Eurovision

Ukraine's EBU Member UA:PBC has won the 66th Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Stefania” performed by Kalush Orchestra.

An estimated audience of nearly 200 million will have seen this year's Contest which was broadcast live in the 40 participating countries. 24 cameras, 78 microphones and over 2,800 lighting fixtures were used on the production. Martin Österdahl, the EBU's Executive Supervisor of the ESC, said: "The Eurovision Song Contest is the only cultural event that truly unites Europe. This year it’s been more important than ever to bring millions together through our common values and love of music. 727 square metres of LED screens were employed on the stage and 440 speakers brought “The Sound of Beauty”, this year’s theme to the audience in the arena. The Grand Final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest was broadcast live in all 40 participating nations by EBU Members RTSH (Albania), ORF (Austria), AMPTV (Armenia), ICTIMAI (Azerbaijan), VRT (Belgium), RTBF (Belgium), HRT (Croatia), CyBC (Cyprus), ČT (Czech Republic), DR (Denmark), ERR (Estonia), YLE (Finland), France Télévisions (France), GPB (Georgia), ARD (Germany), ERT (Greece), MTV (Hungary), RÚV (Iceland), RTÉ (Ireland), KAN (Israel), RAI (Italy), LTV (Latvia), LRT (Lithuania), MRT (North Macedonia), PBS (Malta), TRM (Moldova), RTCG (Montenegro), AVROTROS (The Netherlands), NRK (Norway), TVP (Poland), RTP (Portugal), TVR (Romania), SMRTV (San Marino), RTS (Serbia), RTVSLO (Slovenia), RTVE (Spain), SVT (Sweden), SRG SSR (Switzerland), UA:PBC (Ukraine), BBC (United Kingdom) and Associate Member SBS (Australia). Following the performances of the 25 Grand Finalists, the results of the juries in the 40 participating nations who voted on Friday’s dress rehearsal were given out leaving the United Kingdom in the lead.

Stefania by Kalush Orchestra rides wave of public sympathy to claim Ukraine's third Eurovision victory.

Despite the UK finishing second, Ukraine’s victory does still give the BBC a glimmer of hope of staging the event again for the first time since 1998. It was sung in English and Crimean Tatar, and came two years after the Russian Federation had annexed Crimea after the 2014 invasion. A hi-tech element named the “kinetic sun” was supposed to revolve, allowing acts to use either a giant LED screen or a wall of lights. She issued an apology explaining that she had been trying to throw it across to a member of her team who was too far away to catch it. Ewan Spence from the Eurovision Insight Podcast told the Guardian from Turin that “throughout the week, the singers, the broadcasters, the community have proudly stood with Kalush Orchestra and Ukraine. This will always stand as a victory at Eurovision; but it means so much more. But after the points from the public vote were added, it finished second.

TURIN, Italy :Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy on Saturday with their entry "Stefania", riding a wave of public support ...

"I thank the Kalush Orchestra for this victory and everyone who gave us your votes! "Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe! Next year Ukraine will host the Eurovision song contest," he said in an online message. "We understand the deep feelings around Ukraine at this moment and believe the comments of the Kalush Orchestra and other artists expressing support for the Ukrainian people to be humanitarian rather than political in nature," the EBU said in a statement.

Ukraine's folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra captured the imagination of fans across the continent.

In a bar in central Kyiv, not far from the city's famous golden roofed Saint Sophia Cathedral, a small Eurovision viewing party was taking place on Saturday night. Alluding to the rule that a winner of the previous year's competition gets to host the contest, he said: "Next year Ukraine will host Eurovision! For the third time in its history. "The soldiers would come in to get some rest, we were cooking food for them -- borscht, soups, meat, potatoes, there wasn't much selection at the time," he said. The event in Turin saw several of the elaborate and camp performances that have become Eurovision's hallmark. "On some days there are rockets flying over people's houses and it is like a lottery -- no one knows where it will hit," Psyuk told CNN this week ahead of his performance. We will do our best to one day host the participants and guests of Eurovision in Ukrainian Mariupol. Free, peaceful, rebuilt!"

"Stefania," about the mother of Kalush Orchestra's frontman, “has become really close to the hearts of so many people in Ukraine," the singer said.

As a result, it said, it substituted jury votes with an aggregate calculation for the last semi-final and the final. Zelenskyy vowed to someday host the event in the war-devastated city of Mariupol. "It has become really close to the hearts of so many people in Ukraine."

The country's entry, the folk rap band Kalush Orchestra, triumphed with points from the popular vote.

