not entertainment for the sake of commerce? And western commerce is so uninspired. If they were smart, the record labels would be beating a path to Verka's door, but they are more smug than they are smart, as arbiters of culture tend to be.

Anyway, if you want to see the Verka Serduchka Eurovision entry, go here. To date there are over 800,000 (!) hits at this site alone, and there are several other sites with almost as many. The winner, Serbia, had a lovely entry but hasn't been getting near the hits on YouTube. (My personal favourite for this year was by Sarbel from Greece, who Pavlo describes as Greece's answer to Ricky Martin.)

Oh, and if you haven't seen the 2004 winning entry by Ukraine's Ruslana, it's here. Enjoy!

Verka Serduchka on Nash Holos

Since the discussion on this post has revolved around an off-topic comment about a Verka Serduchka selection that aired on the Nov. 4 broadcast of Nash Holos, I have re-posted the original post and retitled this one to make it more relevant to the discussion.

While I am thrilled to have visitors comment on any and all posts, I would respectfully ask that you please keep your comments relevant to the post. A comment about a selection on Nash Holos should be made on the corresponding update which I (usually) post every week after uploading the archives to the website.

The original post about the gorgeous new UPA song has been moved here. For anyone still interested in participating in the merits of Verka Serduchka on Nash Holos, in Ukraine and Russia, or wherever, this is the post to do it at, so go crazy! ;-)

Here's a YouTube video of the song that started it all:

Countdown to Eurovision 2017 - Ukraine's controversial entry in 2007

"Danzing Lasha Tumbai" was Ukraine’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007. It placed second, losing out to Serbia's "Molitva."

The song includes lyrics in four languages: German, English, Russian and Ukrainian. It was performed by Verka Serduchka amid much controversy ... before, during, and since Eurovision 2007.

Verka Serduchka is actually Andriy Danylko, a drag performer of considerable repute in Ukraine and Russia. His selection as Ukraine's representative at Eurovision was fiercely criticized by several media and politicians of different parties.

One of Ukraine's nationwide FM radio stations organized a protest action in February 2007 to express their disapproval of the selection. Some prominent Ukrainians and even members of the Ukrainian Parliament also expressed their disapproval, viewing the character of Serduchka as "grotesque and vulgar" and a national embarrassment.

Another subject of controversy was song's title and lyrics. In early publicity appearances, Serduchka explained that "lasha tumbai" was a Mongolian expression for "whipped cream." His statement was denied by several Mongols, and The Mongolian Embassy in Moscow said that "lasha tumbai" was total gibberish.

There were also allegations that the words were chosen due to their phonetic resemblance in English to "Russia Goodbye,"supposedly a reference to the 2004-2005 Orange Revolution in Ukraine.

Despite the controversy, Serduchka had the full support of the National Television Company of Ukraine. As well as finishing second in a field of 24, Danzing Lasha Tumbai went on to become a major chart hit not only in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, but throughout Europe.

The song performed well on download charts in Ireland and the UK.

On the Irish iTunes Download chart, it had outsold any other entry by more than double – including the winning entry.

On the French charts the "Dancing Lasha Tumbai" single reached #6 and went on to be #28 on The Official UK Singles Chart on 20 May 2007. This was the first time a non-UK non-winning Eurovision entry had made UK charts since 1974.

The song also made it to the movies. It was used in the movie Spy (2015), twice.

And between Eurovision’s two official Youtube videos Danzing…Lasha Tumbai has over 12 million views. Here is one of them.

To hear about all of Ukraine's top ten place finishes in Eurovision, check out the podcast of the April 29th, 2017 Vancouver edition of Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio here.

Ukraine's Eurovision 2008 entry

I know Ani Lorak is wildly popular, but ... am I the only one who would like to see more "Ukrainian content" in music from Ukraine?? 

I don't mean just Ukrainian language in the lyrics (altho that would be preferable), but some real Ukrainian soul in the music itself. 

So much contemporary Ukrainian music is virtually indistinguishable from what's produced in any other country. 

And when they sing in English, as Ani Lorak does in this Eurovision entry, it's totally indistinguishable. IMO

Verka Serduchka's entry last year (despite being a tad, um, controversial), was far more interesting and colourful than this year's soulless, generic entry.

