Vesna (pronounced [ˈvɛsna]; named after the Slavic goddess of spring)[1] is an all-female folk band based in the Czech Republic, consisting of five members (three Czech, one Slovak and one Russian).[2] The band represented the Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "My Sister's Crown", finishing in the top ten in the grand final with a score of 129 points.[3]
History
Formation and first singles
In 2016, band frontwoman Patricie Kaňok Fuxová wanted to create an all-woman band that celebrated "femininity and Slavic sisterhood". Although the band is considered to play Czech folk music, Fuxová does not consider themselves to play within the genre, stating "I don't see what we do with Vesna as folklore, they are not folk songs. For me, these are [not] songs that work with those archetypes". At the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory, Fuxová met with future members Bára Juránková, who played the violin, Andrea Šulcová, and Tanita Yankova from Bulgaria, who both played the flute.[4]
Pátá bohyně
In 2018, Šulcová and Yankova both left the group, and were replaced by Russian pianist Olesya Ochepovskaya and Czech drummer Markéta Vedralová. In that same year, the band released their first studio album, Pátá bohyně (transl. "The Fifth Goddess"). In an interview with Czech news magazine Týden, Fuxová stated that the album was inspired by both real life events that she had faced and by Czech stories and fairytales.[5] The album won the Discovery of the Year award at the Czech music awards show Ceny Anděl 2018.[6]
Anima
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the band, which at that point also included Slovak bassist Tereza Čepková,[7] started work on a second studio album, Anima. In an interview, band member Bára Šůstková reported that the album was represented by animal motifs, the relationship between men and women, and the female body.[8]
Eurovision Song Contest 2023
On 16 January 2023, the band, with the return of Yankova,[7] was revealed as one of six competitors in ESCZ 2023, the Czech national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.[9] When the voting results were revealed on 7 February 2023, the band had earned 10,584 votes, winning by a margin of 6,368 votes, thus becoming the Czech representatives for the contest.[10] Their song "My Sister's Crown" is about "all people who are experiencing some kind of unfreedom, as oppression from society, trends, technology, and it's such a symbol for these people to put on a crown and feel strong enough".[11]
Vesna performed in the first semi-final held on 9 May 2023, placing fourth overall and qualifying for the final. They ultimately placed tenth with 129 points.[3]
After Eurovision
On 17 July 2023, Vesna announced a European tour scheduled to take place between 1 and 24 November 2023 across Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic.[12] Since July 2023, Yankova has again been inactive in the group.[citation needed]
In September 2023, the group released "Wolfrunners", the lead single from their upcoming LP Muzika Slavica, which was released the following November.
Band members
Current members
- Patricie Kaňok Fuxová (2016–present) – vocals
- Bára Juránková (2016–present) – vocals, violin
- Olesya Ochepovskaya (2018–present) – piano
- Markéta Mužátková (2018–present) – drums, vocals, guitar
- Tereza Čepková (2019–present) – bass guitar[7][13]
Former members
- Andrea Šulcová (2016–18) – flute
- Tanita Yankova (2016–18; 2023) – vocals, flute, piano
Discography
Albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CZE [14] | |||
| Pátá bohyně |
|
48 | |
| Anima |
|
— | |
| Muzika Slavica |
|
— | |
| "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||
EPs
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Muzika |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CZE [17] |
FIN [18] |
LTU [19] |
SWE [20] | |||
| "Světlonoš" (feat. Terezie Kovalová) | 2017 | — | — | — | — | Pátá bohyně |
| "Kytička" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Láska z Kateřinic" (feat. Vojtěch Dyk) | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Bílá laň" (feat. Věra Martinová) | 2019 | — | — | — | — | Anima |
| "Nezapomeň" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Voda" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Downside" | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "Na dračích perutích" | — | — | — | — | Anima | |
| "Vlčí oči" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Vse stoji (Ne dojamem)" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Pomiluj mě" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | Muzika Slavica |
| "Love Me" | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "My Sister's Crown" | 2023 | 15 | 21 | 17 | 86 | Muzika Slavica |
| "Hej mami" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Wolfrunners" | — | — | — | — | ||
References
- ^ "Queens of Czechia: Vesna want the crown". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Kapela Vesna má podle BBC šanci uspět v Eurovizi. České zpěvačky chtějí reprezentovat slovanství" [The band Vesna has a chance to succeed in Eurovision, according to the BBC. The Czech female singers want to represent Slavs]. Lidovky (in Czech). 2 May 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ a b Morris, Lauren (14 May 2023). "Eurovision 2023 results: Full scoreboard and points". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ Hnatek, Václav (9 June 2018). "Aby se každá žena cítila jako bohyně, přeje si dívčí kapela Vesna" [Girl band Vesna wants every woman to feel like a goddess]. iDNES (in Czech). Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Vesna představila debutové album Pátá bohyně" [Vesna presented their debut album Pátá bohyně]. Týden (in Czech). 21 November 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Nejvíc nominací na Anděly mají Barbora Poláková, Lucie a Kapitán Demo" [Barbora Poláková, Lucie and Kapitán Demo have the most Ceny Anděl nominations]. iDNES (in Czech). 23 January 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ a b c Martin, Olivia (20 April 2023). "Eurovision 2023 Czechia profile: 'My Sister's Crown' by Vesna". Aussievision. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Vesna: Začíná být zřejmé, že je to pěknej průser" [Vesna: it's becoming obvious that they're pretty badass]. iREPORT (in Czech). 12 October 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Czech Republic: ESCZ 2023 lineup revealed". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ Helgeson, Justina (7 February 2023). "Czech Republic: Vesna to Eurovision 2023 with "My Sister's Crown"". Eurovisionworld. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ "Píseň, která kombinuje rovnou čtyři jazyky. Česko bude na Eurovizi reprezentovat skupina Vesna" [A song that combines exactly four languages. The Czech Republic will be represented at Eurovision by Vesna]. Rádio Praha (in Czech). 8 February 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (17 July 2023). "Czechia: Vesna Announce European Tour". Eurovoix. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ Mariani, Cristiana (9 May 2023). "Chi sono le Vesna, band che porta la Repubblica Ceca all'Eurovision Song Contest 2023" [Who Vesna are: the band bringing the Czech Republic to the Eurovision Song Contest 2023]. Quotidiano Nazionale (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "CZ – Albums – Top 100 | Vesna – Pátá bohyně". ČNS IFPI. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Vesna - Muzika Slavica - Reviews". Album of the Year. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Vautrey, Jonathan (21 May 2023). "New music this week (part 1): Songs from Chanel, Manizha, Cláudia Pascoal and more". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "My Sister's Crown" (in Czech). IFPI. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
- ^ "Vesna – My Sister's Crown" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "2023 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 19 May 2023.