It’s April and we have less than 60 days till the annual Eurovision contest that will happen next month. Get excited! Though the contest was canceled last year and faces strict protocols due to the current pandemic, we can still enjoy this international contest from anywhere in the world.
Each day, I will feature a song from one of the countries that is in this year’s Eurovision. Like 2019, I will make my own predictions of who will make it to the finals and maybe win the compeition. Good luck to those are competing!
Go_A’s “Shum” (Шум; Noise)
“Shum” by Ukrainian electro-folk band Go_A is representing Ukraine in this year’s Eurovision. This song and the lyrics are a variation of Ukrainian folk music and the “Shum” folk ritual, a game that is played in spring. Folklore and folk music are the core of Go_A’s artistry with the lead singer Kateryna mastering the traditional singing technique called “white voice“. You can also hear traditional musical instruments used alongside electronic ones in “Shum”.
“In the first part of “SHUM”, we are standing in protective gear and hoping for the best. We call the “SHUM”. In the sequel, spring has woken up with us and not make noise that spring heard to wake up. And now, we have a much better life.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQfQ8HaqFeE
It is easy to see that the lyrics were affected by the pandemic as there is a hopeful tone at the end that hints that things will get better. This could also relate to the Chernobyl disaster that happened in the Kyiv oblast, where the band is from.
Many might think the tune is a bit strange. But, I love it. It is an earworm for me. I love the mixture of traditional with electronica. I love how the song starts slow and then fast. I just love everything about it really. I could listen to it over and over. With that, I think “Shum” will most definitely make it to the Eurovision finals. I can wait to see the semi-finals though because I think the song has the potential for a wicked performance
The Lyrics for “Shum”
Here is an English translation of the song, thanks to LyricsTranslate.com:
Our Noise has a green fur coat.
Chicks were hanging around (having a good time) and tore the coat
Sowing-blowing, sowing-blowing hemps
Sowing-blowing
green ones
Hey, come on, come on.
Let’s plait the Noise
and have a good time
Sowing-blowing, sowing-blowing
hemps
Sowing-blowing
green ones
Hey, Noise, plait, plait.
Spread as a green periwinkle
Sowing-blowing, sowing-blowing
hemps
Sowing-blowing
green ones
Our Noise has a green fur coat.
Chicks were hanging around (having a good time) and tore the coat
Sowing-blowing, sowing-blowing
hemps
Sowing-blowing
green ones
Hey, Noise, plait, plait.
Spread as a green periwinkle
Sowing-blowing, sowing-blowing
hemps
Sowing-blowing
green ones
Our Noise has a green fur coat.
Chicks were hanging around (having a good time) and tore the coat
Sowing-blowing, sowing-blowing
hemps
Sowing-blowing
green ones
Hey, we gonna unplait the Noise,
Unplait the noise and
Have a good time
Sowing-blowing, sowing-blowing
hemps
Sowing-blowing
green ones
Hey, come on, come on
Let´s unplait the Noise
Unplait the Noise and
Have agood time
Sowing-blowing, sowing-blowing
hemps
Sowing-blowing
green ones
Hey, Noise, unplait, unplait
Spread as a green periwinkle
Sowing-blowing, sowing-blowing hemps
Sowing-blowing
green ones
