Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala released “Solo” back in January. It’s a piano pop banger in keeping with her signature atmospheric sound. The song is about finding independence after heartbreak. The lyrics channel independence and self-affirmation: “Stop doing what you’re doing / You won’t win me over / And I’ll just keep rollin’ my eyes / I move away and you come in a little closer / But I don’t want you / Tonight I’m solo but I don’t want you / Tonight I’m solo”.

She’s now released the music video to accompany the single. Filmed in Countess Uyarova’s Mansion in Kyiv, it’s a feast for the eyes. If anyone was wondering what happened to Darude’s glass box, Hatari’s lighting and all of Katerine’s pink material after Eurovision, I think we’ve found our answer.

Discussing the video, Jamala explained: “The idea of the video is close to the themes I touch in my songs. A transparent cube as a symbol of a crystal castle where we are hiding from reality and other people, inner search of the main character, expressed in three different images…”

We love a Queen who knows how to improvise. Jamala wasn’t letting her costume or the temperature stop her from turning it out.

“The filming was complicated. Most of the time I had to stay in the glass cube, with no fresh air coming, so it was hard not only to move, but also to breathe. The temperature was almost as in a sauna. I had to sing and dance in an uncomfortable dress with heavy jewellery. It is remarkable that the video has no dancing director. So all my dancing was improvisation on set.”

It was thanks to director Anna Buriachkova that Jamala’s vision could be executed on camera: “My idea was to show the real Jamala in this video, what she is like – wonderful and beautiful, to focus only on her, reveal her inner world. The space where the video is staged symbolises crystal castles we are building to get separated from the world. It seems to us that we can be ourselves inside such a castle, not being afraid of other’s estimations and reactions. Still, the castles are fragile and transparent.”

Eurovision may be over but Pride Season is just beginning, and our Jamala his ready to celebrate, sending a message to her fans for Pride Month: “As many of my LGBTQ fans around the world celebrate the Pride month, I want to reach out to wish everyone a great month of festivities and continued activism. Being able to be who you are freely is the essence of freedom. Whether you’re part of the community or a strong ally, I wish you all peace & equality.”

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Theot
Theot
4 years ago

I believe that *eurovision* media should stop covering news about her and her career after her behavior in the Ukranian national final. Actually, she blocked me and deleted my peaceful comment on one of her insta posts during the NF season because it did not fit her image. So hypocritic! I will never listen to her music.

uwu-vision
uwu-vision
4 years ago

So many things to criticise and you go for her appearance. Please grow up a little bit and learn to construct a decent comment.

uwu-vision
uwu-vision
4 years ago

As a person, she is not my favourite. As an artist, she is amazing. I hope some of you people in the comments learn that it’s ok to separate art from artists.

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago

I appreciate a hateful evil queen.

Woke
Woke
4 years ago

Why is she still even here? Leave her as she’s a h@rlot of the regime. One day, she should be sh@t for f@cism

Jack
Jack
4 years ago

I will never stream of go to a concert of an artist that humiliates a girl in live TV for political reasons. Bye.

Robert
Robert
4 years ago

She still here?

Uncomfortable
Uncomfortable
4 years ago

I’m so sorry, but she does not deserve any attention from Eurovision fans and media. I voted for her 2016 and I regret it.

Hermès
Hermès
4 years ago
Reply to  Uncomfortable

Her song and performance still deserved that win but I see what you mean. I was also very disappointed with her and her very uncomfortable question.

uwu-vision
uwu-vision
4 years ago
Reply to  Uncomfortable

I too were disappointed in her but… she still won. It wasn’t Jamala herself who got Maruv out the competition. You can’t erase her from Eurovision history just cause she asked a bad question, and you can learn to separate art from artist.

P!nk Forever
P!nk Forever
4 years ago

I wish her very uncomfortable success in everything she does.

KYLLITO
KYLLITO
4 years ago

I still haven’t forgiven her for being a puppet of the State and asking her question to Maruv. Shame!

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago

This track slays. Also, Jamala asked the question to make it clear that MARUV was a suitable ambassador for Ukraine (if she had an agenda she would’ve marked her down in the jury)- she shouldn’t be blamed for the conduct of the wider broadcaster regarding MARUV.

Hermès
Hermès
4 years ago
Reply to  Azaad

When it happened back in 2016 to SunSay who was grilled for the same reasons she mentioned she felt very sad and awkward that he would be questioned about his concerts in Russia that way. Only to do exactly the same a few years later to Maruv. What UA:PBC did afterwards isn’t her fault, but she definitely shares responsability of the shame that happened on that stage in the final. It was disgraceful.

w22n
w22n
4 years ago

Laugh as much as you like about the “uncomfortable question” , but the truth is that she comes from a a Muslim family very well integrated. Western Europe has hard time to understand that in Eastern Europe the mixed families existed since Middle Age.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
4 years ago
Reply to  w22n

How exactly is that related to her “uncomfortable question” incident?

Theot
Theot
4 years ago
Reply to  w22n

as far as I know in the most european countries one can choose his religion without having to “integrate”? Religions are not a matter of integration in any society – I do not understand your point