10 May is the day when this year’s Eurovision Song Contest starts in Stockholm, Sweden. What do you know about Ukrainian participant Jamala?
During the contest Jamala will sing her song 1944 about the deportation of Crimean Tatars. The song has already raised a lot of political discussions. However, 1944 is not the only song of Jamala’s. Some of her songs are really serious, some devoted to home, and others to love, but there are also funny and carefree ones. Do you want to discover Jamala? We collected 8 songs that represent the singer’s diverse work.
1. Fighter for Crimean Tatars’ rights
There are a lot of tears in the 1944 song with which Jamala represents Ukraine at the 2016 Eurovision song contest. Jamala herself does not want to talk about politics, but feels a huge responsibility for Crimean Tatars:
“I want to avoid talking about politics as much as possible since it is my personal matter, my pain, it is not a fictional story. On the other hand, I realize that I can’t avoid it due to the situation with Crimea and because not many people remember about the deportations today,” Jamala said in an interview to Ukrainska Pravda.
“Cinema and music give the language to communicate with your peers. Who said that music has to be only entertaining? Of course, first of all this contest is entertainment and everything has to be bright and spectacular. However, I remember the performance of Serbian singer Maria Sherifovich who just came alone in a men’s costume and started to pray for her people on the stage, and she won,” the singer continued.
The message which Jamala wants to send by her performance is the following:
“If you respect your family, remember your roots, know your culture, history, you will never show disrespect or aggression towards another culture. To the contrary, you will be interested in it and try to understand it.”
[expand title=”1944 (lyrics)“]
When strangers are coming…
They come to your house,
They kill you all
and say,
We’re not guilty
not guilty.
Where is your mind?
Humanity cries.
You think you are gods.
But everyone dies.
Don’t swallow my soul.
Our souls
Yaşlığıma toyalmadım
Men bu yerde yaşalmadım
Yaşlığıma toyalmadım
Men bu yerde yaşalmadım
We could build a future
Where people are free
to live and love.
The happiest time.
Where is your heart?
Humanity rise.
You think you are gods
But everyone dies.
Don’t swallow my soul.
Our souls
Yaşlığıma toyalmadım
Men bu yerde yaşalmadım
Yaşlığıma toyalmadım
Men bu yerde yaşalmadım
vatanima toyalmadim [/expand]
2. Personal struggle for home
The story about the deportation of Crimean Tatars is also the personal story of Jamala’s own family. Back in the Soviet times, Jamala’s grandmother was given only 15 minutes to leave her house before being forcibly deported to Uzbekistan. Crimean Tatars received a very unfriendly welcome there as the Soviet propaganda already worked with the country’s residents. Now a similar story is happening to Jamala as she can’t visit Crimea where her 87-year-old grandfather lives. Her music school in Crimea even removed her portrait from the honoring display.
3. Becoming mature
Jamala is not the only artist whose work was affected by events happening in Ukraine.
“It would be far-fetched to say that the annexation of Crimea particularly influenced my work. On the other hand, events in the country coincided with some period of my maturing. It was impossible not to dive into it. And everybody, including me, has changed after it.”
Indeed, her work has changed.
[expand title=”I am confused (lyrics)“]I am confused I am confused
Lost in the night even silent heart
Confused
Among the defect lay hands
I want to look for fragments of hope
To never wounded
I love
Gently so you
I love
Gently so you
You, you, you, oh, you, you
You, you, you, in,
You’re like a shadow on the glass
Drop by pearls
I’m always hoping
As the rain
But you just turned off and all
I love
Gently so you
I love
Gently so you
You, you, you, oh, you, you
You, you, you, you, in
You, in-in, you, you, you, you
You, in this
I’m confused
[/expand]4. Symbol of new Ukraine
Jamala had expressed her active civil stance long before Euromaidan. However, after the annexation, the time for the real fight came. This video was shot during Maidan Viche (people’s meeting) on 23 March 2014, just after the beginning of the occupation of Crimea. That day, among others, Jamala sang a song in the Crimean Tatar language, as well as this Ukrainian folk song.
