CONCERT NOTES: Oksana Bilozir at Brooklyn's Millennium Theater

by Lillianna and Alexander Chudolij
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Those who missed the debut concert of Oksana Bilozir's U.S.-Canada tour this past Saturday, February 8, held at the NYC Millennium Theater, in Brooklyn, N.Y., missed one of the most inspiring, most professional and greatest concerts ever.

In all of our combined years of attending various concerts, we had never seen anything like this one. Oksana Bilozir was electrifying!

As if it wasn't enough to see and hear a performer of this caliber, a surprise to all in attendance was the appearance of Viktor Yushchenko, the leader of the Our Ukraine bloc - or, as Ms. Bilozir put it, "Ukraine's best hope for the 21st century." If elected, Mr. Yushchenko would become the first Ukrainian president of true Kozak descent. He kicked off the event and gave all a prelude to the evening's entertainment, as well as a quick summary of his patriotic ideology.

Accompanied by his colleague Yevhen Chervonenko, Mr. Yushchenko took center stage and declared this night a 100 percent Ukrainian night and nothing less. Mr. Yushchenko spoke of how wonderful it was to be here in America among Ukrainians, how he and the people of Ukraine appreciate all that the diaspora has done and continues to do for Ukraine, and especially how grand it is to have an angel like "Oksanochka" Bilozir, as a national deputy of the Our Ukraine bloc. Mr. Yushchenko said that at this time there is no one better to represent all that is good about Ukraine than Oksana Bilozir. With this, the band began to play and Ms. Bilozir came on stage to rousing applause from the full auditorium.

The opening number, "Pshenychne Pereveslo," a fast-paced, tradition-filled lyrical piece, got everyone rocking in their seats. It was followed by "Niby Vchora," "Batkivske Zhyto" and "Rospytayu Pro Lubov" - all beautifully lyrical, melodic and moving pieces. This opening segment was dedicated to the singer's beloved collaborator and late husband, Ihor Bilozir, who was the composer of all of these pieces as well as "Laskavo Prosymo," which was sung later in the program. Ms. Bilozir took a moment to pay homage to the late composer who met a tragic, brutal death all too soon in his creative life.

Ms. Bilozir continued to enchant the audience as she made references to numerous periods in Ukraine's history as well as in her own life. Her version of "Dva Kolory" left not a dry eye in the theater. As she continued and spoke of Ukraine's many "Povstantsi" and how a mother would always yearn for the return of her son from battle, she reminded us of the tradition of our soldiers pleading with their mothers to plant a "klen" (maple tree) near the house as a reminder of their life. "So many of our sons were lost fighting for our Batkivshchyna - that is why our Ukraine has such an abundance of glorious kleny," she spoke softly as she began the ballad "Klenova Ballada" dedicated to Ukraine's freedom fighters.

At one point, Ms. Bilozir had promised the audience that she had brought only the very best of her collection - and that she did. Her back-up band, "Fest," and her back-up dancers, also called "Fest," performed in the background of many numbers. Ms. Bilozir's intertwining of Ukrainian background history prior to virtually every song made for an unforgettable, often tearful experience both for the audience and the performer. Her symbolic, patriotic and heartfelt recounting of the natural beauty of the land of our ancestors tempered by the political tragedies that have marked the fabric of Ukraine's existence built a bond between Ms. Bilozir and the audience. The intensity of her 100 percent pure Ukrainian performance, as well as her numerous references to Mr. Yushchenko, was like nothing any audience here had ever before experienced.

Ms. Bilozir presented the audience with yet another bonus: one of her supposed band members stepped forward and was introduced as one of Ukraine's top male performers. None other than Vitalii Sachok took center stage and sang three of his finest hits, "Adrianna," "Koliada" and "Sontse Moye." Mr. Sachok also spoke in between each piece and interacted with the audience.

Other than this brief period which essentially allowed for a costume change, Ms. Bilozir took no breaks. The concert, which began at 7:20 p.m. (that's 7 p.m. Ukrainian time) ended at 9:30 p.m. There was no intermission - just energy, song.

