Kalush Orchestra

Ukrainian band

Years active2021–presentLabelsUniversal MusicSpinoff ofKALUSHMembers
  • Oleh Psiuk
  • Tymofii Muzychuk
  • Sasha Tab
  • Sasha Kondratiuk
  • Vitalii Duzhyk
  • MC KYLYMMAN
Past members
  • Andrii Handziuk
  • Ihor Didenchuk

Kalush Orchestra is a Ukrainian folk-hip hop group founded in 2021 as a side project of KALUSH, performing hip-hop music in the Ukrainian language. They represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song "Stefania"[4][5] and went on to win the competition, securing Ukraine's third Eurovision win.[6] Kalush Orchestra combines elements of Ukrainian folk music with modern production, hip-hop dance, and Ukrainian-language rap.

History

Creation

Kalush Orchestra was created in 2021 as a group of six musicians, as well as a side project of rap group KALUSH, which was founded in 2019. The name comes from the city of Kalush – frontman Oleh Psiuk's hometown in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.[7]

Eurovision Song Contest and subsequent ventures

Kalush Orchestra performing "Stefania" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022

On 12 February 2022, Kalush Orchestra competed to represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy with the song "Stefania". In the final of the national selection Vidbir, they placed second with 14 points (six from the jury and eight from the audience).[8] Alina Pash received the highest score of the jury - 8 points. The audience rated her performance 7 points. These results ultimately brought the singer the first place in the rating table.[9][10] Despite coming in second place, the band were offered the chance to represent Ukraine at Eurovision, after Pash withdrew her candidacy due to controversy regarding her travel history in Crimea.[11][12] On 22 February, Kalush Orchestra accepted the offer.[13] On the same day, the Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne published the official voting results of Vidbir 2022, confirming that Pash had been correctly chosen as the winner, contrary to Psiuk's claims.[14]

Kalush Orchestra performing in Poland in September 2022

The group won the Eurovision final on 14 May with 631 points, securing Ukraine's third Eurovision victory. "Stefania" became the first song with rap lyrics to win the contest, as well as the winning song with the highest number of televote points in the history of the contest.[15][16] The group later announced that they would put their Eurovision trophy up for auction to raise money for the Ukrainian armed forces.[17] The trophy was sold for US$900,000, with proceeds earmarked for purchase of combat drones for Ukraine's military.[18] The group subsequently embarked on a promotional tour across Europe and North America to raise awareness and donations for Ukrainian efforts in combating the Russian invasion.[19][20][21] In November 2022, the group performed "Oy na hori" and "Stefania" at the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards.[22]

On 12 July 2023, the group released "Chase" and "Human" as part of the Spotify Singles project. The tracks were recorded at Spotify Studios in Los Angeles.[23]

On July 14, 2023, a Spotify Singles billboard featuring the Kalush Orchestra appeared in Times Square.[24]

In June 2023, Kalush Orchestra presented their third English-language track title "In the Fire".[25]

In September 2023, the band released the first track "Vogon' goryt'", which means "the fire is burning" without the participation of Oleh Psiuk. The release was dedicated to an experimental mini-tour that took place in December 2023.[26]

In late September and early October 2023, the band held its first tour of Ukraine. The tour consisted of 12 concerts at which money was traditionally raised to help Ukraine.[27]

In November 2023, the band toured North America for the third time.[28]

On December 15, 2023, the band released the song "Tse liubov", which means "this is love" and its music video. In the clip, the artists were presented in new images.[29]

On February, 2024 Kalush Orchestra released track and music video "Yangolom" with means "Angel" about love.[30]

Charity

On May 30, 2022, the award for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 — the crystal microphone, was sold by "Kalush Orchestra" and Serhiy Prytula for $900,000 at a charity auction. This was the first time the trophy was sold in its history [46][47]. The trophy was acquired by the Ukrainian cryptocurrency exchange WhiteBIT. Also, at the auction, the pink panama hat of the band's lead singer was sold, raising 11 million hryvnias. The Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation announced that the funds raised would be spent on a PD-2 unmanned aerial complex for the Ukrainian army.[31]

