On the 21st of November, Okean Elzy performed a concert in Minsk!
Okean Elzy - Minsk -21 Nov. 2014 Photo: Relax by
There would be a lot to say about this concert but I have the feeling that I must start this post by talking politics. :-/
An information has been widely relayed by the media these days and I shall say something about that: Minsk Police confiscated the spectators' Ukrainian flags before the show... This is unprecedented!
No need to say that Ukrainians were a bit frustrated and that Belarusians were very sorry - That's the feeling I had when I exchanged with friends who were there.
Of course, this has to do with the situation in Ukraine... (I am afraid this is a typical Westerner's point of view... Sorry!) But, as I told to my friends: 'The Ukrainian flag bloods in your veins when you are singing Okean Elzy songs: to wear it is a must, not a necessity... What is important is that you were there, celebrating all together the 20 Years of your favorite rock-band. The show was amazing?... Your attention should focus on this good moment only!'
Ok. I realize that this sounds too simplistic... but Okean Elzy music brings nations together: It is a bridge accross differences, its light reaches your heart and for a while you leave your problems behind... You should never feel sad after the show!
Having say that, it is time to share some pictures! Let me introduce you to the attendees of this event...
You are organizing a concert
and you want it to be a big success?...
The recipe is (quite) simple !
Choose an enthusiastic crowd...
Okean Elzy - Minsk spectators enjoying the show! Photo: people.onliner.by
People are frequently asking me about how I have discovered Okean Elzy and why I decided to create this personal blog... It seems that the time has come for me to give you some explanation!
In fact, all of this is another step in this old love story I have with Ukraine - but, honestly, I realized this only a few years ago... :)
Everything started when I was about 8: There was a record at home of traditional Ukrainian & Russian folk songs and I was used to listening to it for hours! It was clear for me: I didn't understand what was said, but I had the feeling that there was so much emotion, so much life in these songs that they touched my heart. Everything was so beautiful! Music, melodies, voices... But, on top of this, I fell madly in love with Slavic languages! The sounds in Ukrainian or Russian are so different from French ones! (and from all of those of the other European languages I was used to listening to on TV or on the radio...)
As I love to sing since I can speak - that's what my mother says ;-) - I suppose that I tried to sing in Ukrainian & Russian when I was listening to this record... But it was difficult. I realized that I had to take Ukrainian and Russian courses... And that's what I told my parents! :)
Photogr. Ukn.
The thing is that it was the Cold War... And that learning these languages would have been of no use for a French girl! My parents are open-minded people but they explained to me that I'd better learn English first - a very good option at that time! Regarding Russian and Ukrainian languages, I would have time to learn them later...
As I grew up, I was looking for any kind of information I could get about Ukraine and Russia. I was reading books, watching films, etc. I've discovered the cultures of these countries and... I fell deeper and deeper in love with them!
Once I've finished University, I was looking for a job... And it was quite depressing. :) So, to keep my mind active, I bought a book to learn Russian by myself - I had to start somewhere! What would be the use of doing this? I didn't know. I only wanted to understand a bit that language: it helps understanding the soul of a country!
This was about 20 years ago!
I today too rarely use my knowledge of Russian language... I've almost forgotten everything! So the question for me was "What would be the use to learn Ukrainian?"... I didn't know... And didn't try to... until January! :)
Photogr. Unkn.
In 2011, Ukraine started to occupy a greater place in my heart.
The thing is that I've given a Ukrainian name to my daughter, Oxana. Her teacher asked her where this beautiful name was coming from and, as she was only 6 years old, she couldn't answer. I exchanged later with her on my interest about Slavic cultures and she told me: "Mum! I want to learn Ukrainian!" :)) My God! What's going on with us?! :))
It was also the time when everybody was speaking about the European Football Cup to take place in Poland and in Ukraine... It was as if Europeans were discovering that Ukraine was existing! There was information about that country everyday.
This is also the moment I started to write poetry in French, my mother tongue... This is what brings me to Vakarchuk's world!
