Ukraine’s Go_A have taken to the Rotterdam Ahoy stage for their first rehearsal at Eurovision 2021. There stage show is a visual feast, but does it work? Let’s see.
Ukraine’s Go_A “SHUM” — Eurovision 2021 first rehearsal
Oliver: The second act of this semi-final to use fake trees on stage! Go_A have a similar forest scene to Lesley Roy, but they navigate it very differently. It’s very hard to find faults here. Kate’s stood front and centre in a black leather dress with sleeves made from green hair. The rest of the band are dressed in avant garde hazmat-esque raincoats, playing their respective instruments while two dancers in similar garb prance around the stage holding large ring lights. It’s intense, but at the same time a lot of fun, and never distracts from the fact that this is still serious music. Go_A made the stage their own and executed their creative vision brilliantly. This is excellent.
Padraig: This is a feast for all the senses. Visually, sonically, spiritually. Go_A deliver. I didn’t know what to expect from them at Eurovision, but it certainly wasn’t this. All the disparate elements shouldn’t work — Kateryna’s green feather jacket, the boys in their hazmat suits, the trees, the bags of seeds, the halos made of ring lights, the psychedelic LED…. to name just a few. But the end result is spectacular. “SHUM” is an acquired taste. But the vocals are on point and Go_A are selling it!
Reaction to Ukraine’s first rehearsal at Eurovision 2021
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What do you think? Did Go_A live up to your expectations? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more Ukraine Eurovision 2021 news here
Photos: EBU / THOMAS HANSES
Too bad there won’t be a regular sized audience this year – this would definitely blow the roof off the arena. It’s like Bulgaria’s ‘Voda’ if they blended a few … erm … substances into that water.
Those few seconds put a huuuge smile on my face. Can’t wait to see the full performance!
OMG! It’s fantastic. Ukraine is a Country of Talents.
Im more of a fan of their 2021 entry than last years. Its amazing what they are doing from scratch on. Fresh, original, unique and a strong contender. Sure qualifier. Glad they are in the game next to all those light weight so called ‘bop’ young femal singers!!
Ok now we all know that this will slay
Ukraine coming after Azerbaijan with this? Well goodbye Efendi, after Ukraine enters the stage she is as good as last weeks leftovers. Clearly Ukraine knows how to deliver, maybe the Azeri’s should go shopping in there for next year!
Omg what a noise , NQ
Okay, this is awesome.
This is either really cool top 5 or too weird and just noise like Triana Park from Latvia. A psychedelic attack on the senses that everyone thought would qualify and didn’t
Well, Triana Park sounded nice in the studio version, but the live performance was a hot mess. But judging from those few seconds, Go_A’s live performance appears to be pretty solid.
I literally had a WTF moment when I watched it.. don’t know is it good or bad tho!!
I’m so glad they slayed! This is Top 5 material. I had Voda 2007 vibes watching this rehearsal. Same energy.
This song is dead
Psychedelic madness, finally someone said it!
The second part of the song always reminds me of Georgia 2016 and the fantastic psychedelic Midnight Gold.
Shum was always my dark horse, such an amazing mixture of all 4 band members bringing in their own part and now theyre off to qualify and hopefully more.
pure chernobitches slayage
It looks awesome. Loved the little detail on how the trees move along with them. Juries, please open your minds, this is a brilliant entry.
I can’t deny the staging looks amazing. But definitely visually and specially sonically is quite annoying… i think i am going to take some ansiolitics
top5 in the final !!! the dark horse begins to run now!
yesterday russia was really good but ukraine tops it.
i like that green boa around katyas neck – it fits the performance perfect and give an unique contrast on stage – true avantgarde art!
we will have a big dance party in the final.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES LET’S GO
Possible top5?
This put a smile on my face. Yeah, well done GO_A!
oh I love how handsome flute guy Ihor got his own small stage lol
Performance looks really cool and refreshing.
Certain qualifer for me, well done Ukraine!
I am willing to bet on who’s winning today’s poll!!! 🙂
This is why Ukraine always qualify. Whether it’s Jamala’s tree, Mariya’s Hamster wheel or Anna’s- I mean NIKA’s sand artist, they sell what they’ve got 100% and this is such a blast, I really don’t see this missing Saturday, hope Europe votes for Ukraine on Tuesday <3 <3
Wow! Ukraine rising in odds from 16th to 9th place,they reacted really fast, I’m shoked lol
The best one so far. Loved it!
For anyone wondering – the coat is a reference to the original ‘Shum’ version (and, of course, to the song its based on). “? ? ?????? ???? ??????? ????” = “Our Shum is wearing a green fur coat”. Amazing performance!
Just noticed the site doesn’t support Cyrillic text. But it did contain the original lyric of “A v nashogo Shuma zelenaya shuba”.
I love this!
This is brilliant! Top 10 material for sure!!!
I really like it. Sure Q now no doubt
Ukraine always know how to sell the song to juries and viewers.
They must pay the jury to be in the topp
Dietman for me is a typical ”wholesaler”…especially after todays ‘similiarities’….
Cyprus-Croatia
in both countries the title of the song with big letters in the fond
in both countries sexy appearance,
in both countries fireworks,
and of course the impression of the appearance of X5 the singer and the dancers (Cyprus with a mirror) (Croatia with a visual thing).
Enchanted woods! Magical voice! Party! YES! Ukraine should easily qualify. Alongside Russia, another serious candidate of winning the televote. Please, I need them both in the finals! 🙂
I’m stunned…. just saw a short clip on Eurovision channel, holly sh*t :O
Tomilchenko did it ones again, amazing staging!
Konstantin Tomil’chenko (Kostyantyn Tomil’chenko)… he worked with Jamala and Melovin…
Prefere the classical hair style she used to have. Bad choice the green bolero (makes her looks like…heremite), nice costumes, interesting futuristic elements. In general solid performance and a different stage after a lot of similar colourful presentations.
Certainly qualifier.
Ukraine is surely qualifying!
giving tron realness
Kateryna is a goddess… and the staging director is a f****** genius…
First final in which Ukraine and Russia BOTH participate since 2016, incoming…
Absolutely!! I didn’t like either in 2016 so I didn’t care too much back then lol but this could be pretty epic tbh
It’d be vol 3 of this battle after 2008 and 2016 lol
Ukraine was so far ahead of Russia, plus the running order heavily favours Ukraine. I don’t think Russia will qualify. I hope people won’t downvote just for my opinion.
Hopefully the narrow minded juries don’t sink this. They seem to have anything with folk elements.
I would be so extremely satisfied if Ukraine and Russia both qualified. I feel like their performances took them both from borderline to the “comfortable qualifier zone” that we expect Russia and Ukraine to be in. Let’s just hope that they don’t cancel eachother out (even tho they are not that similar musically).
Well because both entries are extremely left- field, and they’re also not songs that “lie well” in typical western ears, if you know what I’m saying. I’m just hoping people will be open- minded enough to give them a chance. They absolutely deserve a spot in the grand final.
I’m relieved, can’t wait to see them
omg……..
Ukraine is going to be an absolute treat this year.
Living for it.
YESSS this is sailing to the final!! I was a bit worried because it was one of my faves songs but now I am relieved. Go Ukraine!