About
Biography
GreenJolly was a music group from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. The band started in 1997, with Roman Kalyn and Roman Kostyuk as founding members. Their music mixed hip hop, rock, rap, and Ukrainian folk sounds. In the early years, they performed at festivals and local concerts. They also ran a recording studio. Their sound was loud, energetic, and full of political messages.
Orange Revolution and “Razom Nas Bahato”
In late 2004, Ukraine went through the Orange Revolution, a large protest movement against election fraud. During this time, GreenJolly wrote a new song. It was called “Razom Nas Bahato”, which means “Together We Are Many.” They wrote and recorded it in just a few hours.
The song quickly became popular. Protesters sang it in the streets. The lyrics said, “Together we are many – we cannot be defeated.” It became the unofficial anthem of the Orange Revolution. GreenJolly started performing on big stages in Kyiv and across Ukraine. Their mix of music and politics made them famous very quickly.
Eurovision 2005 – “Razom Nas Bahato”
Because the song was so popular, GreenJolly was chosen to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2005, which was held in Kyiv. However, Eurovision rules do not allow political messages. So, the band had to change the lyrics. They removed political names and added lines in many languages. The final performance still had the strong chorus and a protest theme.
On stage, they were joined by breakdancers and dramatic visuals. Still, the result was disappointing. They placed 19th in the final with just 30 points. Even so, many people remember the performance for its message and energy. The phrase “Razom nas bahato, nas ne podolaty” became a symbol of unity in Ukraine.
After Eurovision
After 2005, GreenJolly released an album called Khay Bude Tak (Let It Be So). It included their Eurovision song and other tracks. In 2008, they released a second album. However, they could not repeat their early success. Some people started to call them a “political band,” and the media attention faded. By 2010, GreenJolly stopped performing together.
What the Members Did Later
After the band split, the members followed different paths.
Roman Kalyn, the singer, stayed in music. He became a music producer and sound engineer. He also worked with young artists. In 2013 and 2022, he returned with new songs during political events, showing his support for Ukraine.
Roman Kostyuk, the guitarist, continued to work in a recording studio. He focused on production and stayed out of the spotlight.
Some other members moved abroad or started other jobs in music. GreenJolly became a memory from a key moment in Ukraine’s history.
