Filling the Silence — The Soundtrack of Solidarity for Ukraine:

National Anthem, Eurovision, and Anti-war Musical Statements from the West

Bachelor Thesis Liberal Arts and Sciences

Major Arts and Humanities: Past-Present-Future
University College Tilburg

Supervisor: Dr. Siebe Bluijs
Second reader: Dr. Ruud Welten

August 5, 2022

Acknowledgements

Against the war.
And for my family and dearest friends, my teachers,
And every treasured help along the writing way,
Music included.

Introduction

What roles does music play in times of war? Can it be helpful? And if yes, how and for whom? On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, starting an armed conflict that became the focus of worldwide attention. From the beginning, several countries, organizations, and individuals supported refugees, civilians, and soldiers affected by the war. They created a solidarity movement for Ukraine, and this movement has a soundtrack too. Be it through charity concerts, songs on social media, or anti-war protests where people started singing the National Anthem of Ukraine, music filled the silence that loss, death, and destruction brought. Ukraine’s National Anthem was performed in concert halls or public places all across the world. As another sign of solidarity, an unexpected love song became viral on TikTok, a social media platform. It was not a classic anti-war composition, nothing like the chants protesting Vietnam in the 1970s, but a pop song from 2012: Tom Odell’s Another Love. Much more music, both old and new, was dedicated to Ukraine’s cause, be it performed at concerts or released online. Another notable piece is Kalush Orchestra’s Stefania, which remarkably increased in popularity since February 24. This song is also Ukraine’s entry for Eurovision, with which they won the competition on May 14, while Russia was banned from performing in 2022. In light of this political play of music, the songs associated with Ukraine’s cause affect the collective memory and protesting spirits of listeners. How does this happen? How does music, particularly the Ukrainian National Anthem, Ukraine’s 2022 Eurovision entry, and pop songs like Tom Odell’s Another Love, shape collective memory and protests in the solidarity movement for Ukraine, during the Russo-Ukrainian war from 2022?

Other compositions than the ones I mentioned can give relevant topics too. The music performed in bunkers, or on the ruined streets of Ukraine, as well as new military songs on Radio Bayraktar also connect with memory and resistance during the war. They are, however, only partially accessible for the public, and especially difficult to analyze if one is not present in the war-affected country and does not understand Ukrainian either. Therefore, I will mostly reflect on Ukraine’s National Anthem and Eurovision entry, and on Western pop songs like Tom Odell’s Another Love, which are more approachable case studies. This will add to the growing literature on war and music by bringing a more recent context to discussion (relative to the Vietnam War, the two World Wars, or other armed conflicts studied by scholars).