One of the first poems I wrote was about the Ocean. I was looking for a nice music to illustrate my post on my blog and I've discovered by chance that video:
It was love at first listen! I didn't understand a word but... I found it amazing! This music, the melody, the voice... and the sounds of that Slavic language - that was for sure not Russian! The question was "Who was singing such a hypnotic song? Who's got such a warm voice? Who composed this?... and what language was this?" I quickly get some information (in Russian!) on the Web and started to buy Okean Elzy's albums.
Last year, in December, I created this video for my daughter, Oxana:
Sorry for my strange accent... but at that moment I didn't know a word of Ukrainian! :)) But, luckily, because I had found a good English translation of this song, I knew what I was singing! :)
Well... I received so many messages from Central, Eastern and Western Europe about it - saying that it was beautiful! :) - that I've decided to learn a bit of Ukrainian language to improve my accent...
I bought books to learn it by myself in January and, as expected, I fell deeper and deeper in love with this language! I also started to translate Vakarchuk's lyrics into French... What I've discovered was (again!) so amazing! I couldn't keep such a poetry for myself and started to share these translations here or there on the web... The feedback I get is so enthusiastic! Yes, these words are beautiful and must be shared worldwide!
Since February, I'm in touch with the members of the Official Fan-Club. I found there a real family! Virtual friends can warm up your soul... I'm receiving so much love from Ukraine, Russia & Belarus that I wanted to show a fraction of the love that these friends showed me. That's why I decided to create this blog.
Like Vakarchuk himself, his fans have beautiful souls... They all deserve a relay to change the point of view that Westerners usually have about Central & Eastern Europe! :) I hope this blog can be helpful to break down the walls between us! Vakarchuk's music is the best ambassador to promote Slavic cultures worldwide...
First of all, I would like to thank the few Ukrainian & Belarusian fans with whom my Sweet Love and I had the opportunity to talk to: it really touched my heart!
All of you were so happy to know that I created this blog in English devoted to your favourite rock-band! And when you learned that I was translating Vakarchuk's lyrics into French (and sometimes into English), you felt so proud! :)
Honestly, I am very happy to promote (in my own way!) Okean Elzy music in the West and I am proud to have so warm virtual friends in Ukraine, Russia & Belarus!
Okean Elzy must go West!
Very good music and poetic words of love must be shared worldwide...
As expected, the show in London was amazing and everything was perfect: rock music, romantic songs, very good musicians, Slava's warm voice (what a great performer!)... and O.E. got an extremely enthusiastic reception from the crowd!
There would be a lot say... but I prefer to share with you some pictures and videos!
I couldn't resist recording this video: Listening to Svyatoslav Vakarchuk singing "Juliet" from the balcony of a London theatre... ;-) When a dream comes true!
'Я так хочу... - Ya Tak Hochu...'
Before leaving the stage, Vakarchuk asked the crowd to sing the Ukraine national anthem:
'Ще Не Вмерла України - Ukraine is not dead yet'
Ukraine national anthem
I am French but... I cried buckets of tears: There was so much emotion!
For sure, I will never forget that evening! Thanks for the show, guys!
“I’m here not to lecture, but to talk about things I think are
important” said OE bandleader… and thus began his lecture. Over 300
people in the audience, most of whom probably had been to his concert
the day before at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo. Vakarchuk didn’t show
any sign of being exhausted or sleepy; he spoke in English although it
seemed that at least 80% of the listeners could understand Ukrainian.
Photo: LSE
It might have been surprising for the audience, but he didn’t speak
immediately of Maidan, the war, recent parliamentary elections or any
other ‘burning’ issues. He tried to explain the grounds of Ukrainian
crisis and his view of the challenges of the country’s future. “We’ve become used to hearing that Ukraine is the country that needs
change. But do we really know what needs to be done? We might know the
goals: to make Ukraine a prosperous country, if not the top in the
charts, but at least one of the first 30-40 in the World. But do we know
what to do to achieve that goal? Politicians always say – we need
reforms. But what kind of reforms? Is there anyone who knows?”
Probably few of Vakarchuk’s fans know that he’s got a PhD in physics.
