A Ukrainian music legend has said Liverpool is "the Paris of the UK."
Award-winning singer, philanthropist and presenter of Dancing With the Stars Ukraine and The Voice Ukraine coach Tina Karol was in Liverpool city centre today ahead of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. Liverpool was announced as the host city of Eurovision in 2022, after winners Ukraine could not hold the competition for safety and security reasons due to the ongoing invasion by Russia.
As a result, the UK, who placed second last year with Sam Ryder's Space Man, are hosting the show this year. In 2022, Tina performed the Ukrainian national anthem in Liverpool at a friendly match between Kyiv Dynamo and Everton.
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But today, she spoke to Liverpool ECHO reporter Christopher Megrath about her time in Liverpool so far and how the city has been representing reigning champions Ukraine. Tina said: "I came before once, I sang the national anthem at a football match and now what I see that it's such a warm place.
"We've had huge support and thank you that you've given us a chance to perform on the stage in Liverpool. It's a very beautiful place and it's a romantic city.
"It's the port, the small bars and restaurants, people are very lovely. It's the Paris of the UK - but we can say better." Since representing Ukraine in Eurovision in 2006, Tina said she has seen the competition change, but still continue to "lift spirits" through art and culture.
This weekend, Tina will also perform as a part of the Eurovision Song Contest grand final, with the Eurovision Flag Parade on May 13. The parade will see some of the most iconic Ukrainian Eurovision contestants, including Tina, who will present a new twist on her fiery 2006 Eurovision entry Show Me Your Love.
For Tina, the Ukrainian spirit can't be defeated and she has hopes her native country will once again host the competition in the future. Tina said: "I see how you've supported and opened your hearts for us.
"I'm so grateful about that and so thankful. This is part of resistance, how you give us a chance to be your friend. We feel like we're in the family and shoulder by shoulder.
"We have everyone who now takes part in Eurovison take part in one very important saying - live tomorrow and build freedom for the future. For safety reasons, I understand why we can't have that music festival in our country and thank you that you're hosting.
"I think that when we win it will be very soon, we will be very happy hosting Eurovision in our country and this will be the part of our resistance too. listen We won't just win on the ability front, we win on the culture front and the people are really excited to go to Ukraine and see what's going on, that they are the bravest people now in Europe who defended democracy, who defended freedom and progressive life. "
After the Russian invasion, Karol has been fighting for her country tirelessly by producing charitable showcases and marches globally to raise awareness around her war torn country. As a former army singer, Tina has also been regularly visiting the frontline fighters across Ukraine to sing to them and using her music to comfort the soldiers. Tina courageous resistance and fight for Ukraine has taken her around the world.
In 2022, Karol hosted The Voice of Ukraine final from a bomb shelter during the Russian invasion and that same year led a monumental Mother’s March in London for the children in Ukraine who have been abducted and transported to Russia during the war.
A single mother, Tina's son studies in the UK, forming a special connection with this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Tina boasts more than 35 music awards to her credit and nine studio albums and the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky awarded her the Order of Princess Olga III degree, a state award of Ukraine to reward women for outstanding services to the state.
For the first time in Eurovision history, viewers watching in eligible countries not participating in the 2023 competition will also be able to vote in both semi-finals and the Grand Final. The second semi-final takes place on tonight, May 11, at 8pm, with the grand final taking place on Saturday, May 13, on BBC One at 8pm.
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