Despite the horrors of the war in Ukraine, many Ukrainian artists are continuing to release music to support their citizens. Go_A are no exception, having released a new song titled “Kalyna”, with all proceeds from streaming the song going to help those in Ukraine fighting against Russian forces.
Listen to “Kalyna” here:
Spotify
Apple Music
Meaning of “Kalyna”
The lyrics of the song talk about “Kalyna”, the Ukrainian word for a viburnum, or guelder-rose. The plant has a long stem and typically grows red berries in order to attract local wildlife to spread its seed.
In Ukraine, viburnums are seen as a national symbol, especially for local festivals. The plants are typically woven into wreaths and symbolise young women’s sense of pure love.
In the song, lead singer Kateryna Pavlenko sings about going into the mountains collecting viburnums, knitting them together and trampling them. The bridge encourages the plants to grow, with the speaker saying they will be collecting the berries. In the second half of the song, the lyrics scream for regret, but the band say “No need to pity my regret”.
Ukraine’s Eurovision journey
Ukraine is one of the most successful countries to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. The country has scored seven top-five placements, with an extra three top-ten finishes. Ukraine won the Contest in 2004 with Ruslana’s “Wild Dances” and again in 2016 with Jamala’s “1944”. Jamala’s win made history for Ukraine, as it became the first ex-Soviet country to win the Contest more than once.
In 2021, Go_A represented Ukraine in the 65th edition of the Contest with their song “SHUM”. The band scored 364 points, finishing in fifth place.
Have you listened to “Kalyna” yet? What do you make of Go_A’s newest song? Should Go_A return to Eurovision in the future? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure toy follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for all thing Ukraine in Eurovision.
News Source: Go_A
Photo Source: Go_A
Not speaking Ukrainian – and it doesn’t come across in translation – but it sounds like it’s full of wordplay and sound shifts. The meaning and purpose of these is pretty clear though …