[expand title=”Oi vershe, mii vershe (lyrics)“]
5. Movie hero
In 2014 Jamala appeared in a Ukrainian film The Guide about a trip of a young American boy and a blind Ukrainian musician across Soviet Ukraine before and during the Holodomor. Jamala played one of the main roles. Here is what she thinks about Olga, her character:
“On the one hand, she is like me, because she is a singer… But she has a much stronger character. She used to live in a very tough period, when she could have been killed for any wrong word, she could have faded away like smoke. It was difficult to play her…When she is singing, it is me. When she is out of her profession, in personal life, in feelings, we are way too different.”
[expand title=”Why do flowers have eyes? (lyrics)“]Why do flowers have eyes?
Why are nights so lonely?
You came [into my life] only for a brief moment,
but I will remember you forever.
Why do flowers have eyes?
Why do they whisper so sweetly:
“Wait for him, and he will surely return…”
But this dream will never come true.
Why do flowers have eyes?
Why cannot we hear their prescient voices
as a calamity has already been
spreading its wings [over us]?
Why do flowers have eyes?
Why do I not want to believe
that I still might find you?
I am blind without love.
You and I… You and I. [/expand]
6. Eurovision, take one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87ABjmKcxhg
Jamala’s first attempt to go on Eurovision contest was five years ago with the song Smile. Then she ended up third in the Ukrainian national final.
[expand title=”Smile(lyrics)“]When alone you go to a brand new place
When you leave where you belong
Don’t forget to put on a smiling face
And you’ll feel so much at home
You can go to Moscow
You can go to Oslo
It’s no matter where you are
Shorten distance, baby
And you’ll feel much better
For you know that love can start
With a smile…
When you meet a guy who gets you high
Really gonna lose your mind
Don’t know what to say, you feel so shy
Be yourself and give a smile
You can meet Mohamed
You can meet Matteo
Who will open up your heart
Shorten distance, baby
And you’ll feel much better
For you know that love can start
With a smile… [/expand]
7. Singer of love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h9nek-mdTg
Perhaps love is a topic about which Jamala sings the most. By the way, many of the songs are written in English by Jamala in a joint authorship with Olena Chubuklieva. This video was recorded in Crimea in 2013 during the concert devoted to Crimean Tatar National Holiday Hydyrlez.
[expand title=”Your Love (lyrics)“]Your eyes
make me see light of others
Need I say I’m mesmerized, cause I can’t get holdof my words
your touch
got a lot of tenderness, I shiver but i must confess
I feel I’m trully blessed
Your charm
Inspired my soul
to sing about us, letting in trust
Your love
makes me so complete, letting me see
you’re the soul of me
Your love
Like a forbidden fruit
Don’t know if it’s bad or good
there is no greater one to move
my heart is
breaking down all the rules
because instead of you i fought
for two, i knew you’d make me bloom
Your charm
Inspired my soul
to sing about us, letting in trust
Your love
makes me so complete, letting me see
you’re the soul of mine [/expand]
8. Fervent Jamala
This song is included in Jamala’s first album For Every Heart, released in 2011. We recommend listening to all of it.
[expand title=”It’s me, Jamala! (lyrics)“]It seems that all they play the same game
When people rate what makes you popular
My killer heels are not my AIM!
It’s me Jamala…
But you want scandals, you want “kiss and tell”
Again, again you’re staying deaf to me
The only thing I want to say:
It’s me, Jamala!
I’m not Gaga, I’m not Gaga, I’m not Gaga, I’m not Amy
I’m not, I’m not, I’m not
It’s me Jamala
It’s me, it’s me Jamala
Yeah, baby, yeah, baby
It’s me, it’s me
It’s me, It’s me Jamala
Can’t see the forest for the trees
All that tabloid beauty is so skin deep
My music is my privilege
So I’m singing… Oh, oh, oh, oh!
Oh why it’s your priority
You write my dress and hair all right by now
But that is not my cup of tea
It’s me Jamala!
I’m not Gaga, I’m not Gaga, I’m not Gaga, I’m not Amy
I’m not, I’m not, I’m not
It’s me Jamala
It’s me, it’s me Jamala, baby
Yeah, baby, yeah, baby
It’s me, it’s me
It’s me, It’s me Jamala
Jamala, Jamala
I’m not Gaga, I’m not Gaga, I’m not Gaga, I’m not Amy
I’m not, I’m not, I’m not
It’s me Jamala
It’s me, it’s me Jamala, baby
Yeah, baby, yeah, baby
It’s me, it’s me
It’s me, It’s me Jamala! [/expand]
