Okean Elzy: A new album to be released in 2015!

On the 28th of August, during an interview with 'Khvilya' radio in Lviv, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk said that a new Okean Elzy album will be released in 2015. 

 

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk - 'Khvilya' radio - 28 August 2014
Photo: unkn.

After his amazing concert performed on 24 August for Ukraine Independence Day in Lviv, the Okean Elzy frontman said that holiday time has not yet come for the band! In addition to the '20 Years Together' tour that will run until end of November, the rock group will work on a new album in February-March 2015.

To date, Slava has already composed 10 original music tracks and wrote 2 song lyrics: His work started before the Revolution in Kiev, but it was impossible for him to write from December 2013 to February 2014 because of the tragic events in Ukraine... Now he is working hard on lyrics writing.

The emotions that Slava felt - and that he still feels as the situation in Ukraine is worrying since several months - permeate all his writing. In the concrete, the biggest difficulty for him is to help people move from despair to hope.  He concluded: 'Oceans of tears have been shed since the beginning of this year... It's time to take action for positive changes and to think about the futur.'

Source: 'The Invisible Family' - Official Fan-Club

AleXa

Okean Elzy: 'Дівчина (з іншого життя) - Divtchina z'ivoho jittia' - English translation

Are you looking for an English translation of the song 'Дівчина (з іншого життя) - Divtchina z'ivoho jittia' by Okean Elzy? Here it is! :)

© AleXa - Okean of Emotions

The girl (of another life)

Дівчина (з іншого життя)

She is unlike any other ;
When she goes to bed, she now remains all alone...
But there's a lot to see in her eyes !

For a long time, there is much in her soul ;
She no longer wished to play in the bad movie of her life…
The girl of another life...

Chorus
I was waiting for you, waiting for you…
I was looking for you, looking for you…
And I found you!
I comforted you of your past,
Giving you mine in return
Again and again…

She doesn't live in an exotic city ;
There is no poetry in her letters…
But there's something special in each one of her words!

Maybe she has a singular first name…
Maybe she is not exactly the one I'm looking for…
The girl of another life…

Chorus

I was waiting for you, waiting for you…
I was looking for you, looking for you…
And I found you!
And all these songs I sang for you...
When I'm by your side, my soul ascends
Again and again…

Songwriter: Svyatoslav Vakarchuk (Okean Elzy) / Translation: AleXa / Okean of Emotions

Дівчина (з іншого життя) - Divtchina z'ivoho jittia / Album: Суперсиметрія (Supersymetriya) - © 2003.

Any comment on how to improve this translation is welcome!

Inspirational words... and nice melody! Here is my favourite version of this beautiful song:

  

More videos are available here

For French translation, click here

Some would say that this is an autobiographical text... But when you are a writer, it's already a lot of work to express your own feelings... So why on earth should we speak of those of others! ;-)

All I can say is that Svyatoslav Vakarchuk had this experience (as all of us probably did!): he was in love with a woman who was in relationship with another man ; but it was an unhappy marriage... and, in fact, 'The girl of another life' was much in love with Svyatoslav! Oh, yes... Love is a mystery!
And do you know how it ended?...

It did not end! Everything changed for 'The girl of another life' and she is in Slava's life... since 15 years! 

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk & Lyalya Fonareva, in the early 2000s

They are a perfectly matched couple, aren't they? ;-)

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk & Lyalya Fonareva, Lviv Jazz Festival 2013

Love inspires all, love does everything and it changes everything!

AleXa

Okean Elzy: Lviv concert - 24 August 2014

On 24 August 2014, Okean Elzy performed a concert in the Lviv Arena Stadium for the Ukraine Independence Day!

Okean Elzy - Lviv - 24 August 2014
Photo: © Victoria Kvitka

As this concert was broadcast live yesterday evening, including on the web, I had the opportunity to watch this great show. There would be much to say about it... but I think it's better to share pictures and music!

In total, over 30,000 people came to this special concert...

Okean Elzy - Lviv - 24 August 2014
Photo: © Victoria Kvitka

... and during three and one quarter hours, the band played 33 songs!

Photo: 'The Invisible Family' - Official Fan-Club

As expected, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk & his band performed many songs full of emotions...

Okean Elzy - Lviv - 24 August 2014
Photo: © Oleksandr Milkovych

... as well as high energy songs!

Okean Elzy - Lviv - 24 August 2014

I myself got goosebumps all over my body when the crowd sang the National Anthem...
... and during the moment of silence in memory of the Heroes - those who lost their lives for Ukraine Independence since the beginning of this year...

Okean Elzy - Lviv - 24 August 2014
Photo: © tarasbovt.com

It was also truly moving to see thousands of fans waving these doves of peace printed on a piece of paper during the song 'Незалежніст - Nezalezhnist' - Independence...

Okean Elzy - Lviv - 24 August 2014
Photo: © Victoria Kvitka

There was much emotion... but also great joy... For sure, this concert will live in the memory of each Ukrainian!

