Go_A’s “Shum” lyrics greet spring by transforming a traditional “vesnyanka” ritual into a rave

Ever since they won Vidbir 2020, Ukraine’s Go_A have honoured their country’s folklore with their Eurovision entries. “Shum” is their 2021 song, and it went through a heavy revamp in order to make it elegible for the contest. Here’s what the track is about.

Scroll down for “Shum” lyrics

Ukraine in Eurovision 2021: Go_A “Shum”

Go_A is made of Kateryna Pavlenko, Taras Shevchenko, Ihor Didenchuk and Ivan Hryhoriak. They won the right to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2020 with “Solovey”. They were also one of the first acts to be confirmed for 2021, shortly after last year’s contest was cancelled. Folklore is a key part of Go_A’s artistry: lead singer Kateryna has studied the matter and is able to sing using the “white voice” technique. Taras and Ihor work with traditional instruments, while Ivan experiments with different music styles.

Released as a single in late January, “Shum” was immediately touted as a potential song for Rotterdam. However, the Ukrainian delegation was quick to say that it was “not for Eurovision”. Soon after they announced that Go_A would present a number of entries to a professional jury. Just one day before today’s confirmation, it transpired that “Shum” was one of three songs in the running.

However, the song borrowed heavily from existing Ukrainian folklore. In fact, the first version was a re-arrangement of different versions of the traditional Ukrainian folk song “A v nashoho shuma”. Eurovision.tv reported that the song needed reworking to fit the contest’s requirements. Besides the extensive borrowing of folklore, the song was one minute too long in its original form. The current Eurovision rules do not state anything explicitly about the use of pre-existing folklore. They do state, however, that broadcasters must inform the Reference Group if the melody or lyrics were published before 1 September. And so, on 9 March, we got the revamped “SHUM” which will be performed in Rotterdam.

What do the “Shum” lyrics mean?

“Shum” honours a “vesnyanka”, a traditional Ukrainian type of song attached to the spring ritual. This season is the protagonist of the song: “Oh vesnyanka, vesnyanka, where have you spent your winter?”. Nature is another theme: “Sowing, sowing, sowing, sowing hemp plants, Sowing, sowing, sowing, sowing green ones”. Yes, that’s what the catchy “Siyu, siyu, siyu” means.

Go_A frontwoman Kateryna Pavlenko, who penned the lyrics, has said that the vesnyanka which initially inspired “SHUM” was something she knew from her childhood. Kate grew up in Polyssia, a region in north Ukraine. For some time, she has been interested in the folklore of her native region, which is usually only known internationally for the existence of the former Chernobyl Nuclear Plant and the surrounding Exclusion Zone.

About the creation of the new “SHUM”, nicknamed “the sequel”, Kate explained to Suspilne Studiya:

“In the first part of “SHUM”, we are standing in protective gear and hoping for the best. We call the “SHUM”. In the sequel, spring has woken up with us and not make noise that spring heard to wake up. And now, we have a much better life.”

It is not difficult to see a reference to the overcoming of the pandemic in the lyrics: “Come spring, come, don’t wait around, we’ll go outside to love each other”. “Come on, come on, we’ve made some noise. Made some noise and awoke the spring”.

Shum lyrics – Go_A (Ukraine ESC 2021)

Lyrics: Kateryna Pavlenko
Music: Kateryna Pavlenko and Taras Shevchenko

What do you think of “Shum”? Will Go_A make it to the final? Tell us in the comment section below.

Additional reporting by Renske.