Ukraine has repeatedly impressed the audience with its performances at Eurovision. The bright winners were Ruslana with “Wild Dances” in 2004, Jamala with “1944” in 2016, and Kalush Orchestra with “Stefania” in 2022. In addition to them, Verka Serdyuchka with “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” in 2007 and Go_A with “SHUM” in 2021 gained considerable popularity, leaving a bright mark in the history of the competition.
Ukrainian performers have been participating in this song contest for over two decades, surprising each year with unique shows, unconventional solutions, and charismatic performances. Among our representatives were both triumphants and those who failed to conquer the European audience. However, the best numbers remained in the memory of the audience forever.
Ruslana – “Wild Dances”
In 2004, Ruslana represented Ukraine with the energetic ethnic hit “Wild Dances”. Her image of a warlike Amazon, powerful choreography and fiery performance created a unique atmosphere. She not only won the hearts of the audience, but also attracted additional attention by treating journalists to Ukrainian traditional dishes. These efforts paid off – Ruslana won the first victory for Ukraine at Eurovision and became a true musical icon.
Verka Serdyuchka – “Dancing Lasha Tumbai”
Andriy Danylko created a real show in 2007, presenting his extravagant number in the image of Verka Serdyuchka. Although his song “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” did not bring victory, taking second place, it nevertheless became one of the most famous performances in the history of the contest. Russian viewers then assumed that the chorus sounded “Russia goodbye”, although the artist denied this. Interestingly, after 2022, Serdyuchka openly began to sing “Russia goodbye”.
Jamala – “1944”
Jamala‘s victorious performance in 2016 was remembered not only for its melody and strong vocals, but also for its deep meaning. The song “1944” tells about the tragedy of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people, which caused a resonance in Europe. Jamala’s stage image, her emotionality and powerful message helped Ukraine win first place for the second time. For the first time in the history of Eurovision, the stage heard the Crimean Tatar language, which became a landmark event.
Go_A – “SHUM”
The Go_A band was supposed to perform at Eurovision in 2020, but due to the pandemic, the contest was canceled. The following year, they got the chance to represent Ukraine with the song “SHUM”, created based on the traditional Ukrainian spring dance. Their unique style, ethnic motifs and unusual production made the number one of the most discussed. They took 5th place in the overall voting, but they took second place in the audience vote, which confirmed the popularity of the track among Europeans.
Kalush Orchestra – “Stefania”
In 2022, Ukraine was supposed to be represented by Alina Pash, but due to the scandal surrounding her selection, the honor of going to the contest went to Kalush Orchestra. Their composition “Stefania”, dedicated to the mother of the band’s leader Oleg Psyuk, became a hymn of invincibility. On the Eurovision stage in Turin, Italy, the band won its third victory for Ukraine. After the performance, the band’s frontman appealed to the world to help Mariupol and Azovstal, which sparked discussions about the political subtext of the contest. At the same time, Oleg Psyuk’s pink Panama hat is recognized all over the world – it has become not only a symbol of the band, but also one of the iconic images of Ukraine on the international stage.