Shum (song)

2021 song by Go_A

"Shum"

Single by Go_A
Released| 22 January 2021
Genre|

* Dark-techno[1]
* folk[2]

Length| 3:58 (original version)
3:02 (radio edit)
2:53 (Eurovision version)
Label| Rocksoulana
Songwriter(s)|

* Taras Shevchenko
* Kateryna Pavlenko

Go_A singles chronology
| "Solovey"
(2020)  | "Shum"
(2021)  | "Kalyna"
(2022)

|
|

Alternative cover

Eurovision version cover

Music video
"Shum" (original version) on YouTube
Eurovision Song Contest 2021 entry
Country|

Ukraine

Artist(s)|

Go_A

Language|

Ukrainian

Composer(s)|

* Taras Shevchenko
* Kateryna Pavlenko
* Ihor Didenchuk

Lyricist(s)|

Kateryna Pavlenko

Finals performance
Semi-final result|

2nd

Semi-final points|

267

Final result|

5th

Final points|

364

Entry chronology
◄ "Solovey" (2020)
"Stefania" (2022) ►
Music video
"Shum" (Eurovision version) on YouTube

"Shum" (Ukrainian: Шум, lit. 'Noise') is a song by Ukrainian electro-folk band Go_A. It represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam.[3][4] It is the second song sung entirely in Ukrainian to represent the country at Eurovision after Go_A's own "Solovey" in 2020, but the first to actually compete in Eurovision due to the cancellation of the 2020 contest.

"Shum" qualified for the 2021 Eurovision final, where it finished in fifth place with 364 points. They were the runner-ups of the public vote, behind eventual winner Italy, with 267 points, including a maximum of 12 points from five countries.[5] The Eurovision version of the song took the lead in the global Spotify Viral 50 daily list on 24 May 2021, where it stayed until 1 June, and led the weekly list on the week of 27 May.[6] It entered the Billboard Global 200 on the week of 5 June, at position 158, becoming the first ever Ukrainian-language song to chart there.[7] On the same week, it peaked at number 80 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S.[8]

## Background

[edit]

The lyrics of this song is a variation of Ukrainian folk songs which were sung in the Shum folk ritual.[9][10] The ritual involved a game and was performed in spring. According to some ethnographers, Shum refers to the god[9] or personification of the forest.[11] Etymologically, the name of the ritual probably comes from Proto-Slavic words šumъ ("noise") or šuma ("forest").[12]

Lead singer Kateryna Pavlenko grew up in Northern Ukraine, and the song is inspired by the folklore of that region.[13]

## Music video

[edit]

On 22 January 2021, Go_A presented a music video for the song on the band's YouTube channel. Less than three weeks later, it reached 1 million views.[14] Pavlenko commented that the video was made with a phone camera and, despite the apparent pandemic theme, their intent was to just experiment and "shoot some funny video".[9] For the Eurovision version, they shot a new music video in a forest near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.[15]

## Eurovision Song Contest

[edit]

Main article: Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

The song was selected to represent Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 on 4 February 2021, after Go_A was internally selected by the national broadcaster UA:PBC. The previous year, they had won Vidbir 2020, Ukraine's televised national selection. The semi-finals of the 2021 contest featured the same line-up of countries as determined by the draw for the 2020 contest's semi-finals. Ukraine was placed into the first semi-final, held on 18 May 2021, and performed in the second half of the show.

### Eurovision version

[edit]

In March, a new version of the song was released with a new music video. The original version was too long and borrowed lyrics from existing traditional songs, which is prohibited under Eurovision rules.[13] Pavlenko noted that the band struggled to cut the original version of the song to three minutes, so they decided to come up with a 'sequel'. Pavlenko explained that the original "Shum" was not written with Eurovision in mind and was intended for their concert tour after the cancelled Eurovision 2020. The purpose of the original track was to recreate the folk ritual at live performances with their audience.[16]

The new version of the song was adapted for Eurovision and is based on vesnianka folk songs. In Pavlenko's words, it was intended to have "more positive energy", since the original version, which is based on the folk ritual, is "a bit tense".[16]

## Track listing

[edit]

Digital download/streaming – Original version[17]

1. "Шум" – 3:59

Digital download/streaming – Radio edit[18]

1. "Шум" (radio edit) – 3:03

Digital download/streaming – Eurovision version[19]

1. "Shum" – 2:53

Digital download/streaming – DJ Nana remix[20]

1. "Shum" (DJ Nana remix) – 2:33

Digital download/streaming – Billx remix[21]

1. "Shum" (Billx remix) – 4:24

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Shum"  Chart (2021)  | Peak
position

|

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] | 35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[23] | 29
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[24] | 55
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] | 17
Germany (GfK)[26] | 66
Global 200 (Billboard)[7] | 158
Greece (IFPI)[27] | 8
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[28] | 11
Ireland (IRMA)[29] | 37
Lithuania (AGATA)[30] | 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] | 19
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[32] | 61
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[33] | 27
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[34] | 36
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[35] | 41
UK Singles (OCC)[36] | 59
UK Dance (OCC)[37] | 18
UK Indie (OCC)[38] | 8
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[39] | 20
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[40] | 3

### Year-end charts

[edit]

2021 year-end chart performance for "Shum"  Chart (2021)  | Position

|

Ukraine Airplay (Tophit)[41] | 145
2022 year-end chart performance for "Shum"  Chart (2022)  | Position

|

Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[42] | 141
2023 year-end chart performance for "Shum"  Chart (2023)  | Position

|

Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[43] | 135

## Certifications

[edit]

