Ruslana is a famous Ukrainian singer, pianist, conductor, dancer, producer, ex-politician, and public figure. She also holds the title People's Artist of Ukraine, which is the highest title awarded to outstanding performers. She is also an  Honorary Citizen of Lviv. Ruslana’s song "Wild Dances" symbolizes Ukraine’s diverse ethnography and brought Ukraine its first victory as well as international attention at Eurovision in 2004. The song is a modern compilation of old Hutsul motifs, such as rhythms and dances, as well as new trends in pop and rock music. You can hear the sounds of the trembita in the intro, which is a horn-like Ukrainian instrument made of wood and commonly used by Hutsuls, an ethnic group living in the Carpathian region of Ukraine.

Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova is a well-known Ukrainian singer of Crimean Tatar and Armenian origins, who also holds the title of People's Artist of Ukraine and has won prestigious music awards. Jamala’s song "1944" brought triumph to Ukraine for the second time at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. Singing in English and Turkish, Jamala dedicated the song to the tragic deportation of the Crimean Tatars from the Crimean Peninsula by the Soviet authorities in 1944.

Kalush Orchestra is a famous Ukrainian folk-hip-hop band performing hip-hop in Ukrainian. Formed in 2021, the band's name originates from Kalush, a city located in Ivano-Frankivsk region. Kalush Orchestra’s song "Stefania" soared in 2022, giving Ukraine its third victory.

Initially, the band leader, Oleh Psiuk, dedicated the song to his mother, but the song acquired a new meaning after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and "Stefania" now symbolizes the freedom, bravery, and resilience of all mothers who worry about and are trying to protect their children in wartime. The band commented on the the YouTube video for the song: "I once dedicated this song to my mother, and when the war broke out, the song took on a lot of new meanings. Although there is not a word about the war in the song, many people began to associate the song with mother Ukraine."

Unfortunately, it was impossible to host Eurovision in Ukraine due to the ongoing war and safety concerns caused by the Russian invasion. It was decided that the United Kingdom would host Eurovision 2023 on behalf of Ukraine in Liverpool, as the UK scored second in the competition.

Indeed, the event showed what a mutual cultural alliance should look like; it created a unique opportunity for the British national broadcaster (BBC) and the Ukrainian public broadcaster (UA: PBC) to unite and work closely on the development and implementation of Ukrainian elements in the show. The organizers made statements on Ukraine's inability to host the contest and the UK's role in representing it on behalf of Ukraine, commenting:

Tim Davie, BBC Director-General:

"The BBC has taken on hosting duties for other winning countries on four previous occasions. Continuing in this tradition of solidarity, we know that next year’s Contest will showcase the creativity and skill of one of Europe’s most experienced public broadcasters whilst ensuring this year’s winners, Ukraine, are celebrated and represented throughout the event.

‘It is a matter of great regret that our colleagues and friends in Ukraine are not able to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Being asked to host the largest and most complex music competition in the world is a great privilege. The BBC is committed to making the event a true reflection of Ukrainian culture alongside showcasing the diversity of British music and creativity."

 Mykola Chernotytskyi, Head of the Managing Board of UA:PBC:

"The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine. We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us. I am confident that together we will be able to add Ukrainian spirit to this event and once again unite the whole of Europe around our common values of peace, support, celebrating diversity and talent."

The opening takes place in Liverpool and starts with a video of a local boy hearing the news and preparing the city to welcome Eurovision, and a little girl from Ukraine at a local school. Eventually, they meet at the stage, perform a dance together, and leave holding hands while "We’ll always be together" is sung.

Walking hand in hand, the Ukrainian refugee girl and British boy symbolize the unbreakable friendship of Ukraine and the UK, which has been assisting Ukraine with financial, humanitarian, and military aid since the first days of the Russian invasion.

Finally, The Hardkiss and Julia Sanina appear on stage with the song "Mayak" and sing "Let it shine." Indeed, the powerful performance of the Ukrainian band was the culmination of the First Semi-Final opening. The song "Mayak" (Lighthouse) also conveyed an important and strong message to the audience: Ukrainians are not alone and there is always light, no matter the difficulties that arise.

 Дякуємо (We Thank you)

The Eurovision Song Contest originated as something that was meant to be a technical experiment for television broadcasting in the 1950s and turned into one of the biggest and best-known international music events in the world, with a massive fan base and millions of viewers worldwide. Nowadays, the show is one of the biggest events in which all European nations have the chance to represent their cultures and traditions. It has become the center of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is the bridge that helps to build mutual understanding and promote cross-cultural communication; it is a key tool in promoting diversity and maintaining mutually respectful and friendly relationships between representatives of various nations and cultures. Eurovision 2023 united Europe and the globe around helping Ukraine, and Ukrainians wholeheartedly appreciate their efforts. We say thank you to our American and European friends who are there for us. 

Article by CREES Graduate Student Assistant Andrii Drobko