| "Chervona Ruta" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Sofia Rotaru | |
| Recorded | 1968 |
| Genre | Pop music |
| Language | Ukrainian |
| Writer | Volodymyr Ivasyuk |
| Composer | Volodymyr Ivasyuk |
| Cover versions | |
| Anna Sedokova, Ruslana, "Plach Yeremiji", "Smerichka" | |
Chervona Ruta (Червона рута in Ukrainian) is a popular Ukrainian song written by Volodymyr Ivasyuk in 1968 and performed by many singers. The song was never copyrighted and therefore is considered the Ukrainian folk song.
Its popularity peaked with the version performed by Sofia Rotaru. Chervona Ruta is popularly known in Ukrainian (and other Soviet) communities and likely to be sung at weddings, karaoke and other social settings.
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It was the debut song of Ruslana (winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004). Ruslana performed Chervona Ruta on the stage of Slaviansky Baazar in 1996 and won the 1st place with the maximum points (10) from all the jury members. The president of Belarus congratulated Ruslana.
The song was also performed by Rotaru together with the Ukrainian band "Tanok na Maidani Kongo" and was filmed for the musical film "Kingdom of Skewed Mirrors" produced by TV-channel "Rossiya" in 2008.[1]
A Kievan native Anna Sedokova when performing the song added some English translation.[2]
In 1972 the song was included by Pavel Liška into his album "Písničky Pro Každý Den"[3] as the Ukrainian folk song "Až mi dáš znamení". The translation was done by Ronald Kraus.[4]
The song and its melody was written by a 19-year old student of the Chernivtsi Medical School (Institute), Volodymyr Ivasyuk. According to the website commemorated to Ivasyuk, Volodymyr found in his father's library collection of "kolomyjka"s, a traditional folk songs/dance of Pokuttia and Prykarpattia. The author of the collection was Volodymyr Hnatyuk.
Founding the mention of Chervona Ruta Ivasyuk was puzzled trying to figure out what it was. Chervona Ruta means Red Rue, however, the fact of the matter is that a rue is yellow. According to the local legend, the rue does turn red on the Day of Ivana Kupala for few minutes. A girl that would find that flower will be happy in love.