Ukraine, it has become an anthem to the nation's war-ravaged motherland.“Stefania” is the most-watched song on YouTube among the 35 national entries that will compete in the Eurovision Song Contest next week in Italy's northern industrial city of Turin. While some oddsmakers and data analysts have pegged others to win, the song by Kalush Orchestra is quickly becoming a sentimental favorite.“I’ll always find my way home, even if all roads are destroyed,’’ Kalush Orchestra frontman Oleh Psiuk wrote in “Stefania.”The lyrics have become more poignant as Russian missiles pound Ukrainian cities and villages, forcing over 11 million to flee the country already.“Indeed, some stuff in here was written long before the war, and it was dedicated to my mother,’’ Psiuk told The Associated Press at his hotel in Turin, wearing a bright bucket hat that makes him instantly recognizable to anyone who has streamed “Stefania.”“After it all started with the war and the hostilities, it took on additional meaning, and many people started seeing it as their mother, Ukraine, in the meaning of the country.
Les Claypool and Eugene Hütz share tribute song to ‘Zelensky: The Man With The Iron Balls’
21.04.2022 - 20:47 / nme.com
Primus‘ Les Claypool and Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hütz have shared a tribute song to Eukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky. You can listen to it below.Called ‘Zelensky: The Man With The Iron Balls’, the charity track also features The Police’s Stewart Copeland on drums, John Lennon’s son Sean on guitar and vocals, Hütz’s bandmate Sergey Ryabtseb on violin and Billy Strings on acoustic guitar.The lyrics of the song hear the collective sing: “One person can make a difference/ Be they short, thin, fat, or tall/ That person can live with dignity/ If they stand with some iron balls.”You can listen to the track here:Speaking about the track to Rolling Stone, Hütz, who was born in Ukraine, said: “As soon as Russian aggression broke out, Les and I connected to address the catastrophe ASAP.“We jumped on creating affirmative music that calls for unity and pays respect to the real doers in Ukrainian defence, such as President Zelensky, who demonstrated previously unheard of stamina and heroism.”Claypool said the track “is not intended to be a song of condemnation,” but one of “unity.”All proceeds from the track will go to Nova Ukraine, a non-profit organisation that provides humanitarian relief and support to the people of Ukraine.“It is our way to show that heavyweights like Les, Stewart, Billy, and Sean stand with the people of Ukraine and the country’s sovereignty from the very start of Russian-led terror,” Hütz added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country’s military to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has recorded 5,121 civilian casualties in the country: 2,224 killed and 2,897 injured as of April 20.Ukrainian electro-pop duo
.
Tuesday headlines: Jimmy Bell passes away as Rangers pay tribute to legendary kitman
Welcome to the Daily Record's Tuesday briefing.
Russian soprano Anna Netrebko to sing at Monte Carlo Opera after being dropped by Met Opera
Soprano Anna Netrebko has been hired by the Monte Carlo Opera to sing this month following the Metropolitan Opera's decision to drop her for failing to repudiate Russia President Vladimir Putin. The Monte Carlo Opera said Thursday that Netrebko will sing the title role in Puccini's "Manon Lescaut" in performances on April 22, 24, 27 and 30.The 50-year-old Russian replaces an originally announced Maria Agresta. Tenor Yusif Eyvazov, Netrebko's husband, is scheduled to sing Des Grieux.
Dropped by Met, Netrebko to sing at Monte Carlo Opera
Soprano Anna Netrebko has been hired by the Monte Carlo Opera to sing this month following the Metropolitan Opera's decision to drop her for failing to repudiate Russia President Vladimir Putin.The Monte Carlo Opera said Thursday that Netrebko will sing the title role in Puccini's “Manon Lescaut” in performances on April 22, 24, 27 and 30. The 50-year-old Russian replaces an originally announced Maria Agresta.Tenor Yusif Eyvazov, Netrebko's husband, is scheduled to sing Des Grieux.Netrebko was to have sung five performances in a revival of Puccini's “Turandot” at the Met in New York from April 30 to May 14.
Boris Johnson in Ukraine meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky
Boris Johnson has met President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian embassy in London tweeted a picture of the two leaders meeting face to face.
UK PM Boris Johnson Meets Ukraine President Zelensky In Unannounced Visit To Kyiv: “Surprise”
Boris Johnson has been pictured in a meeting with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, after the UK’s Prime Minister arrived in Kyiv for an unannounced visit.