She jumped from YouTube to a professional music career. And now Jerry Heil, one of the ten finalists in Vidbir, is among the most talked-about entries in Ukraine’s Eurovision 2023 selection. With her song “WHEN GOD SHUT THE DOOR”, she discusses the life and strength of Ukrainians during the war.
Vidbir 2023: Jerry Heil “WHEN GOD SHUT THE DOOR”
Jerry — real name Yana Shemayeva — hails from Vasyl’kiv near Kyiv. The 27-year-old rose to fame through her vlogs on YouTube, building a sizeable following with her content.
Having studied at the R. Glier Kyiv Institute of Music — one of Ukraine’s main music schools — Jerry decided to combine her YouTube work with a music career. In 2019, she uploaded her first song, “Охрана, отмєна”, which became a major hit in Ukraine.
Eurovision fans will most likely know her from her participation in Vidbir 2020. Singing “Vegan”, she finished sixth out of six in the final of the show, where she was advised to work on her self-confidence and “to not listen to her haters too much”.
Her music has matured since then and she has collaborated with artists like alyona alyona and Eurovision 2022 star Monika Liu. In 2020, Jerry won Discovery of the Year at YUNA and was also nominated for Best Female Singer at the 2021 edition.
What do the “WHEN GOD SHUT THE DOOR” lyrics mean?
In “WHEN GOD SHUT THE DOOR”, Jerry Heil sings about the spirit of the Ukrainian people during war. At times she’s deterministic, suggesting there’s little free will and that external forces are guiding all action. But the track also speaks about how after the bad times, the good times will always return: “I don’t want war/ But He knows, sure/ When God shut the door/ He opens one more”.
In the first rap verse, the song describes the morning of 24 February 2022 when many Ukrainians woke up to sirens, having to hide in underground shelters. Jerry sings: “Sunrise brought another reality/ Woke up with a different mentality/ I hear music — must be the violins/ Prelude to the symphony of violence”.
The second rap verse is written in Ukrainian and describes a more traditional way of dealing with the conflict — to go back to one’s faith and believe in the good. There is a special mention of Eastern and Southern Ukraine, where most of the atrocities happened: “Roosters crowed/ Not in the morning, but at midnight/ Get up, get dressed/ Pray to God/ Copper bells are ringing/ In the East and South”.
“WHEN GOD SHUT THE DOOR” concludes that goodness will win over evil and that the prayers of the Ukrainian people will eventually be heard.
Jerry herself described the song as follows:
“Ten month ago Ukrainians thought that God shut our door… Only explosions in the dark. But the other doors started to open one by one: the world started to hear and see Ukraine, we learned how to love and to serve, Ukraine continues to take its land back. In the end we will always remember the price of it. But not only do we believe — we know truly that God is with us. “
“WHEN GOD SHUT THE DOOR” lyrics – Jerry Heil (Vidbir 2023)
Original Ukrainian lyrics
I fell on the floor
I don’t want war
But He knows, sure
When God shut the door
He opens one more
When God shut the door
I fell on the floor
I don’t want war
But He knows, sure
When God shut the door
He opens one more
Woke up with a different mentality
I hear music — must be the violins
Prelude to the symphony of violence
Detuned awful minor chord
They use instead the bow’s the sword
Pulled the doorknob. My door locked
Why are You closing my door, Lord?
When God shut the door
I fell on the floor
I don’t want war
But He knows, sure
When God shut the door
He opens one more
When God shut the door
I fell on the floor
I don’t want war
But He knows, sure
When God shut the door
He opens one more
Не зранку, та в північ:
Встань, одягнися
Богу помолися
Дзвонять дзвони мідні
На сході та півдні
Богу помолися
Тричі охрестися
Повставали рідні:
Багаті і бідні
Тричі охрестися
Прости і простися
Злим будуть злидні
А ми — волі гідні
Не вірю, а знаю:
Нам Бог помагає
English translation
I fell on the floor
I don’t want war
But He knows, sure
When God shut the door
He opens one more
When God shut the door
I fell on the floor
I don’t want war
But He knows, sure
When God shut the door
He opens one more
Woke up with a different mentality
I hear music — must be the violins
Prelude to the symphony of violence
Detuned awful minor chord
They use instead the bow’s the sword
Pulled the doorknob. My door locked
Why are You closing my door, Lord?
