President Yushchenko in Canada

[Max_the_Highlander]

I think we could be compared with Ireland. Irish pop and rock music took many from their rich folk tradition. So is in Ukraine. There is no star pop or rock who would not re-sang something folk.

But these are just influences, it’s not Mona Lisa portrait in gallery, it’s her portrait on T-shirt.

Yes, this country knows what trance and goa are.

I’m sure you didn’t hear ever the TNMK because they also have few cool remakes of folk songs – in dancing hip-hop way.

On Ukraine stager there are internationalists who work for Ukraine and Russia as Tina Carol, Taisya Povalyi, Andrew Danilko etc… and there are national artists who work mostly for Ukraine as Ruslana, TNMK, Ani Lorac etc…

Stereolisa is may be the only successful English-speaking project.

Kathy, so you don’t knit?

Some of your posts sound like you have rolling chair and some like you have rocking one. It depends.

[bm-21Lemko]

YouTube - Green Grey - п║я┌п╣я─п╣пЎя│п╦я│я┌п╣п╪п╟

music resembles U2

I prefer german and british music and american music rather than russian or ukrainian bands.

[Kathy]

I think we could be compared with Ireland. Irish pop and rock music took many from their rich folk tradition. So is in Ukraine. There is no star pop or rock who would not re-sang something folk.

No, they didn't take something from folk and rework it in an original way. That was my point.

I’m sure you didn’t hear ever the TNMK because they also have few cool remakes of folk songs – in dancing hip-hop way

I listen to Ukrainian radio, have access to youtube, so yes, I have.

My point is there is nothing original or interesting in their music. The genre is stolen from American hip hop, which is now in decline. Even their videos look like hundreds of mediocre Western videos. Where is the innovation? The fresh approach? The originality?

The music does not touch me.

Years ago, I watched a film titled Aria. The concept was to have famous film directors choose an aria, and direct a concept piece based on their interpretation. I was dumbfounded when Vesti la Giubba, from Pagliacci, appeared. The piece, with which I was familiar, was performed by Caruso. It was as if I had heard this aria for the first time. The emotion and the true meaning of that aria, an understanding of it, hit me. This is what I am talking about. The arts should stir an emotion in the observer, whether positive or negative. Mediocrity does not achieve this.

I don't expect you to understand.

Some of your posts sound like you have rolling chair and some like you have rocking one.

I think you mean a wheelchair. Yeah, I am old as the hills. But, all the women in my family lived well into their nineties, a few over a hundred. I'm not halfway there yet, so I have a few more years left to go.

I have young children who keep me in tune with trends here. But, I don't find most of their music interesting either.

[Zbyszek]

Originally Posted by Kathy

MAX's opinion: I think we could be compared with Ireland. Irish pop and rock music took many from their rich folk tradition. So is in Ukraine. There is no star pop or rock who would not re-sang something folk.

No, they didn't take something from folk and rework it in an original way. That was my point.

Max, you will probably have a vision of me strolling down the street in the old fashioned suit and using walking-stick but I have to say my views on music are similar to Kathy's.
I was recently inspired by the songs of Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard from the Irish film "Once"(2007).
YouTube - If You Want Me.
These songs revoke the great time of European music - they are permeated with emotion and they say so much. I still can't forget the film. Max, you can't say they are old or old fashioned.
In fact, the music can be either good or bad no matter how old it is. I also agree that the most of modern Ukrainian bands do not touch my heart.
I remember the Russian duo Tatu which seemed once popular in Europe - in my opinion they just could not sing well. The TARTAK band really sounds like a tartak ( a place where timber is cut).
I like Maria Burmaka's songs though I do not regard them as outstanding.
YouTube - Maria Burmaka - Ne biysya zhyty (п°. п▒я┐я─п╪п╟п╨п╟ - п²п╣ п╠я√п╧я│я▐ пІп╦я┌п╦)