Okean Elzy - Lviv - 24 August 2014
Photo: © tarasbovt.com

24 August - Ukraine Independence Day...

We are celebrating today the Ukraine Independence Day!

I wish all Ukrainians a joyous Ukraine Day!

On this occasion, Okean Elzy will perform a concert tonight in Lviv (see my previous post).

Okean Elzy: A concert in Lviv for the Ukrainian Independence Day!

On 24th August, the rock band Okean Elzy will give a concert in the Lviv Arena Stadium to celebrate the Ukrainian Independence Day!

Ukraine: thousands faces for a single heart!

Photo: © Victoria Kvitka 

Since a few months, the '20 Years Together' tour has drew over 250,000 spectators in every corner of the country. In Lviv, Kiev, Kharkiv or Odessa, a concert is always an occasion to share a great moment of conviviality, to forget for a while everyday worries and to bring Est and West closer together... It's an opportunity that must not be missed!

Concert in Lviv, 31 May 2014

Photo: © Victoria Kvitka 

Continuing their tour, Okean Elzy will perform a new concert on 24th August in Lviv. This will be a new occasion for the band's frontman, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, to deliver messages based on the values that he holds so dear:

• Respect for others and for difference ;
• Human rights ;
• Cohesion and unity ;
• National identity ;
• Rally around the blue & gold national flag ;
• Democracy ;
• Freedom… 

For several months, those ideas of peace and of pacification resonate most in the different parts of the country. Though differences may be many, a country is enriched by mixed cultures!

Concert in Kharkiv, 14 June 2014  
Photo: © Victoria Kvitka

To celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Ukraine, Okean Elzy asked their fans to choose the 23 songs that will be performed at the concert. What a wonderful idea! It's the best way to connect the band with their fans... and to bring people closer by involving them in a joint project!

Among all of the songs that have been selected, one has a special resonance: 'Все буде добре - Vse bude dobre' - Everything will be fine...




It is not a prayer, nor a pipe dream or an illusion. It's rather a direction... The road to democracy, freedom and peace is long and full of obstacles, but most Ukrainians think that, through conviction and resolve, it is possible to collectively create a secure future for all.

There is no doubt that this evening of the 24th August will be full of surprising contrasts! Okean Elzy concerts are always synonymous with emotion.

I don't know what you'll do on 24 August but I will for sure pray again for peace in Ukraine...

AleXa

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk: why the world needs to hear Ukraine’s voice!

Slava Vakarchuk is pleased to inform us that a new Ukrainian television channel in English language is going to start on August the 24th!

I don't know about you, but I've been waiting for this for a very long time!

Welcome to Ukraine Today!

Okean Elzy: Odessa concert - 20 August 2014

Almost two months after their last show in Odessa, Okean Elzy played yesterday a new concert in the city!

 

Okean Elzy - Odessa concert - 20 Aug. 2014
Photo: © Victor Skripnik

On the 28th of June, about 40,000 fans came to the '20 Years Together' show that the band performed in the 'Chornomorets stadium'. One would think that to play another concert a few weeks later would be a complete nonsense... but at least two things may explain that many fans came yesterday to this new show:

The 'Ibiza' nightclub - Odessa / Okean Elzy concert - 20 Aug. 2014

Photo: © Victoria Kvitka

• This concert took place near the beach, in the 'Ibiza' nightclub... a rather unusual place for an Okean Elzy show! 
 

• A few days ago, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk said that 2015 would be a year off for the band. Honestly, this new was nothing short of a clap of thunder in a calm sky of the O.E. fans... The question is indeed of when the next concert will take place now. Many fans didn't want to miss the opportunity to enjoy this performance of their favorite band! 

Those who were present yesterday said that the show was magic: 2 hours of music, 23 Okean Elzy songs, Slava's warm voice and the beach of the 'Pearl of the Black sea' as decor... everything was perfect!


We are used to say in France that 'things always ends up with a song.' Here are, just for you, few minutes of pure emotion with 'Така як ти - Taka yak ti' - Someone like you:


Magic, they said?... Yes. But the truth is that no words of mine could express how I feel when I'm listening to that song... How sorry I am that I was not able to be there!

AleXa

Sources:
* Odessa v' Gorode: 'Okean Elzy na plaje v' Odesse' 
* 'The Invisible Family' - Okean Elzy Official Fan-Club

Okean Elzy: 'Дівчина (з іншого життя) - Divchyna (z inshogo zhyttya)' - Videos

I've discovered Okean Elzy with this song: 'Дівчина (з іншого життя) - Divchyna (z inshogo zhyttya) - The Girl (of another life)'. This was back in August 2011...

I clearly remember how it happened. I've found by chance this video on the Internet: with these nice pictures and the audio extracted from the album 'Supersymetriya', it was magic to listen to Svyatoslav Vakarchuk's warm voice...
Yes, it was love at first listen! :)

Many videos of 'Divchyna' are available on the Web and it's a bit difficult to find those with a high sound and image quality... but this one is interesting too!

