Kalush Orchestra are the winners of Eurovision Song Contest - 2022!
Read a short piece of info about the song itself and discuss the questions with a friend of yours. Then share the ideas in your class.
They are mixing the modern and the classic. With their song “Stefania”, the group reflects on a hard-working and strong, yet sensitive, mother.
Why do you think modern artists tend to mix different styles in music?
What do “Stefania” lyrics mean?
Kalush Orchestra bring an ode to the mother in “Stefania”. Lyric-wise, the song mixes two styles. In the chorus, the song uses typical folk song lyrics – short sentences with long vowels. The verses, on the other hand, contains much longer lines, which are performed much quicker compared to the slower chorus, creating the typical rap flow that fans are used to from Kalush.
Can you explain what 'lyric-wise' means?
One of the key words of the song is “колискова”, which means “lullaby”. The lullaby is a symbol in the song for the good memories that the narrator has of their mother. The sound of the lullaby brings them back to a moment when they were still under the safe guard of their mother. It comes back in both the chorus and the verse, as each rap verse ends with the sentence “Lyuli lyuli lyuli”, which is a classic Slavic folk lullaby.
Do you remember any lullabies from your childhood?
Why do kids need lullabies?
In the verse, where a more contemporary rap is used, there is a much more realistic depiction of the events. It discusses the hardship of being a mother. There seems to be an absence of support for the mother, who tries her best to raise her child. The narrator realises their mother has done a lot for them and that they will always return to her: “She rocked me; gave me rhythm and probably the power of will; did not take, but she gave”.
How can we support our moms nowadays?
Have you ever thought of what they must feel?
Enjoy the clip.
This video was filmed in Bucha, Irpin, Borodianka, Hostomel, cities near Kyiv that suffered the horrors of the russian occupation.
Dedicated to the brave Ukrainian people, to the mothers protecting their children, to all those who gave their lives for our freedom.
Every man, every woman, every innocent child.
The war in Ukraine has multiple faces, but it is our mother’s face that keeps our hearts alive in the darkest times.
Stand with Ukraine!
Slava Ukraini! Glory to the Ukrainian Heroes!
Do the quiz.
