Ukrainian ‘battle song of the war’ has a great chance of winning the Eurovision Song Contest

The band members themselves are also involved in the resistance, says multi-instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk, who provides the characteristic flute sound in the song. “I myself weave camouflage nets and make Molotov cocktails.” The band also helps collect food and provide shelter for refugees.

One of the group members, MC Kilimmen (Ukrainian for ‘carpet’, because of his outfit), has even joined the Ukrainian armed forces. He is currently helping with the defense of Kiev. “I fight on multiple front lines: the battle on the ground on the one hand, and the cultural front line on the other. We keep the country strong with our music.”

Old sleeping song

The lyrics are apolitical, but can be read as a metaphor for the war. Oleh Psiuk wrote the song as an ode to his strong mother, who is asked to sing a lullaby so that everything will be okay. The ‘mother’ in the song can be interpreted as ‘Mother Ukraine’, who is begged for an end to the war.

Stefania mama, mama Stefania
The field is blooming and it’s turning gray
Sing me a lullaby, mama
I want to hear your native language

“The lyrics touch every Ukrainian deeply, because we are taught from an early age to have deep respect for your parents,” said Didenchuk. Moreover, the song evokes nostalgic feelings. “The ‘bridge’ in the song is an old Ukrainian lullaby.” But because of the rap couplets and solid beat it is Stefania anything but childish or sleep-inducing.

The parallels with last year’s entry are great. Then the formation Go_A finished fifth (and second in the public vote) with the song Shum, also a folkloric song with contemporary elements. The similarities are no coincidence: Didenchuk is also one of the band members of Go_A. In both bands he is the one who plays the traditional Ukrainian instruments.

Watch the performance during the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam here, with Didenchuk on the flute:

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