The backstage of the Palace Ukraine was extremely crowded and loud on the evening of Feb. 25.
Musicians tuned their instruments and joked around. Dancers wearing black-and-white outfits stood in a circle, rehearsing their moves. A lonely make-up artist kept chasing performers for last-minute touch-ups. Every now and then one of the artists looked nervously at the crowded audience hall.
The fifth annual YUNA Music Awards was about to start.
Traditionally February is the month of award ceremonies: Grammy Awards (Feb. 15), Brit Awards (Feb. 24), Oscars (Feb. 28) all take place in February.
Ukraine is no exception. Hundreds of Ukrainian performers, composers, producers and reporters came to the Palace Ukraine to celebrate music and artistic talents at the annual YUNA Music Awards.
YUNA was founded in 2012 by Mohammad Zahoor, ISTIL Group owner and Kyiv Post publisher, and Pavlo Shylko, a TV presenter and CEO of Galamedia production company.
This year, the organizers prepared many surprises for the audience and the artists.
The Best Female Artist and Best Male Artist categories were combined into one nomination, called Best Soloist, in order to equal achievements of the artists of both genders.
Also, a new nomination was founded – the Best New Media artist.
The newly-created expert committee of producers, performers and journalists choose the winner in this category after analyzing the artist’s popularity in social media and press.
The founder of the ceremony, Zahoor stepped to the red carpet with his wife, singer-actress Kamaliya and their twin daughters Arabella and Mirabella. Zahoor told Kyiv Post that he enjoyed watching the development of his creation.
“Yesterday I was at the Brit Awards in London, so I can compare (the ceremonies),” he said. “Our (Ukrainian) musicians are as talented as Western celebrities. Their level is growing. YUNA is growing and developing together with Ukraine.”
The strong performances were the confirmation to his words.
Veterans of the Ukrainian rock music Green Grey band and pop singer Monatik opened the ceremony with the music hit “Pod dozhdem” (Under the Rain).
Their performance started a new tradition of performing the most popular Ukrainian songs of all time on YUNA.
Singer and song writer Ivan Dorn, sometimes dubbed “a Ukrainian Pharrel” in a reference to the American singer, appeared calm and relaxed backstage but turned into a party animal while performing his song “23.” He was in every corner of the stage, dancing and making the audience do the same.
“I want to see the whole Palace Ukraine dancing! Let’s do it, guys,” he cried.
Crimean Tatar singer Jamala is on a dream run this year. On Feb. 21, she won the national competition of the Eurovision Song Contest and a chance to represent Ukraine in Stockholm in May.
At YUNA she became a real triumphant, winning in four categories Best Soloist, Best Album, Best Song, and Best Duo.
Olexiy Potapenko, founder of MOZGI Entertainment agency, was very pleased that his protégée, pop band Vremya y Steklo, won two winged statuettes as the Best Pop Band and New Media Artist.
Potapenko, who hosted YUNA in the past years, was trying to compete with the night’s host Shylko in humor, stealing attention, dancing and fooling around even as he sat in the audience.
He calmed when MOZGI Entertainment agency won the Best Artist’s Management category.
Sidebar
Nominees and winners for the “YUNA-2016” National Music Award (Full list)
Best Soloist:
Jamala (winner)
MONATIK
Ivan Dorn
Max Barskyh
Tina Karol
Best Pop Band
MOZGI
Quest Pistols Show
Vremya i Steklo (winner)
Kley Ugruymogo
Potap i Nastya
Best Rock Band
O.Torvald
Pianoboy
The HARDKISS
Antytila
Okean Elzy (winner)
Best Song
“Bumbiggibay” by Potap i Nastya
“Zlyva” (“The Rain”) by Andriy Hlyvniuk, Jamala and Pianoboy (winner)
“Imya 505” (“The Name 505”) by Vremya i Steklo
“Pora domoy” (“It’s Time To Go Home”) by LOBODA
“Ya vse escho lubliu” (“I Am Loving”) by Tina Karol
Best Album
“Randorn” by Ivan Dorn
“Vse krasyvo” (“Everything Is Beautiful”) by Antytila
“Podyh” (“The Breath”) by Jamala (winner)
“Tochka na karte” (A Point On A Map) by Alesha
“Shyt and myach” (The Shield And The Ball) by Potap i Nastya
Best Music Video
“Bittersweet” by Brunettes Shoot Blondes
“Time” by Onuka
“Imya 505” (“The Name 505”) by Vremya i Steklo
“Pora domoy” (“It’s Time To Go Home”) by LOBODA
“Trymay” (“Hold Me”) by Khristyna Soloviy (winner)
Best Duo
“Zlyva” (The Rain) by A. Hlyvnyuk, Jamala and Pianoboy (winner)
“Znaidu” (I Will Find You) by S.K.A.Y. and Alloise
“Mokraya” (Wet) Quest Pistols Show and MONATIK
“Stil sobachki” (Doggie Style) by Potap i Nastya and Byanka
“Ukraina tse ty” (Ukraine It’s You) by Tina Karol and the participants of the children music show
Discovery Of The Year
Alekseev (winner)
Mari Cheba
The Erised
Regina Todorenko
Khristyna Soloviy
Event of the Year
Boombox’s concert “Desyat Rokiv” (10 Years)
Ivan Dorn’s concert “Randorn Tour”
Tina Karol’s music performance “Ya vse escho lublu” (I Am Loving)
Svyatoslav Vakarchuk’s music project “Vnochi” (At Night)
The Memorial Concert For Skryabin – winner
Best Artist’s Management
Condorn Company – Ivan Dorn
Enjoy! Records – Jamala
Kruzheva Music – Quest Pistols Show
Yaromir Group – Kley Ugruymogo
Community Center – Tina Karol
Egor Kiryanov – The HARDKISS
Olexiy Potapenko, Iryna Gorova – MOZGI Enterntainment (winner)
Best New Media Artist (a new category, where the expert committee pics the winner after analysis of their popularity in social media):
Vremya i Steklo (winner)
