EurovisionworldEurovisionworld
 
Ukraine 2022: Kalush Orchestra
Photo: Anastasiia Mantach
UKRAINE

Ukraine: Kalush Orchestra to Eurovision 2022

The Ukrainian public broadcaster has confirmed that Kalush Orchestra will be representing the country at Eurovision 2022 with the song "Stefania" after Alina Pash's had to withdraw

Alina Pash won Vidbir 2022 – the Ukrainian national selection for Eurovision 2022 – with her song "Tini Zabutykh Predkiv" but due to accusations that she visited Crimea illegally in 2015, the singer had to withdraw. The Ukrainian peninsula Crimea was forcefully and illegally occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014.

With a space empty, Ukraine's broadcaster invited Kalush Orchestra for the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 that finished second in Vidbir with the song "Stefania". The invitation was accepted.

Ukraine 2022: Kalush Orchestra – "Stefania"

"Stefania" is written by Ivan Klymenko and Oleh Psiuk.

Vidbir 2022

Kalush Orchestra

Kalush Orchestra represents a side project of KALUSH, the original lineup of this folk-rap Ukrainian group consisting of:

  • Oleg Psyuk (founder and vocalist)
  • Ihor Didenchuk (multi-instrumentalist)
  • Kilimmen (DJ)
  • Johnny Dyvnyi (backing vocals)

The name derives from Oleg's hometown (Kalush in Ukraine) and was founded in 2019. After the release of their first two singles, KALUSH got signed to the North-American giant, Def Jam, part of Universal Music Group. So far, they have released two albums and later decided to form Kalush Orchestra that features more folk elements than usual.

The new lineup comes with the addition of two other musicians:

  • Vitalii Duzhyk (beatboxing bagpipes player)
  • Tymoffi Muzychuk (instrumentalist)

Ukraine in Eurovision Song Contest

Ukraine 2004: Ruslana - "Wild Dances"

Ukraine is one of the most successful countries in Eurovision Song Contest.

Ukraine 2004: Ruslana - "Wild Dances"

Out of 16 participations Ukraine has:

About the author: Pedro Santos (Portugal)

authorPedro comes from Lisbon, Portugal. He's 31 years old and graduated in journalism. He has attended Eurovision Song Contest three times live - 2018, 2019 and 2022 - and covered the show three times more (2021, 2023, 2024) but his first Eurovision memory takes him back to 2007 when Sarbel delivered his catchy "Yassou Maria" performance. Pedro's favorite Eurovision song is Albania's 2015 "I'm Alive" by Elhaida Dani which is also his favorite Eurovision edition.



Eurovision News