30 years of 'Young Eagle': how the song made Mykhailo Poplavskyi a legend.

30 years of 'Singing Rector': how 'Young Eagle' was born

According to ТСН: The PR project 'Singing Rector' celebrates its thirtieth anniversary. According to Hryhorii Reshetnik, the song 'Young Eagle' has become one of the most beloved in Ukraine and has long been associated with Mykhailo Poplavskyi.

Poplavskyi recalls that this song appeared after a series of court proceedings when he was reinstated as rector thanks to the active support of the students. The team insisted that he take the stage and sing to promote the little-known Kyiv State Institute of Culture.

'It was not easy to get into the image of the 'Young Eagle', but even harder to get out of it. Today, Poplavskyi is called 'the best singer among rectors and the best rector among singers'.

He emphasizes that his main task is to prepare professionals in the socio-cultural sphere. 'First comes culture, then politics. Culture shapes personality, strengthens society and the state, passing on values and traditions. This is a tool of soft diplomacy that creates a positive image of Ukraine in the world,' he notes.

Poplavskyi believes that the secret of his success lies in decisiveness and speed of idea implementation. If a new idea arises, the team must start working on it within five minutes, not postpone it for years. 'Those who delay fall off the road of history,' says the rector.

Song projects and the development of Ukrainian content

Poplavskyi admits that his career is built on intuition. The love for Ukrainian music instilled since childhood inspired him to perform only Ukrainian songs, when it was not yet popular, and to create large-scale national projects, calling himself a popularizer of Ukrainian songs.

'When we started 'Step to the Stars', children's songs in Ukrainian practically did not exist – everything was in Russian. We set two conditions: to sing in Ukrainian and live. We traveled across the country with auditions – singing in Ukrainian in Donbas, Crimea, in the east and west of Ukraine. Poets, composers, arrangers – everyone 'came alive', began to create Ukrainian children's songs. Now we are preparing a collection of children's songs, which has never been in Ukraine. I believe I should fund it, create it and gift it to children.'

The success of the children's project became the basis for a new big project for adult performers. Thus, a large-scale project 'Ukrainian Song of the Year' appeared. Poplavskyi had to win lawsuits against Russian media structures to oust their analogues from the Ukrainian airwaves. He patented the name 'Ukrainian Song of the Year' as a trademark. This national musical project has united artists of different generations for over 20 years and awards them in the categories 'Legend', 'Pride', and 'Hope of the Ukrainian song'. Following Ukraine's victory, a joint project with Pavlo Zibrov is planned – an award ceremony under the slogan 'Songs burned by war'.

Money, patents, and project funding

The phenomenon of Poplavskyi, according to Hryhorii Reshetnik, is that he did not wait for support from the state, but created it himself.

'You need to have brains to earn money, and then invest it,' asserts Mykhailo Mykhailovych.

Poplavskyi notes that he earned and invested in important national projects such as 'Step to the Stars', 'Ukrainian Song of the Year', and others. Over time, he turned his name into a trademark: 'I have patented PMM, 'Young Eagle', and over 50 trademarks'. This allows him to receive royalties as passive income.

The secret of youth: genetics, favorite profession and 'male power'

Mykhailo Poplavskyi explains his secret of youth as follows: 50% – genetics, 25% – healthy lifestyle, 25% – favorite profession.

Every morning he consumes three soft-boiled eggs, and once a week he treats himself to a 'shock delicacy' – bull eggs, which he calls 'male power'. 'I don't know whether it helps or not, but I believe in it. The main thing is to believe. And faith is magic,' asserts Poplavskyi.

The student – 'a holy person' and the main figure of the university

His 33-year rectorship, Poplavskyi explains, is due to his love for students. The philosophy of the university is that 'the student is the central and main figure of the university. Without students, there are no professors. The university depends on students.'

Every student can approach the rector any day, anytime – there are no reception schedules, only open doors.

Mykhailo Poplavskyi emphasizes that he has never supported any political force. Even when Viacheslav Chornovil invited him to the People's Movement, he replied: 'I cannot be rector of one political force. I have students – holy people, regardless of who their parents are and from which party they come.' To this, Chornovil said: 'You are a wise man.' Poplavskyi adds: 'You cannot instill student love and respect in an artificial way.'

The university of the future: digital, AI, and millions of followers

The main project of Mykhailo Poplavskyi's life is the National University of Culture and Arts.

'I want to leave a good mark on the earth. My 'poplavky', which will always stay afloat. Today, the university relies on personalities, on course masters, on those who have already made their successful careers. The task of every teacher-master is to make students fall in love with themselves and fall in love with their profession. We are doing everything we can to make children happy.'

The team actively implements digital technologies: Mykhailo Poplavskyi has over 10 million followers on social networks. He introduced artificial intelligence into the educational process by opening AI Laboratories: 'Today the university is conducting an advertising campaign through social networks. We are the first among all higher education institutions in Ukraine. Social networks are the future, this is media business. We were the first to create and patent 'University in a smartphone'. AI Laboratories give students and faculty access to the latest technologies. There is no need to be afraid of AI – it should help in the educational process and professional development of students.'

Books, new songs, and the farewell concert

In conclusion, Poplavskyi noted that he is preparing to transfer management of the university to a young team, while he plans to become the head of the supervisory board.

'I live for my grandchildren today: the oldest Yegor is 10 years old, Oleksii – 2 years old, and the youngest Myron – 1 year old. They are all boys. The Poplavskyi lineage continues. This is very important for every man.'

Regarding his creative plans, he announced the release of a book 'National Projects', which covers historical initiatives such as the All-Ukrainian contest 'Step to the Stars', 'Our Song' and the Telethon of Ukrainian song 'The Song Unites Us', which made it into the Guinness Book of Records, along with concert programs.

Poplavskyi is recording new hits for the Farewell concert: 'The new song has a simple title – 'I Want to Buy Youth'. Happiness is our youth, our optimism, and what we live for. This song is the philosophy of life. Everyone wants to be young, beautiful, attractive, and loved. Years fly by. Life continues. Live to the fullest, live for all hundred, don't pay attention to who and what thinks or says about you, because life is given to us once, and it must be lived in the style of funk.'

 

'I dream that it will be fashionable in Ukraine to be Ukrainian. I dream that it will be fashionable to study at Ukrainian universities. Let's keep together the Ukrainian wave. Ukraine – above all!'

Throughout his career, Poplavskyi has become a symbol not only of musical culture but also of successful management in education and entertainment. His initiatives to popularize Ukrainian song and develop youth culture remain important for modern Ukrainian society. Thanks to his efforts, many Ukrainian talents have succeeded on stage and beyond. In the future, it is worth watching for new projects and initiatives that may arise within his activities.