On the eve of Independence Day, August 23, 2022, Kalush Orchestra announced a 24-hour fundraiser, collecting 24 hryvnias each for the rehabilitation of the defenders of Mariupol. They managed to raise 5 million hryvnias.[32]

Since August 2022, Kalush Orchestra has become ambassadors of the "Save Ukrainian Culture" project, initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy and the operator Vodafone Ukraine. The band carries a unique QR code to their concerts, through which they collect funds for the reconstruction of destroyed cultural monuments. After a performance in the USA, Kalush Orchestra donated 330 thousand hryvnias for the restoration of the Hryhorii Skovoroda museum in Kharkiv region, which was almost completely burned down by the Russian military.[33]

In March 2023, MC KYLYMMEN became an artist of the star landing of the All-Ukrainian public initiative for the adaptation of displaced children "Ambassador of Childhood," providing psychological and social assistance to refugee children and displaced children.[34]

On March 30, 2023, Kalush Orchestra became ambassadors of the militarized police unit «Lut'» which means «Fury».[35]

In December 2023, the band, together with the "Peremoga" Charitable Foundation, implemented the project "Magical Mail of Saint Nicholas," aiming to fulfill the dreams of children affected by the war. MC KYLYMMEN personally selected and sent gifts to 50 children, totaling about 150,000 hryvnias.[36]

During their third tour of North America in 2023, the band raised 990,225 thousand hryvnias for charity.[28]

Interesting Facts

On October 6, 2022, members of the band met Arnold Schwarzenegger and photographed him in a pink bucket hat.[37] Later, Schwarzenegger appeared in the band's music video for the song "Shchedryi Vechir". On May 16, 2023, Kalush Orchestra performed at the Austrian World Summit upon Schwarzenegger's invitation, an event founded by the actor.[38]

On April 10, 2023, the company "Ukrposhta" issued a new postage stamp featuring Kalush Orchestra in the hometown of the band's frontman, Oleh Psiuk, in Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk region.[39]

On May 13, 2023, Kalush Orchestra opened the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool with the number "Voices of Generation." The introduction featured the song "Stefania" in a unique setting. The song "traveled" through various locations from Ukraine to Liverpool, journeying around the world from subways to chamber orchestras. Global stars, including British superstar Joss Stone and Andrew Lloyd Webber, joined the rappers. Princess of Wales Kate Middleton also participated in the performance. Middleton was shown playing the piano accompanied by Kalush Orchestra and Sam Ryder, who came in second place in Eurovision 2022. Apart from "Stefania," Kalush Orchestra also introduced their new English single "Changes".[40]

In December 2023, the band conducted a European mini-tour without the participation of the band's frontman Oleh Psiuk.[41]

In May 2022, the train on the route Kyiv-Ivano-Frankivsk received the official name "Stefania Express". This is the first train in the world to honor a mother in its name. The train at Kyiv, Kalush and Ivano-Frankivsk stations is greeted with the song "Stefania", which the band performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy.[42]

Members

Current members

  • Oleh Psiuk – lead singer
  • Tymofii Muzychuk [uk] – vocals and instrumentals
  • Oleksandr "Tab" Slobodianyk [uk] – vocals
  • Oleksandr Kondratiuk – vocals and instrumentals
  • Vitalii Duzhyk [uk] – instrumentals
  • MC KYLYMMAN – breakdance

Discography

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions
UKR
[43]
BEL
(FL)
[44]
GER
[45]
IRE
[46]
ITA
[47]
LTU
[48]
NLD
[49]
NOR
[50]
SWE
[51]
UK
[52]
"Shtomber Womber" 2021
"Trynda" (with Kozak Siromaha) 2021
"Stefania" 2022 1 24 22 30 53 1 36 19 7 38
"Oi na hori"
"Dole moia"
"Skolykhnulas' "
"O Mamo "(with Sal'to Nazad)
"In the Shadows of Ukraine"[53]
(with The Rasmus)
30
"Nasze domy"[54]
(with Szpaku [pl])
"Shchedrivka"[55]
"Numo kozaky" (with Kozak Siromaha)[56]
"Changes"[57] 2023
"Ushme Uturbe" (with bbno$ and Ditvak)[58]
"In the Fire"[59]
"Chase"[23]
"Human" (with Jona XX)[23]
"Vogon’ goryt’"
"Tse Liubov"[60]
"Yangolom"[30]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart in that territory.