Mandry, Mariya Burmaka, Ruslana, etc. had a great sound for a while there ... which raised my hopes that a distinctive Ukrainian musical genre would emerge, or even an East European "sound" in which Ukrainian music would be as identifiable a component as, say, Cuban is in the Latin American genre.

Forgive me for imagining how wonderful it would be to see (in this lifetime!) a new generation emerge with the musical and marketing chutzpah of the likes of this classic Ukrainian artist from the 20th century:



Oh well, maybe someday.

In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how Ukraine makes out this year in the Eurovision contest.

Countdown to Eurovision 2017: Ukraine's entry for 2006

In 2006 Tina Karol represented Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest with her song Show Me Your Love.

Tina Karol was born Tetyana Hryhorivna Liberman on 25 January 1985 to a Ukrainian mother and Jewish father in Orotukan, in the Russian Far East.

At the age of 6, her family moved to Ivano-Frankivsk, in western Ukraine. Her father, Grigoriy Liberman was from Vashkivtsi, Ukraine.

Tina Karol graduated from a music school, and later from the Gliere Music College in Kiev, where she studied pop vocal in the Faculty of Singing.

She has participated in numerous youth, regional, international and Jewish singing contests as well as musicals and theatrical shows. As well Tina Karol became the soloist of the Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces as well as a television personality.

As a teenager Tina performed with a Jewish dancing ensemble under her real name Tetyana Liberman. Her repertoire included songs in Hebrew and Yiddish. In 2000 she traveled with this ensemble on a fundraising tour to the United States on behalf of Jewish Agency for Israel programs in Ukraine.

In 2005 she was advised to take a stage name that was less Jewish. Shortly afterwards she said publicly that it was a decision she did not regret, as her name no longer hindered her career advancement.

In 2006 Tina Karol was selected to represent Ukraine at Eurovision with the song "Show Me Your Love". The song placed 7th.

2006 was a busy year for Tina Karol. In addition to entering Eurovision, that year she released two albums: her debut album of the same name as the Eurovision song title … Show Me Your Love, and another album entitled Nochenka, with some of songs of the first album in Russian and Ukrainian.

She also participated in the United Nations's Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign to raise awareness and fight HIV/AIDS in Ukraine. In addition, she began studying with the National Aviation University in Kiev … by correspondence.

In 2007, she released another album and wrote a fairy tale, Pautinka, portraying show business as Tina experienced it. Among others, her fellow Eurovision contestant Verka Serduchka are featured in the story.

2009 was another momentous year for Tina Karol. President Viktor Yushchenko awarded her the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine. She was named to a list of the top 100 of "most influential women in Ukraine." As well she was recognized for her beauty with two awards: "The Most Beautiful Singer of Ukraine” by organizers of the beauty contest Miss Ukraine Universe-2009, and was named for the second time "The Most Beautiful Woman of Ukraine" by readers of the glossy magazine "VIVA!"

Tina Karol is a familiar face to Ukrainians at home and in the diaspora. For several years now she has played a prominent role in Голос країни (Holos Krainy, meaning Voice of the Country), a Ukrainian reality talent show that premiered on Ukrainian TV in  May 2011.

Holos Krainy is part of the international syndication The Voice based on the reality singing competition launched in the Netherlands as The Voice of Holland. Ukraine’s was the second international adaptation of the program, after the American version.

Tina Karol has continued to win awards for her singing, most recently "People's Artist of Ukraine awarded in January this year by President Petro Poroshenko. She is also carrying on her charitable works, including, notably personally funding her own private foundation to help children with cancer.

Here is Tina Karol performing Ukraine’s 2006 Eurovision entry, 2006, Show Me Your Love.

To hear about all of Ukraine's top ten place finishes in Eurovision, check out the podcast of the April 29th, 2017 Vancouver edition of Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio here.

Interview with Ani Lorak & Verka Serduchka

Well, whatever you think of their music and musical personas, you gotta hand it to these two Eurovision entrants (2007 and 2008) from Ukraine. They're out there working hard at being cultural ambassadors for Ukraine. And they come across as genuinely nice, fun folks.

Enjoy!



H/T to Bill at UkeTube.