Okean Elzy: “We’ve never done what we would not believe in”
“We are very grateful to those people if our songs have become a symbol of freedom to them. We are very pleased that our lyrics are perceived by the non-Ukrainians in the right way: as the songs of freedom.
And I want to tell all those who are now fighting for freedom that we support them very much. At the same time, every political situation should be subject of a separate talk.
I think it would not be right for us, the Ukrainians, to teach our friends in Belarus the way they should live. This is your own business, but we totally support you in all your noble endeavors. In this, we are always ready to help you“
Okean Elzy were active in supporting the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. Describing the current situation in Ukraine, Vakarchuk said:
“In fact, we have never done what we would not believe in. This applies to the events described by many as an orange revolution. We acted consciously and with candor.
I think that the orange revolution was right, with its slogans and aspirations matching the situation and being adequate. As for the situation today, we in Ukraine have a saying: those who do nothing, they never make mistakes.
Certainly, there have been a lot of mistakes. Some things should have been done in another way. We are well aware of them. However, it is not right to talk about the mistakes only, avoiding the positive developments.
I think we are today living in a totally different country that has become free not only in slogans but in essence. The country is moving on the path of democracy. The country has decided itself how to live. This has been a great achievement. At the same time, we will still have a lot of hurdles ahead. It is obvious and understandable.”
Recently, you have been involved in the non-musical projects like The Book Creates a Human, presented at your web site. How come? Music alone is not enough for you?
“I will say a couple of words about a social project that we started. It is called “The Book Creates a Human”.
The aim of this [Ukrainian] program is to attract the youth to reading, because book-reading does not currently play the role it is supposed to play in the society. Responding to your question about music, I will say that we do need more apart from music.
I think that every man cannot live on music alone. Everybody requires something else. For example, we like reading. In fact, we read a lot, yet our tastes differ.”
During the interview, we also raised the issue of the scientific career of the band’s frontman, Sviatoslav Vakarcuk, who has an academic background in physics. Petro Cherniavsky commented laughing that some members of the band should better first get university diplomas, leave alone a doctor’s degree.
Responding to a question of whether he had plans to proceed with his career of a physicist or an economist (his second education), the band’s leader said:
“We have another saying, which concerns especially musicians: you never know where you are to spend the night tomorrow.”
What would you like to tell our listeners?
“Our best regards to the listeners in Belarus from Okean Elzy. We hope to see and hear you in Belarus, where we often travel with a great pleasure".