As featured artist

Title Year Album
"Cry for You"
(Ochman featuring Kalush Orchestra)
2023 Testament

References

  1. ^ "Turin 2022 / Participants – Kalush Orchestra". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest: Kalush will in Turin gewinnen". Euronews (in German). 9 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  3. ^ Mori, Yevhenii (2 February 2022). "Олег Псюк пояснив, чим відрізняється Kalush від Kalush Orchestra". Suspilne Kultura (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra will go to Turin with 'Stefania' 🇺🇦". Eurovision.tv. 22 February 2022. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  5. ^ Stefania: lyrics, history, meaning of the song and its influence on Ukrainian culture
  6. ^ Ukraine won the Eurovision Song Contest, Radio Liberty, 15.05. 2022
  7. ^ ""Stomber Womber" is the first song of the new band KALUSH Orchestra. Watch the clip". LISTEN - online media about music and everything around it. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  8. ^ Farren, Neil (12 February 2022). "Vidbir 2022 – Eurovision in times of trouble – Alina Pash to Eurovision". OnEurope. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  9. ^ Kolomiiets, Daryana (14 February 2022). "Scandal Hits Ukraine's Eurovision 2022 Candidate". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Скандали на Євробаченні: що відбувається". BBC (in Ukrainian). 13 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  11. ^ Holden, Steve (16 February 2022). "Alina Pash: Singer won't represent Ukraine at Eurovision". BBC. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  12. ^ Adams, William Lee (17 February 2022). "Ukraine offers Kalush Orchestra Eurovision 2022 spot "to maintain the trust of the audience"". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Гурт "Kalush Orchestra" представить Україну на Євробаченні в Турині" [Kalush Orchestra will represent Ukraine at Eurovision in Turin]. Suspilne Movlennia (in Ukrainian). 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Як голосували журі і глядачі: Суспільне отримало протоколи з фіналу Нацвідбору" [How the jury and the audience voted: Public received protocols from the final of the National Selection]. Suspilne Movlennia (in Ukrainian). 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Ukraine wins Eurovision Song Contest after performance by Kalush Orchestra". Sky News. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Eurovision 2022: Ukraine wins, while the UK's Sam Ryder comes second". BBC News. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  17. ^ Renee Kristiansen, Wivian (16 May 2022). "Kalush Orchestra to auction off the Eurovision trophy". ESCXTRA.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  18. ^ Jackson, Patrick (31 May 2022). "Ukraine war: Eurovision trophy sold to buy drones for Ukraine". BBC News.
  19. ^ "Ukrainian Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra to perform first UK concert at Glastonbury". The Guardian. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  20. ^ Davda, Rishi (24 June 2022). "Eurovision's Ukrainian winners say Glastonbury set a 'huge responsibility'". ITV News. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  21. ^ Gallicchio, Federico (3 July 2022). "Eurovision 2022, Kalush Orchestra: la band prepara il tour in Nord America". Eurofestival News (in Italian). Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  22. ^ Катя Юськів (14 November 2022). "Kalush Orchestra виступили на престижній премії MTV EMA 2022" (in Ukrainian). Korrespondent.net. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  23. ^ a b c Polina Horlach (14 July 2023). "Kalush Orchestra released 2 tracks within the project Spotify Singles" (in Ukrainian). Суспільне. Культура. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  24. ^ "Фото дня: Kalush Orchestra на Times Square".
  25. ^ Kalush Orchestra випустили третій англомовний трек (in Ukrainian), retrieved 6 February 2024
  26. ^ ""Вогонь горить" – гурт Kalush Orchestra презентував першу пісню та кліп без Олега Псюка". ЧаРівне (in Ukrainian). 13 September 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  27. ^ info, 1 zt ua (12 August 2023). "Kalush Orchestra відправляться в осінній тур Україною - Житомир у жовтні". Перший Житомирський (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ a b "Meet the bands touring to raise funds for Ukraine's army (and save the dates)". Euromaidan Press. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Kalush Orchestra презентували нову пісню про любов. ВІДЕО". kultura.rayon.in.ua (in Ukrainian). 16 December 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  30. ^ a b Vautrey, Jonathan (4 February 2024). "New Music From Kalush Orchestra, Remo Forrer, Mimicat And More". wiwibloggs. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Кубок Євробачення продали вперше в історії: Kalush Orchestra зібрали майже мільйон доларів". 