Privyet, druzi! Ukraine is set to make its 14th Junior Eurovision appearance in Gliwice, Poland. And Sophia Ivanko will represent the country singing “The Spirit of Music”.
Scroll down for “The Spirit of Music” lyrics
Ukraine in Junior Eurovision 2019: Sophia Ivanko “The Spirit of Music”
Ukraine held its annual national final in August. The selection committee, which included the Eurovision 2010 singer Alyosha, chose ten singers to go through to the final. Unlike previous years, organisers dropped the public vote. The result: Sophia Ivanko emerged as the winner with “Koly Zdaietsia”. The song has been reworked as “The Spirit of Music” for November’s contest.
The 14-year-old comes from Kyiv and is a singer and songwriter with plenty of experience. She is no stranger to Ukraine’s JESC national selections, competing on two previous occasions. Perhaps we can call it third-time lucky!
Sophia says that she likes to experiment with sound – and we totally dig that. “The Spirit of Music” is a jazzy sing-along song that we wouldn’t be too surprised to find on a Jamala album. And it’s no coincidence. The Eurovision 2016 winner coached Sophia during her time on The Voice Kids Ukraine earlier in 2019.
What do the “The Spirit of Music” lyrics mean?
Yes, you guessed it right — Ivanko’s song has nothing to do with teenage love or climate change. Instead, Sophia sings of the strength and influence of music. The hook makes us think of an owl’s hooting, giving the track a nice uplifting riff. Who says owls are creepy?!
Speaking to junioreurovision.tv, Sophia says: “Music has incredible transforming power. It is a universal key to inner happiness. If any problems cause you to distress, you can bring up your internal energy by singing the melody that comes from your heart.”
“When you dance on the dancefloor/ You forget about everything
You realize you’re one in a circle/ The Flow is carrying you”
The music video dropped on 8 October. It features two cameos from former Junior Eurovision figures. At the start, we see Sophia casually walking in the area of Kyiv River Port when the 2018 Junior Eurovision representative Darina Krasnovetska passes by.
Next, we see Sophia entering what seems to be a rusty observation point at Kyiv Port. Two-time Junior Eurovision host Timur Miroshnychenko opens the doors for her. Awwh!
The video ends with Sophia casually playing her piano while stressing her love for music.
“And it’s inside of me / I give you this melody”
What do you think of Ukraine’s chances this year? Can Sophia give her country another top-four result? Let us know in the comments. And click here to read more Junior Eurovision 2019 lyrics.
“The Spirit of Music” lyrics — Sophia Ivanko (Ukraine JESC 2019)
Written by: Sophia Ivanko
Composed by: Sophia Ivanko and Mykhailo Tolmachov
Ukrainian text
Коли не знаєш, що робити
коли думки навиворіт
коли здається, один ти в світі
і не здатен на політ
when your thoughts are upside down
when you don’t know what to do
inspiration doesn’t come
and your heart feels so blue
здається у-у
це все здається у-у
забудь печалі у-у
і співай у-у-у
ууууууууууууууууу
ууууууууууууууууу
ууууууууууууууууу
ууууууууууууууууу
коли танцюєш на танцполі
забуваєш про усе
ти розумієш, один ти в колі
течія тебе несе
здається у-у
це все здається у-у
забудь печалі у-у
і співай у-у-у
ууууууууууууууууу
ууууууууууууууууу
ууууууууууууууууу
ууууууууууууууу-аа-аа
і тоді повір у себе
подивись – співає небо!
чуєш пісню невгамовну?
відчувай її наповну!
повір у себе
подивись – співає небо!
чуєш пісню невгамовну?
тож співай її безмовно!
Ууууууууууууууууу
I know it, I feel it,
that’s the spirit of music
it takes me
and sets me free
hey, I know it
and it’s inside of me
I give you this melody
Ууууууууууууууууу
English Translation
When you don’t know what to do
when your thoughts are inside out
when it seems like you are all alone
and incapable of flying
when your thoughts are upside down
when you don’t know what to do
inspiration doesn’t come
and your heart feels so blue
it seems hoo-oo
it all seems hoo-oo
forget the sadness hoo-oo
and sing hoo-oo-oo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
when you dance on the dancefloor
you forget about everything
you realize you are one in a circle
the flow is carrying you
it seems hoo-oo
it all seems hoo-oo
forget the sadness hoo-oo
and sing hoo-oo-oo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo ah-ah
and then believe in yourself
look, the sky is singing!
do you hear the unceasing song?
feel it to the full!
believe in yourself
look, the sky is singing!
do you hear the unceasing song?
so sing it silently!
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
I know it, I feel it,
that’s the spirit of music
it takes me
and sets me free
hey, I know it
and it’s inside of me
I give you this melody
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
For me this has been the 2nd biggest grower of the year. When it first came out, I was really scratching my head about it. But then as a lot of the other songs started sounding somewhat alike, this stood out from the competition in a very intriguing way. Also, I really like the lyrics’ message.
My last place 🙁 I am sorry but good luck
Another good entry, pretty sophisticated for someone that young. Don’t know how the audience will react to that, but it definitely stands out in the competition.
One, let’s appreciate the hell out of her that she composed this herself before Tolmachov revamped it.
Second, I love this.
I really like it. It builds well and I find it memorable.
Looks at Ukrainian lyrics:
“?????????????????
?????????????????
?????????????????
???????????????-??-??”
Nah… It have to mean something in english, right…?
“hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo hoo-oo hoo
hoo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo-oo hoo-oo ah-ah”
xd
It’s even better in ukrainian:
“yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy”
You know, I actually really like this song , especially the bridge.
i’ve listened to it a few times but i always forget what it sounds like as soon as it ends
The dark horse of this year. I really hope this does well because it deserves a high score. Hopefully the juries won’t rob Ukraine and with a good staging this has the potential to break into the top four.
I wish the best for your favorites but I don’t think Ukraine can reach the top 5 this year. We have to wait live performance but it’s easy to think that Poland, France, Spain, North Macedonia, Armenia and few others (like Australia, Serbia and Malta) will finish high. Ukraine’s song is interesting though, I hope we’ll be surprised.
Ukraine isn’t my winner it’s my sixth place but they will get my vote.