Eurovision

As politically correct as the judges might want Eurovision to be, it's sometimes impossible to divorce even pop music from deeper meaning. "Razom nas bahato" by Greenjolly, the Ukrainian entry for 2005, was the unofficial anthem of the Orange Revolution. The song is sung primarily in Ukrainian and the "international" language of English, but the main chorus is translated into a few different languages (all of them Western European) and perhaps provides evidence for popular support of further integration into the West, an ideology that has been expounded by Ukrainian politicians since the "revolution", but which many Russians staunchly oppose in favor of continued Eastern unity.



Ukraine's entry to Eurovision last year also brewed up some political controversy. Verka Serduchka, the eccentric middle-aged female stage persona of comedian Andriy Danylko, originally submitted his song under the title of "Danzing". However, when the Eurovision judges heard the words "Russia, goodbye!" in the lyrics, he explained that he was actually singing "Lasha Tumbai" and so added those words to the title. According to Danylko, "Lasha Tumbai" is supposed to mean "milkshake" in the Mongolian language. (Actual Mongolians assert that it doesn't mean anything at all.) Regardless of semantics, it's difficult not to notice that along with the glitzy silver dress he wears (a provocative 69 written on the back), he is also sporting some strange headgear in the shape of a famous Soviet symbol, the Red Star. Clearly, Danylko's performance, with its gender bending, overt sexuality, and profane use of communist symbolism, demonstrates just how far Ukraine has moved towards a liberalized Western culture from the strictly-controlled society of their neighbor to the east.