When God shut the door
I fell on the floor
I don’t want war
But He knows, sure
When God shut the door
He opens one more
When God shut the door
I fell on the floor
I don’t want war
But He knows, sure
When God shut the door
He opens one more
Not in the morning, but at midnight:
Get up, get dressed
Pray to God
Copper bells are ringing
In the East and South
Pray to God
Be baptized three times
Relatives rose up:
Rich and poor
Be baptized three times
Forgive and say goodbye
Zlydni* will be evil
And we are worthy of free will
I don’t believe, but I know:
God helps us
Do you like Jerry Heil’s “WHEN GOD SHUT THE DOOR”? Are you hoping that she will win Vidbir 2023? Let us know in the comments down below!
I really love this one. Sadly I have mixed feelings about it . I think it’s by far the best song of the nf but isn’t the best moment to send this song. I mean, I think it’s winner material but in the case it would win, people would say it’s because the war and maybe more countries withdraw next year thinking Ukraine will win every year. But it could happen the opposite, being ignored because Ukraine won last year, which wouldn’t be fair either because is a masterpiece. But as it wasn’t the winner of the nf (terrible mistake… Read more »
The song is kinda meh… I really want to like Jerry but she never fails to disappoint. She is somehow popular, but everything she does lacks depth. Like she’s just acting and performing but in fact doesn’t really care. The song from Krut is way better.
Dear Jerry,
If you don’t want war, then become a politician. Or a Wiwibloggs reporter. Don’t turn a music event such as Eurovision into politics. Enough is enough. Thank you.
I genuinely think the song is brilliant. Musically it is fantastic has that modern feel to it yet still including ethnic elements into it, ending it with a Ukrainian verse is the thing that brings it all together. Huge fan of this song, Ukraine don’t play games when it comes to Eurovision, they’re here to win every single year.
I just don’t get on with it that much. I don’t think it brings much to the table other than being a combination of things that worked in other successful Ukrainian entries…there’s nothing that new or exciting about it.
However, there’s nothing overwhelmingly better in the selection so it could win, I guess.
Pretty good song, btw you forgot the (I think) Latin chanting in the background of the last part.
Did EBU change the rules and songs with blatant, in-your-face political messages in them are allowed in the competition now? Or is it allowed only just because it’s Ukraine??
Two things I don’t like about this song: 1. It’s in English. 2. The cringe rap verses. Ukraine would not even come close to winning with this one.
People just need to chill. All the people that commented before me have very sassy comments about the song. I really don’t see other songs winning. I really feel like this song captures all Ukraine is about at Eurovision. No other song represents Ukraine (and the situation they are in right now) better. And people complaining about the lyrics being cringy, come on! It’s a very good play on words and hopefully God opens another door for all of you since you clearly need it based on your sarcastic comments.
Criticism isn’t the same thing as sarcasm though. I simply have a few reasons why I’m not fond of the song while there’s others I like more. People just work like that ^^’
You think the English lyrics are clever? OK there Amigo.
I don’t need an imaginary sky Daddy to do anything for me. Thanks.
What happened to No Politics in the contest? Or does that apply to everyone but Ukraine?
When you know the context, sure. But reading through the lyrics you can’t really see that. It’s just an anti-war song, nothing specific is mentioned. It’s as political as dressing up in white and singing about peace.
Subtlety is out the window
This song really should be fully in Ukrainian. The English lyrics are very cringe.
Much as I love Ukrainian music (and many things about this song, especially the Ukrainian part), someone really needs to tell them to leave the cringy English-language rap verses…
It sucks cus everything else about the song is really good!
I’m… not really the biggest fan of this one. Similarly to what Ukraine recently sent to JESC, this song is extremely blunt and doesn’t beat around the bush in the slightest. I’m also not really into her singing style, so if this were to actually win Vidbir in the upcoming weekend, it’s not gonna get a super high place in my rankings, but I support Ukraine regardless. These people deserve freedom and peace, and the war needs to end as soon as possible.
The song is perfect. It will be great start to the Eurovision season if it ends up representing Ukraine.