‘When you understand how a rustic sounds,” says Jerry Heil, speaking of representing Ukraine at Eurovision, “you’ll be able to really feel extra empathy for them”. Alongside rapper alyona alyona, she is talking from Malmö. It’s the morning after the primary semi-final, the place they safely secured a slot in Saturday’s grand remaining, however they haven’t had time to rejoice. “We’re like outdated folks,” says alyona alyona. “No celebration, no drink, no nothing.”
No partying and no nerves earlier than performing both. “Once we first rehearsed with the viewers right here in Sweden, I instantly acquired the sensation that they’re so supportive and so heat – in all senses!” says Heil. “I’m freezing on a regular basis, however on stage at Eurovision, it’s like a sauna. The viewers actually provide the energy and the power, and also you give it again, so it’s just like the power is circulating.”
Their music, Teresa & Maria, refers to Mom Teresa and the Virgin Mary, and is devoted to ladies’s braveness and resilience, notably in instances of conflict. alyona alyona (actual identify Alyona Savranenko) and Jerry Heil (Yana Shemaieva) wrote it with Anton Chilibi and Ivan Klymenko. Jerry Heil, who has amassed a big social media following by means of her music, says Eurovision is an ideal alternative for folks to “uncover extra about Ukrainian tradition”.
Ukraine has super pedigree in Eurovision, successful the competition at their second try with Ruslana’s Wild Dances in 2004. “Everywhere in the nation it was like: ‘Ah Eurovision, OK, we watch this now’,” says alyona alyona of her earliest recollections of the competition. “She made it like this degree, then Verka Serduchka took it as much as one other degree.”
Ukraine’s 2007 entry Dancing Lasha Tumbai by Verka Serduchka completed second and has grow to be a Eurovision legend. The nation received once more in 2016 with Jamala’s politically charged 1944 concerning the deportation of the Crimean Tatars by the Soviet Union throughout the second world conflict, and in 2022 Kalush Orchestra rode a wave of European solidarity after Russia’s invasion, successful with Stefania.
alyona alyona and Jerry Heil don’t appear to be letting the stress of following in these footsteps get to them, and they’re eager to make use of their look to attract consideration to the plight of schoolchildren. In Malmö they’re carrying reproduction wood keys with them that characterize the Velykokostromska college in Dnipropetrovsk, which was destroyed by a Russian missile strike. Working with United24, a charity arrange by the Ukrainian authorities to lift funds throughout the conflict which counts Mark Hamill, Barbra Streisand and Andriy Shevchenko amongst its ambassadors, they’re elevating cash to rebuild it.
“Our kids have misplaced their childhood,” says alyona alyona, who was a preschool instructor earlier than discovering musical success, “as a result of Russia bombed greater than 500 college buildings. It’s horrible.”
The pair have some form phrases for the UK’s entry, Olly Alexander. Within the first semi-final on Tuesday they carried out immediately after his music Dizzy, and mentioned that as they had been ready within the wings they had been “vibing to it”, serving to get them within the zone for his or her second within the highlight. They make some extent of extending their due to the UK for the best way it has taken in Ukrainian refugees. “We really feel it, we get it, we admire it,” says alyona alyona.
They’ve additionally been having fun with the camaraderie in Malmö. alyona alyona says it’s a disgrace that solely 10 songs progress from every of the semi-finals. “Typically it’s unhappy and sudden who doesn’t undergo, however that is the folks’s selection.” Jerry Heil provides: “It’s exhausting to select who may win, as a result of we’re all buddies.”
Eurovision followers obsess over how effectively songs do relying on after they carry out throughout the remaining, however the Ukrainian pair haven’t any desire for being excessive or low within the operating order on the weekend. “It doesn’t matter, as a result of we’re nonetheless going to be there until the top,” laughs Jerry Heil.
Bookmakers have them among the many favourites for this yr, however their goals transcend merely successful the competition. “All people asks us if we need to win,” Jerry Heil says, “but when Ukrainian music goes within the charts, in your private playlist, each day, then we now have received.”
