Kupalinka
| "Купалінка" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Language | Belarusian |
| English title | Kupalinka |
| Written | 1921 |
| Songwriter(s) | Uladzimier Teraŭski |
| Lyricist(s) | Michaś Čarot |
Kupalinka is a popular Belarusian song described as a “musical business card of Belarus”.[1]
Lyrics
The song's lyrical heroine, the Kupala Night Maiden is “weeding a rose, piercing her white hands” and “plucking flowers, weaving wreaths, and shedding tears”.[2]
It is considered that the song has become “the national personification of Belarus as a country with a beautiful and sad woman’s face”.[1]
History
Based on folk motives, it was set to music by Uladzimier Teraŭski, Belarusian composer, in 1921.
Kupalinka was written as a part of a musical play titled “On Kupala Night” (Belarusian: На Купальле) produced by Belarusian poet Michaś Čarot, who poetically reframed the lyrics of the folk song. Kupalinka was performed by the main character Alesia. It was played by non-professional actress Aliaksandra Aliaksandrovič, with whom Čarot was in love and to whom he wanted to dedicate the song. The play was a great success and was performed about 400 times.[1][3]
During Stalin's purges of the late 1930s both Teraŭski and Čarot were arrested and executed. Until recently, their names had been largely forgotten and the song's lyrics and music had been described as “folk” without identifiable authors—despite Teraŭski's and Čarot's posthumous exoneration.[1][4]
Lasting popularity
The song remained popular in Soviet and post-Soviet Belarus. It is traditionally sung during Kupala Night celebrations and has also been performed by a number of professional musicians and notable personalities, including:
- Belarusian folk rock band Pesniary;[5]
- Belarusian indie rock band Naviband;[6]
- English rock band Deep Purple;[7]
- 2009 Eurovision winner, Alexander Rybak;[8]
- Belarusian singer, 2005 Eurovision entrant Angelica Agurbash.[9]
- BBC journalist Steve Rosenberg:[10]
Despite its lyrical nature, the song has become a protest song during the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests, alongside patriotic songs such as Pahonia and Mahutny Boža.[1][11]
References
- ^ a b c d e "6 songs of Belarusian protest". Voice of Belarus. 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Alexander Rybak - Купалiнка (Kupalinka) lyrics + English translation". lyricstranslate.com. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ РУБЛЕВСКАЯ, Людмила (2018-05-04). "Пьесу "На Купалле" Михась Чарот написал для любимой девушки" [The play "On Kupala Night" Michas Čarot wrote for his beloved, by Rublieŭskaja Liudmila]. www.sb.by (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ Газета «Iнфа-Кур'ер» (2013-11-14). "Аўтар знакамітай песні "Купалінка" родам з-пад Слуцка • Слуцк • Газета "Інфа-Кур'ер"" [The author of the famous song "Kupalinka" comes from Slucak]. Слуцк • Газета «Інфа-Кур’ер» (in Belarusian). Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ ""Купалінка" - Ансамбль "Песняры"" [“Kupalinka” - Musical Band “Pesniary”]. sovetskaya-estrada.ru. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Plato Newsroom #5: Naviband, Buben, Žuravl, Борисовский Тракт, surf punk, Товарный, Nochy". Radio Plato. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "Deep Purple play "Kupalinka" and polka in Minsk (photo+video)". euroradio.fm. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Kupalinka – A Belarusian folksong – Alexander Rybak | International Fansite - Alexander Rybak News". Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ "Angelika Agurbash - Купалінка (Kupalinka) (Kupalinka) lyrics". lyricstranslate.com. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
- ^ @BBCSteveR (27 November 2021). "I play the Belarusian folk song Kupalinka. #Belarus @BBCNews @BBCWorld @BBCRadio3" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Smuggling Freedom: Belarusian Protest Songs". Culture.pl. Retrieved 2021-08-08.