Apart from his pretty successful singing career, he is educated and
well-read, with a curious mind. Trying to explain the challenges of
Ukrainian future, he started from quite far – from Newton and Einstein.
“Why do we all know and like Newton and Einstein, and don’t know much
of other scientists of their era? Why are some considered great
scientists and others are not known. Because those few managed to create
concrete values for science, on which science was later built. They
were not investigating a small problem, they tried to make the horizon
broader, looked at everything with a different much more fundamental
perspective.”
Following this example, Vakarchuk called on
students to think more broadly of the background of the current
situation in Ukraine. “I believe that our main problem is not
economics or legislative system. We should start from people’s values.
That is our fundamental cause, the space in which we live. There are
different sets of values worshiped in different parts of the world. In
Ukraine people say they want to be European, but not everyone knows what
it actually means. Freedom of choice and dignity of person: you can
derive everything from these two things. If you wish, you may add honest
labour to the list. Living here in London, you may think these are
universal and fundamental. But there are many societies where personal
freedom is not the first value. Some prefer safety to freedom of choice.
And the same split of values is present in Ukraine. You can’t
choose both freedom and safety as basic values. If you choose safety,
you will never get freedom. If you choose freedom, you’ll get safety as a
consequence, but it might take some time to achieve it.
Making
reforms without changing the values in the people’s minds – is a
Sisyphean task. Hence, the most important task is to educate people,
show them that there are other, better ways of living, building the
country and the society.
My recipe is the following: you need to
think about reforms and do it day by day in the economy, policy,
finances, and the courts. But while doing that – you have to remember
that you need to change the minds of people. Reforms should be a tool.
All reforms should be tailored to the values. That’s the only way it
could work.
Second issue – time. I don’t believe in fast change.
You can’t change minds of adults; you can only work with the kids. So it
will take several generations before we can see the result we want. We
need patience. A typical feature of Ukrainians is impatience. We always
want everything right now and right here. But it doesn’t work that way.
If you are interested in doing something for your country, you should
see the goal and act toward its achievement for your whole life. Your
lifetime won’t be enough to see the goal achieved, but you should be
happy to see your country on the right irreversible path. That’ll be
already a huge victory.
Ukraine started to rebuild its values.
The first step – Maidan. It’s like civil war in the US, revolution in
France. We might seem to do this much later than others. But there are
many societies not even close to the point where Ukraine is now. Ukraine has decided to make decisions for its future itself. There is no evidence it’ll succeed. Just hope and belief.
We can’t change our history or geography, but we can change our
future”
– these were probably the most important words for me
personally. Please also see some reviews shared by those from the
audience. Lev Grybov, Economics student at LSE, LSE SU Ukrainian Society Secretary:
"I was very pleased that Mr. Vakarchuk decided to give his lecture at
LSE and it was my pleasure to organise it. Taking into account the
current situation back at Home, it was particularly important for us to
hear some encouraging and motivating words, as well as suggestions on
how we can actually help Ukraine. After all, many of us are constantly
thinking about what we can really do in order to change our country’s
future. Sometimes, you just lose your faith, seeing how complicated the
situation is. That is exactly why we need such ambitious and committed
people like Svyatoslav Vakarchuk to inspire us."
Olya Afanasyeva:
"I want to thank the organizers of the meeting with S. Vakarchuk at the
LSE. This lecture was a rare opportunity to listen to one of the most
inspiring person in the Ukrainian music world. The singer talked about
events in Ukraine in a very down-to -earth and open manner, he was doing
exactly what he was asking others to do: raise the question about the
place of Ukraine in the World, to support brave Ukrainian activists in
fight for justice, to inspire minds for changes! I sincerely hope there
will be more events like this, and I am very happy I had a chance to
attend. Thank you very much to everybody who made it happen!"
I was in London this weekend for the Okean Elzy concert. It was just amazing! Some pictures & videos will be posted this week here - I'm still collecting some information from other sources. All I can say is that it was a great performance and a very moving evening!
Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to meet Svyatoslav Vakarchuk - I've been told twice 'No backstage for security reasons!... Sorry !' So, I still have this special gift for him: "Learning French with Svyatoslav Vakarchuk", a booklet with some of my translations of his songs!
I know that Svyatoslav wants to learn French - honestly, I have the feeling that he already speaks it a bit! He may find it interesting: words are so good! :)
It seems that Ukrainian people are happy to know that I created a blog in English devoted to Okean Elzy
and they are proud that his words are translated into French... Some of
them told me: 'He must know! He will be so happy!'...
I hope
so! But for sure, he must be informed! Speak to you in Paris, Slava!
People are always surprised to know that I speak a bit of Russian and that I am now learning Ukrainian language... It is quite unusual when you are French! :) And when they understand that there is no other reason to this than the fact that I fell in love with the traditional folk songs of these countries when I was 8, they think I am crazy! :)) Maybe they are right... But love doesn't need any explanation - and knows no borders!
Once they get over theinitial surprise, they usually ask this question: "Are Russian and Ukrainian languages very different?" Yes, they are! Even if a few words are the same... In fact, the vocabulary of these two languages is the same at 70,5% only - while it is 75% between French and Spanish or 89% between French and Italian... (1)
Ukrainian Alphabet
Russian Alphabet
What would I say to a friend that I have not met for years, in English, French, Russian or Ukrainian? Something like this:
E: How are you doing? F: Comment vas-tu ? R: Как дела? (Kak dela?) U: Як справи? (Yak spravy?)
E: I haven't seen you for a long time. F: Je ne t'ai pas vu depuis longtemps. R: Я долго тебя не видела. (Ya dolgo tebya ne videla.) U: Я довго тебе не бачила. (Ya dovho tebe ne bachyla.)
E: You know that I speak Russian… F: Tu sais que je parle le russe… R: Ты знаеш что, я говорю по-русски… (Ty znayesh chto, ya govoryu po-russki …) U: Ти знаєш, я розмовляю російською мовою… (Ty znayesh, ya rozmovlyayu rosiysʹkoyu movu…)
E: Now, I learn Ukrainian! F: Maintenant, j'apprends l'ukrainien! R: Теперь я изучаю украинский язык! (Teper' ya izuchayu ukrainskiy yazyk!) U: Тепер я вивчаю українську мову! (Teper ya vyvchayu ukrayinsʹku movu!)
E: It is difficult, but this is happiness! F: C'est difficile, mais c'est le bonheur ! R: Это трудно, но это счастье! (Eto trudno, no eto schast'ye!) U: Це важко, але це щастя! (Tse vazhko, ale tse shchastya!)
E: Goodbye! F: Au revoir ! R: До свидания! (Do svidaniya!) U: До побачення! (Do pobachennya !)
Ukrainian girl Photogr. Unkn.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson! :)
(1) Source: "Ethnologue. Languages of the world, 11th ed., B.F. GRimes, Editor. Dallas, Texas, 1988, p 369-378.
'911' is an "experimental song", suggested by Okean
Elzy's producer. Frankly speaking, it clearly sounds different from what Vakarchuk is used to compose... but it is so nice!
I remember that I spent hours translating the lyrics into French... :) There is always many ideas, feelings & mental images that could not be translated easily from a language to another. But this time, it was quite challenging... Anyway, I remember it as a very good experience!
Chorus says:
"I'm not alone...andneither are you! How many peopleforso many vehicles,so lonelyon this road!? You're notalone...andneither am I! My phone number?...911!"
911 is theemergency telephone numberforfirst aid inNorth America. This isalso the name ofa clothing brand / fashion house created bythe UkrainianstylistLyalyaFonareva, SvyatoslavVakarchuk's companion! :)
Well... I know what I have to do now:
To translate the lyrics of the song into English...
To call Svyatoslav next time I have a bad day! :)
'911' - Official video
'911' - 'Dolce Vita' Tour - Kiev, 03 June 2010
'911' - Acoustic session - 2003
'911' - Ukraine Independence Day - Lviv, 24 August 2014