I always have a preference for Live performances. What do you think of this one? 

I know you are going to tell me: 'That's very nice !... but what do the lyrics mean?!'
That's indeed a very good question. Words are so romantic and poetic! I'll for sure have to translate them into English... but this will be the subject of another post.
Wait and see... :)

AleXa

Okean Elzy: a blog in English?

As a fan of the Ukrainian pop-rock band Okean Elzy, I'm used to do some research on the Internet to stay updated with the latest news. The Westerner I am could be a bit frustrated by the fact that at least 80% of information available is written in Russian or in Ukrainian language. But luckily - and by choice! - both are not totally unknown to me. However, I often wonder how fans who do not speak these languages are informed.

The thing is that Okean Elzy's music - and the voice of the band's charismatic frontman, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk - crosses borders with each passing day, going West. When the music is good and the vocalist has some talent, a song touches your heart, whatever your nationality is! Nevertheless, your brain needs to understand. To do so, you have no other choice but to cross language barrier and cultural differences... which is far from obvious!

Slava, we are listening to you... but what do you say? We need a translation!

Since the beginning of 2014, I share my own translations - in French, my mother tongue - of Okean Elzy and Svyatoslav Vakarchuk's songs on the web. I'm also used to post here and there comments about videos, publications, etc. I'm in contact with fans from all around the world and I see a genuine interest for the non-Russian/Ukrainian-speakers about Okean Elzy: people are asking so many questions!
It seems urgent to provide you now with useful information for an understanding of Okean Elzy musical and poetic world.

'Keep calm and listen to Okean Elzy'... in Ukrainian!

To date, very little information is available in 'Okean of Emotions' but this blog will grow gradually over the next weeks/months! You will find here the latest news and basic information about Okean Elzy such as the band's history, biographies, albums, songs, videos, tours, etc.
By the way, I would like to share with you my love for Ukrainian culture. I just find it so fascinated!

Regarding Okean Elzy, my main information sources are the official communication of the band (website, YouTube Channel & social networks) and the official fan club in Kiev, 'The Invisible Family'. Nothing is better than capturing the information at its source!

Now it's crystal-clear! A smile can make a difference...

I've decided to write in English so that the information published here can be understood all around the world. However, I thank you for your indulgence on the quality of my writing style: French people are not known for their mastery of foreign languages ! ;-)
Thanks for your understanding.

Of course, your questions / comments / remarks are welcome. Feel free to contact me.

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk is used to say that we must break down the real or virtual walls between ourselves. With this blog, I want to take part, in my own way, in this wonderful work. To bring the world closer together, there is no better way than sharing information and emotions... on the rhythm of the Okean's heartbeat!

AleXa

A few words about Okean Elzy

Okean Elzy (in Ukrainian 'Океан Ельзи' that might be translated 'Elsa's Ocean') or O.E., is the most famous Ukrainian rock band. Formed in October 1994 in Lviv, a beautiful city in the western part of the country, Okean Elzy's popularity reaches nowadays a wide audience, far beyond Ukraine's borders:  if the band won hearts of many people in Eastern Europe several years ago, more and more fans are today Westerners.

Trying to define Okean Elzy's musical style would be too simplistic: It cannot be compared with any other! However, it can be noted that Svyatoslav Vakarchuk who composes most of O.E. songs, is a fervent Beatles fan. Moreover, his musical influences are varied: if Queen & Led Zeppelin are for sure some other sources of inspiration for him, one might also add jazz or… Ukrainian traditional folk music! 

Britpop sounds with a touch of Slavic culture... Okean Elzy's music is unique! 

© Okean of Emotions / AleXa - 2014

But on top of that, what makes O.E. so special is, according to me, the quality of the deep and poetic lyrics. Slava Vakarchuk has a message of love to deliver...


'Slavic Britpop'? Love songs? Really?!!
Yes! Let me give you an example: 'Я так хочу... - Ya tak hochu... - I want so badly...'


This music strikes a chord in the hearts and the melody carries us along a journey on the Dnieper River...  What a beautiful song! - Well, that's my own personal view! :) - More simply, we can say 'That's very nice !!'... yes, it is! But when you get the idea of what is said... Wow!

Here is my English translation of the chorus:

"I want you so badly ...
Like a baby needs his mother.
I want you so badly...
Like Earth aspires to the sky.
I would have offered
All the desires in the world
And everything I have
So that, every morning,
I can finally call you by your first name...
I want you so badly!"

So... What would you say about this song now?

Indeed, there is much to be said! :) Great music, beautiful melody, Vakarchuk's captivating voice and deep lyrics: everything is perfect! 
All of their songs are in this particuliar style! That's why I love Okean Elzy... That's why I decided to create a blog devoted to my favorite rock band. Beautiful works and words of love must be shared worldwide!

Welcome to 'Okean of Emotions'!

AleXa

Sources : Okean Elzy Website

                'The Invisible Family' - Official Fan Club