During the second half of the performance, as Ms. Bilozir announced that this night was truly a celebration, she then began singing "Sviatkova." The unexpected continued to unfold as Oksana's interaction with the crowd led her into the audience.

This writer (Alex) was surprised to have her approach me with her microphone to "help" lead the crowd in singing the song, "Oi Zelene Zhyto, Zelene." (I'm still arguing with my wife as to whether it was her Ukrainian blouse - surprisingly, Lilia was just about the only adult wearing a Ukrainian embroidered blouse - that attracted Oksana to our seats, or if it was my Ukrainian Kozak charisma.) So I "led the crowd" for several seconds in singing a song (to which I did not know the lyrics (but that never stopped me); my wife couldn't contain herself and thankfully helped me through the song.

Our son, Petrus, sitting on the end seat of the row was in complete and utter awe of Ms. Bilozir. Also dressed in a Ukrainian embroidered shirt, he could not believe that Oksana Bilozir was standing right next to him throughout much of the second half of her performance. He had wished that he had something to give her.

As she moved up the aisle, Ms. Bilozir was presented with two huge Ukrainian flags being held by members of the audience. Not to forget the older folks, Oksana dedicated a song to our parents and proceeded to sing "Batkivska Pisnia" while dancing this sentimental anniversary number with a Ukrainian senior citizen in the back of the hall.

Before she could return to the stage to enchant the audience further, Mr. Chervonenko got up from his seat and proclaimed her one of Ukraine's national treasures. He said that Ms. Bilozir is such a postive and necessary force for the betterment of Ukraine and that she, as a person, as an intellectual and as a performer has no equal. At this point he stated that he kneels before her - and then did so right then and there. As he rose, Mr. Chervonenko presented Ms. Bilozir with an enormous bouquet, which she graciously and emotionally accepted.

After returning to the stage, Ms. Bilozir proceeded to perform one hit after another - "Dum-dum," "Charivna Boikivchanka," "Cafe," "Prolitaly Leleky," "Lystopad," "Horobyna Nich" - all sung perfectly, with feeling and enthusiasm. Plus, there was the added theatrical touch provided by the Fest dance ensemble with whom Oksana even strutted a few perfectly choreographed steps as the stories within the songs unfolded.

As the singer could not put off her signature song any longer, "Ukrainochka" began to ring out throughout the hall. Ms. Bilozir invited all of the children in the audience to come up on stage to sing along.

Each received a furry little present from the performer. We counted almost 40 youngsters on stage. Our son was in his glory as he ended up in the center of the stage holding hands with Ms. Bilozir. While the finale was being sung, all the children joined the performer and swayed like the waves of the Black Sea as Ms. Bilozir dedicated the final song to the future of Ukraine and her loving people.

As it was in the beginning, so it was to be in the end. Mr. Yushchenko came on stage to thank and congratulate Ms. Bilozir for providing such an unforgettable evening of 100 percent Ukrainian song. Mr. Yushchenko mentioned that Ukraine could not survive now without Oksana Bilozir and that she is truly a remarkable ambassador for our great nation.

As we looked around the packed nearly 1,000-seat theater, we couldn't help but notice that the usual attendees of Ukrainian events in our community were largely absent. It was also a shame that there was not a larger number of youths in attendance. We can only venture a guess that today's Ukrainian American youths (as well as their parents) may not know about Ms. Bilozir and her music, and may not be aware that she is the premier pop artist in Ukraine.

We can say unequivocally that the crowd was alive, responsive, and very much in love with the performer, her music and based on the response to statements made by Mr. Yushchenko and Ms. Bilozir regarding their homeland - very much in love with Ukraine, as well.

If you have an opportunity to see Oksana Bilozir in concert - do it. And take your kids. Help develop and perpetuate Ukrainian music and song. Remember: if Ukrainians don't invest in Ukrainian artists, who will?

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, February 16, 2003, No. 7, Vol. LXXI

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