On March 25, the crème de la crème of Ukrainian show business gathered in the Palace Ukraine in Kyiv to honor musical achievements in the fourth annual Yearly Ukrainian National Awards.
A music award similar to the Grammy, YUNA was launched in 2012 by Mohammad Zahoor, ISTIL Group owner and Kyiv Post publisher.
In one of the most touching moments of the ceremony, YUNA honored Andriy Kuzmenko, also known as Kuzma and front man for the group Skryabin, killed in a car accident in February. Kuzmenko was named Best Lyrics Writer post mortem, and Skryabin won Best Band of the Year.
The audience gave Kuzmenko a standing ovation several times. “There is nothing to talk about. Andriukha, it’s for you. We love you,” pop singer and producer Potap said when announcing the Best Lyrics Writer award.
In a tribute performance for Kuzmenko, Oleh Mykhailiuta, a.k.a. Fagot, front man of the hip-hop band TNMK, performed Kuzmenko’s song “Pusty Mene” (“Let Me Go”) with Skryabin.
The band Hardkiss was triumphant, winning two of the six awards it had been nominated for: Best Hit for the song “Stones” and Best Album for their debut “Stones and Honey.”
Kostyantyn Meladze, best known as creator and producer of the female group Viagra, was named Best Composer for the second year in a row.
Svitlana Loboda and Emin won Best Duet with their hit song “Smotrish v Nebo” (“You’re Looking in the Sky”).
Ivan Dorn was named Best Male Performer, making it his third YUNA prize.
“It’s bad to win so often, because I want to feel competition,” Dorn joked when accepting the prize.
The group Onuka won the Discovery of the Year award. Nata Zhizhchenko, the front women for the band, received the prize by evoking the patriotic slogan, “Glory to heroes!”
Tina Karol was named Best Female Performer, but didn’t attend to pick up her award.
The YUNA ceremony will be broadcast by Inter TV at 10:30 p.m. on March 28.