24 Канал (in Ukrainian). 29 May 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Kalush Orchestra оголосив одноденний збір коштів на реабілітацію захисників Маріуполя". www.ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). 24 August 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  33. ^ "Група Kalush Orchestra передала 330 тисяч на зруйнований росіянами музей Сковороди". www.unian.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  34. ^ Oleksandr, Kushnerov. "NRJ Ukraine - Офіційний сайт радіостанції. Слухай NRJ в онлайн". nrj.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Розпочнуть з Луцька: Kalush Orchestra вирушить у довгоочікуваний тур Україною - VSN". vsn.ua (in Ukrainian). 1 January 2000. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  36. ^ Василь, Солтис (29 December 2023). "КИЛИММЕН став Святим Миколаєм: гурт Kalush Orchestra та БФ PEREMOGA здійснили мрії дітей, які постраждали від війни" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  37. ^ Ліпич, Ольга (27 October 2022). "Арнольд Шварценеггер запросив у гості Kalush Orchestra: ви надихаєте мене. Фото". OBOZREVATEL NEWS (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  38. ^ "Шварценеггер з'явився у кліпі Kalush Orchestra. Що він там сказав українською". BBC News Україна (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  39. ^ "Укрпошта випускає марку, присвячену річниці перемоги Kalush на Євробаченні". Українська правда _Життя. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  40. ^ "Eurovision 2023: Ukraine's champions Kalush Orchestra get Liverpool party started". 5 May 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  41. ^ ""Без рожевої панами": Kalush Orchestra проведе мінітур без Олега Псюка". Галицький Кореспондент (in Ukrainian). 9 September 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  42. ^ Keystone-SDA. "Ukrainische Eisenbahn benennt Zug nach ESC-Siegersong "Stefania"". Nau (in German). Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  43. ^ "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Weekly Chart". TopHit Music Charts. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
    "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Weekly Chart". TopHit Music Charts. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  44. ^ "Kalush Orchestra – Stefania" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  45. ^ "Kalush Orchestra – Stefania". offiziellecharts.de (in German). Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  46. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  47. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 20" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  48. ^ "2022 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  49. ^ "Discografie Kalush Orchestra". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  50. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2022-20". VG-lista. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  51. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  52. ^ "Kalush | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  53. ^ "Kalush Orchestra und The Rasmus veröffentlichen neue Version von "In The Shadows"". bleistiftrocker.de (in German). 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  54. ^ "Nasze Domy (feat. Szpaku) - Single by KALUSH & Kalush Orchestra". Apple Music. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  55. ^ "Kick Off the Festive Season With Our Joy-Filled Holiday Spotify Singles". PR News Room. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  56. ^ "Козак Сіромаха та Kalush Orchestra випустили спільну бойову пісню: "Нумо козаки по конях"". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 2 December 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  57. ^ Daly, Rhian (3 March 2023). "Listen to Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra's first English-language track 'Changes'". NME. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  58. ^ Jones, Damian (16 April 2023). "Listen to Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra's new song 'Ushme Uturbe'". NME. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  59. ^ Tudor, Ruxandra (25 June 2023). "New music this week (part 1): Songs from Sudden Lights, Kalush Orchestra, wrs and more". wiwibloggs. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  60. ^ ""Це любов" — нова робота гурту "Kalush Orchestra" про сильні почуття | ВІКНА. Новини Калуша та Прикарпаття". Vikna (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 13 February 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Go_A
with "Shum"
Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest
2022
Succeeded by
Tvorchi
with "Heart of Steel"
Preceded by Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
2022
Succeeded by
Sweden Loreen
with "Tattoo"
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