Today marks 76 years since the birth of Ivan Iliych Ivasiuk. What was the founding father of Ukrainian pop music like?.

Hero of Ukraine Volodymyr Ivasiuk celebrates his 76th birthday

Today, March 4th, Volodymyr Ivasiuk turns 76 years old. This outstanding Ukrainian musician and artist was born in 1949. Throughout his short life, he created many songs, chamber works, symphonic suites, and music for theatrical performances. He was also a professional doctor and painted pictures. He was skilled in playing the violin, piano, guitar, and cello.

Among Ivasiuk's most famous songs are 'The Cranes Are Flying Away', 'I Will Go to the Distant Mountains', 'Red Rue', 'Waterfall', 'The Song Will Be Among Us', 'Two Colors', 'Love Blooms Only Once', 'Ballad about Mallow', 'Lullaby', and many others.

Ivasiuk's early works were sent to composer Levko Dutkivsky, with whom he later created wonderful compositions that were performed by the Ukrainian ensemble 'Smerichka'. This popular group included his friends - singers Nazariy Yaremchuk and Vasyl Zinkevych.

Many of Ivasiuk's songs became global hits, especially 'Red Rue'. It was performed by renowned singers like Sofia Rotaru, Nazariy Yaremchuk, the band 'Plach Yeremiyi', Toto Cutugno, Vakhtang Kikabidze, and others. Since 2018, this song has become the official anthem of the Ukrainian national football team.

Ivasiuk's creativity made a significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian music. His songs won competitions both in the USSR and abroad, helping to popularize the Ukrainian language and culture. His works still resonate and are popular among the youth, with contemporary composers reinterpreting his music.

Volodymyr Ivasiuk was not only a talented musician but also a patriot of Ukraine. He tried to revive Ukrainians' love for their culture and to resist the propaganda of Soviet ideology. In 1979, Ivasiuk disappeared during a secret KGB operation, but his legacy and unforgettable songs remain.

French, Italians, Russians, and all other nations sing in their languages, and no one calls them nationalists. Yet we, Ukrainians, from childhood, become nationalists if we are sung Ukrainian lullabies. Thus, we are re-educated in concentration camps.

Volodymyr Ivasiuk

Ivasiuk's death was attempted to be imagined as suicide, but the investigation established that he could not have done it on his own. Ivasiuk's funeral became a protest against the Soviet authority, which prohibited obituaries and condolences in newspapers.

Volodymyr Ivasiuk's work became a symbol of the revival of Ukrainian culture and independence. His songs remain popular even today, and their genius is recognized not only in Ukraine but around the world.