Watch the Video of Ukrainian President Zelensky Recorded for the Grammys
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t appear at the Oscars, but he DID send a video message to the Grammys.
“The war. What is more opposite to music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people,” Zelensky said.
“Our children draw swooping rockets, not shooting stars. Over 400 children have been injured and 153 children died. And we’ll never see them drawing. Our parents are happy to wake up in the morning in bomb shelters – but alive.”
“Our loved ones don’t know if we will be together again. The war doesn’t let us choose who survives and who stays in eternal silence,” he added.
“Our musicians wear body armors instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals. Even to those who can’t hear them. But the music will break through anyway. We defend our freedom. To live. To love. To sound.”
Newsweek subscription offers >
John Legend Grammy Ukraine
Mika Newton and John Legend perform onstage during the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
“On our land, we are fighting Russia which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence,” Zelensky said.
“Fill the silence with your music. Fill it today to tell our story. Tell the truth about this war on your social networks, on TV. Support us, in any way you can. Any – but not silence. And then peace will come.”
“To all our cities the war is destroying. Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha, Mariupol and others. They are legends already. But I have a dream of them living, and free – free like you on the Grammy stage,
The war. What is more opposite to music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people.
Our children draw swooping rockets, not shooting stars. Over 400 children have been injured and 153 children died. And we’ll never see them drawing. Our parents are happy to wake up in the morning in bomb shelters – but alive.
Our loved ones don’t know if we will be together again. The war doesn’t let us choose who survives and who stays in eternal silence.
Our musicians wear body armors instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals. Even to those who can’t hear them. But the music will break through anyway. We defend our freedom. To live. To love. To sound.
On our land, we are fighting Russia which brings horrible silence with its bombs. The dead silence.
Fill the silence with your music. Fill it today to tell our story. Tell the truth about this war on your social networks, on TV. Support us, in any way you can. Any – but not silence. And then peace will come.
To all our cities the war is destroying. Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Volnovakha, Mariupol and others. They are legends already. But I have a dream of them living, and free – free like you on the Grammy stage.
His speech was followed by JOHN LEGEND singing “Free” with some Ukrainian artists.