In a recent video interview from Kyiv, Hnatenko said he felt the band’s appearance at Eurovision was “equally important” as his own service in the war. “Lately, the Ukrainian culture was attacked, and we are here to prove that Ukrainian culture and music are alive and they have their own beautiful signature,” he said speaking through a translator. It’s tradition that the winner is host of the following year’s events. And he was prepared to fight if asked, he said. A photo posted by Suspilne, the Ukrainian public broadcasting company, showed the veteran presenter at a desk in a bunkerlike room, surrounded by computers, wires, a camera and eroding walls that revealed patches of brick underneath. “And I think that it could be a right signal.” Its participation had been a cultural touchstone of sorts for Russia’s engagement with the world, persisting even as relations worsened between Mr. Putin’s government and much of Europe. After the win, Iryna Shafinska was trying to fix her makeup — including two hearts in the colors of the Ukrainian flag on her cheeks — which had been smudged by tears of joy. After 80 days of fighting that has forced millions from their homes, brought ruin to cities and towns across Ukraine’s east and killed tens of thousands, the band won an emotional victory for Ukraine with a performance of “ Stefania,” a rousing, anthemic song. But as a showcase meant to promote European unity and cultural exchange, it has never truly been separate from politics, though the contests rules forbid contestants from making political statements at the event. Psiuk’s mother had texted him after the win to say that she loved him “and she was proud,” he said at a media conference after the contest at which he thanked everyone who had voted for the group. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February, organizers barred Russian performers from the event, citing fears that Russia’s inclusion would damage the contest’s reputation.

Kalush Orchestra shared their reaction to winning the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest for Ukraine with the song 'Stefania', in the winner's Press Conference.

We have a temporary authorisation to be here, and it ends in two days. It’s pretty late in Ukraine, so I have decided that I will call her tomorrow. As fans know, the song Stefania was written to honour Oleg’s mother. Talk soon turns to whether or not Ukraine plans to do this, given the current situation in the country. The band take great pride in their win, and have enjoyed the song’s journey to get here. You can listen to Ukrainian music, watch Ukrainian films, and visit Ukraine. Apart from us, there are so many talented people in Ukraine doing music and doing so many other creative outlets.

KYIV : Proud Ukrainians revelled in their Eurovision Song Contest victory on Sunday, renaming a train route in its honour as they hoped for victory in their ...

Advertisement Advertisement We sat up until half past six, watching the press conference.... "I didn't connect it to myself, that the song was written for me. Advertisement Advertisement

Like millions of Ukrainians, Falkovskaya was celebrating the victory of Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra at the Eurovision Song Contest. The band's victory, ...

The video is dedicated to “the brave Ukrainian people,” the “mothers protecting children” and to “those who gave their lives to our freedom,” it says. The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. The members of Kalush Orchestra received special permission to travel to Italy for Eurovision, even though Ukraine has banned most men between 18 and 60 from leaving the country in case they are called to fight. The children are reunited with their families in refugee centers and train stations, as the service members — all women — stare into the camera, some of them in tears. “It is impossible to hold back tears.” On Sunday, the band released a music video for “Stefania,” the song that helped secure its first-place Eurovision finish, that was filmed in war-torn areas of Ukraine. “The world needs to see it!” the message said. “This video was filmed in Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka, Hostomel, cities near Kyiv that suffered the horrors of Russian occupation,” it reads. It is the latest example of Ukraine’s use of cultural diplomacy amid its conflict with Russia. “I ask for all of you, please help Ukraine, Mariupol. Help Azovstal right now,” Psiuk said after the band performed at the grand finale. This is how Ukraine’s Eurovision presenter and commentator Timur Miroshnychenko reacted to the news of Kalush Orchestra’s victory. Next year, Ukraine is expected to host the competition, an occasion that Zelensky said he believes will not be the last.

BERLIN: Eurovision and NATO might not usually be associated, but on Sunday (May 15) the military alliance's deputy chief congratulated Ukraine for winning ...

"I would like to congratulate Ukraine for winning the Eurovision contest. Advertisement Advertisement

TURIN, Italy :Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra won the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy on Saturday with their entry "Stefania", riding a wave of public support ...

Glory to Ukraine!," Psiuk from the band told a news conference, speaking through an interpreter. "I thank the Kalush Orchestra for this victory and everyone who gave us your votes! Advertisement

Europe doesn't hate the UK after all, it was just waiting for a decent song. This is what seasoned Eurovision watchers concluded after seeing Sam Ryder take ...

He predicted that next year the UK would go one better, telling Radio 4’s Broadcasting House: “Next year, it’s going to be mad. “Being in that arena and witnessing this tangible energy of life, was incredible.” But what really mattered on Saturday, said Bryan, was the strength and the memorability of the song, co-written with the Ed Sheeran collaborator Amy Wadge. And the brilliance of the live performance. “Someone was telling me that Sam Ryder’s song was played this morning on Capital Radio. That sounds an odd thing to say, but Capital Radio don’t play Eurovision entries.” That was rubbish, the BBC’s Eurovision host Graham Norton said after the contest on Saturday. “All those people wanging on about Europe hates us. The victory led to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy defiantly promising that the contest would “one day” be held in Mariupol.

The Kalush Orchestra won Eurovision with their entry "Stefania", surfing a wave of public support to claim an emotional victory that was welcomed by the ...

Moscow calls its actions a "special military operation" to disarm Ukraine and protect it from fascists. I was jumping. Advertisement