Main points
- Lina Kostenko celebrates her 96th birthday, her poems are used by musicians to create songs.
- Famous compositions based on her poems are performed by: Jamala, Artem Pyvovarov, Oksana Mukha, the band “Fiolet” and Vitaliy Kozlovsky.
Songs with lyrics by Lina Kostenko / Collage of Channel 24
Today, March 19, the poetess of the sixties celebrates her 96th birthday. Despite her venerable age, Lina Kostenko remains the soul of Ukrainian literature and a symbol of a woman who can conquer the whole world.
Musicians quite often use poets' poems in their work to give words on paper a second life. Therefore, on Lina Kostenko's birthday , Channel 24 will recall the best songs based on her poems.
Jamala – “Neanderthals”
The singer dreamed of recording a song based on this poem by the poet. Lina Kostenko gave Jamali permission to express her creativity, and the track was included in her album “Breath”.
Jamala – “Neanderthals”: listen to the song online
Artem Pyvovarov – “Valtorna”
The song was released as part of the “Your Poems, My Notes” project. The song “Horn” was based on the writer's poem “I Unlock the Dawn with a Violin Key”.
Previously, Pivovarov said that he was very worried about the result, because Kostenko is quite picky about the use of her work.
A special thank you to Lina Kostenko and her team for trusting me to set the poem of an incredible poet to music. A large number of people have put their soul and love into this work. I hope that while listening to and watching “Horns”, you will feel it, enjoy it and return to this extraordinary musical story again and again,
– the singer commented.
Artem Pivovarov – “Horn” (feat. PIVOVAROV Team “Voice of the Country-13”): watch the video online
Oksana Mukha – “Evening Sun”
Several people worked on the realization of this song. First, Lina Vasylivna gave the artist permission, then Liliya Kobilnyk took up the melody, and Dmytro Katsal was engaged in the arrangement. The singer herself said that then she finally matured for the meanings embedded in the poem.
Oksana Mukha – “Evening Sun”: listen to the song online
“Violet” Band – “Stop Me”
The poetess' poem of the same name was included in the collective's mini-album in 2016, which also used the work of other Ukrainian poets.
“Violet” – “Stop Me”: listen to the song online
Vitaliy Kozlovsky – “The Unseen Has Been Seen”
In 2014, the artist presented the aforementioned track, in which he used Kostenko's poem – “A Song with Variations”. In 2023, Vitaliy re-released the song.
Vitaliy Kozlovsky – “The Unseen is Seen”: watch the video online
Interesting facts about Lina Kostenko
- The writer once refused the Golden Writer of Ukraine award and also protested the awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine to her. Then she uttered the legendary phrase: “I don't wear political jewelry.”
- In 2015, minor planet No. 290127 in the Solar System was named after Lina Kostenko.
- Together with her husband Vasyl Tsvirkunov, she traveled all over Ukraine in their “Zaporozhets”.