Go_A will sing “Shum” for Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam.
Three songs were in the running to represent Ukraine, with the jury ultimately selecting their competing song. The jury unanimously selected “Shum”. The three songs in contention were:
- Shum (Noise)
- Rano (Early)
- Tserkovka (Church)
The jury was formed of:
- Jamala – Eurovision 2016 winner
- Yevhen Filatov – Member of The Maneken
- Ruslan Kvinta – Music Producer
- Yarloslav Lodigin – Board member of UA:PBC
- Dmitry Khorkin – Board member of UA:PBC
The jury awarded points to each of the songs in the selection with the winner being the song with the highest total. This is the first time since 2004 that the public has had no say in Ukraine’s Eurovision entry.
Jamala shared her impressions of the song chosen by the jury: “I voted for “Shum”. It sounds very modern to me. Singing live decides almost everything, so I would like to wish Katya the confidence she had in Vidbir last year. Just sing and everything will work out! ”
Ruslan Kvinta commented: “I am glad that the band did not stand still for a year. We see that they have invested all their strength, thoughts and ideas in their work and great love in what they do.”
Yevhen Filatov noted that the band still has a long way to go before the contest itself: “I want the band Go_A to hold on, show themselves and represent Ukraine with dignity . “
As “Shum” is currently over 4 minutes long, Go_A will have to present a 3 minute version at the contest in order to comply with the contest rules. They will present a revamped version of “Shum” and a new music video to go along with it in March.
Who are Go_A?
Go_A are a folktronica group who were formed in Kyiv in 2012. The band is made up of Kateryna Pavlenko (vocalist), Taras Shevchenko (multi-intrusentalist), Ihor Didenchuk (sopiklar) and Ivan Hrihoryak (guitar). They combine Ukrainian singing styles with modern dance beats, African drums and guitar.
They will perform in the first semi-final on May 18th.
Source: UA:PBC /Image Source: UA:PBC/Anastasiia Mantach
Ukraine first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, when Oleksandr Ponomariov performed “Hasta la vista”. The following year Ruslana brought the country their first win with the song “Wild Dances”. It was a feat that would be replicated in 2016 by Jamala with her song “1944”; her emotionally charged song scored a record 534 points to take victory in Stockholm. In 2017 O.Torvald represented the country on home soil with the song “Time”. The group finished in 24th place, Ukraine’s worst result at the contest to date.