Certifications for "Shum"  Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Poland (ZPAV)[44] | Gold  | 25,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Release history for "Shum"  Region  | Date  | Format  | Label

|
|
|

Various  | 22 January 2021  |

* Digital download
* streaming

| Self-released

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Listen: Go_A release snippets of their three potential Eurovision 2021 entries...Selected song to be announced on Thursday". 3 February 2021.
2. ^ "Ukrainian band Go_A present new song 'Shum' for Eurovision 2021 - KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice". 28 April 2021.
3. ^ Kelly, Emma (11 February 2021). "Eurovision 2021: Who is competing in the Song Contest this year?". Metro. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
4. ^ "Eurovision 2021 – Ukraine 🇺🇦 – Go_A – Shum". Eurovision France (in French). 6 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
5. ^ "Grand Final of Rotterdam 2021". Eurovision. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
6. ^ "Spotify Charts". www.spotifycharts.com. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
7. ^ a b "Billboard Global 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
8. ^ ""Вперше для україномовної музики": пісня "Шум" потрапила в американський чарт Billboard (фото)". Фокус (in Ukrainian). 2 June 2021.
9. ^ a b c ""Порвали зелену шубу": про що насправді пісня "Шум" Go_A, яку Україна везе на Євробачення". BBC News Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 8 February 2021.
10. ^ Smith, David (5 February 2021). "Ukraine: Can Go_A's "SHUM" go to Eurovision in its current form? Or will the folklore-inspired lyrics need to be re-written?". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
11. ^ Лідія Козар. Весняна обрядовість у виданні Б. Грінченка «Этнографические материалы, собр. в Черниговской и соседних с ней губерниях»: дохристиянські вірування і сучасний контекст. — Міфологія і фольклор, № 1 — 2012.
12. ^ "ШУМ — ЕТИМОЛОГІЯ | Горох — українські словники". goroh.pp.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 28 May 2021.
13. ^ a b "Go_A "Shum" Lyrics in English - Ukraine Eurovision 2021". Wiwibloggs. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
14. ^ Ten Veen, Renske (9 February 2021). "Ukraine: STB news programme reports that Go_A's "SHUM" will be revamped because of its folklore-inspired melody and lyrics". Wiwibloggs.
15. ^ Бекстейдж кліпу Go_A для Євробачення-2021 ӏ HALLO, Євробачення. VLOG #1, retrieved 2 June 2021
16. ^ a b "Прем'єра кліпу Go_A для Євробачення-2021 на Суспільному". UA:ПЕРШИЙ. 9 March 2021.
17. ^ "‎Шум - Single - Album by Go_A". Apple Music (US). Retrieved 16 May 2025.
18. ^ "‎Шум (Radio Edit) - Single - Album by Go_A". Apple Music (US). Retrieved 16 May 2025.
19. ^ "SHUM - Single - Album by Go_A". Apple Music (US). Retrieved 16 May 2025.
20. ^ "SHUM (Dj NANA Remix) - Single - Album by Go_A". Apple Music (US). Retrieved 16 May 2025.
21. ^ "Shum (Billx Remix) - Single - Album by Go_A & Billx". Apple Music (US). Retrieved 16 May 2025.
22. ^ "Go_A – Shum" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
23. ^ "Go_A – Shum" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
24. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 21. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
25. ^ "Go_A: Shum" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
26. ^ "Go_A – Shum" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
27. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 21/2021". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
28. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
29. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
30. ^ "2021 21-os SAVAITĖS (gegužės 21-27 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
31. ^ "Go_A – Shum" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
32. ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202122 into search. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
33. ^ "Go_A – Shum". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
34. ^ "Go_A – Shum". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
35. ^ Top Radio Hits Ukraine Weekly Chart. TopHit. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
36. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
37. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
38. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
39. ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
40. ^ "Chart History – Go_A – World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
41. ^ "City & Country Radio – Top Year-End Hits" (in Russian). Tophit. 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
42. ^ "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2022". TopHit. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
43. ^ "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Chart 2023". TopHit. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
44. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 September 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Shum in the search box.

* v
* t
* e

Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest

National selection: Vidbir

Participation|

* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* ~~2019~~
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Artists|

* Alyona Alyona
* Alyosha
* Gaitana
* Go_A
* GreenJolly
* Jerry Heil
* Jamala
* Kalush Orchestra
* Tina Karol
* Svetlana Loboda
* Ani Lorak
* Mélovin
* Mika Newton
* O.Torvald
* Olexandr
* Zlata Ognevich
* Ruslana
* Tvorchi
* Verka Serduchka
* Mariya Yaremchuk
* Ziferblat

Songs|

* "1944"
* "Angel"
* "Be My Guest"
* "Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl)"
* "Bird of Pray"
* "Dancing Lasha Tumbai"
* "Gravity"
* "Hasta la vista"
* "Heart of Steel"
* "Razom nas bahato"
* "Shady Lady"
* "Show Me Your Love"
* "Shum"
* ~~"Solovey"~~
* "Stefania"
* "Sweet People"
* "Teresa & Maria"
* "Tick-Tock"
* "Time"
* "Under the Ladder"
* "Wild Dances"

* Note: Entries scored out signify where Ukraine did not compete. Italics indicate an entry in a future contest.
* See also: Russia–Ukraine relations in the Eurovision Song Contest

* v
* t
* e

Eurovision Song Contest 2021

Countries|

| Final|

* Albania
* Azerbaijan
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Cyprus
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Iceland
* Israel
* Italy
* Lithuania
* Malta
* Moldova
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Portugal
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

|

Semi-finals|

* Australia
* Austria
* Croatia
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Georgia
* Ireland
* Latvia
* North Macedonia
* Poland
* Romania
* Slovenia

Withdrawn|

* Armenia
* Belarus

Artists|

| Final|

* Eden Alene
* Blind Channel
* The Black Mamba
* Blas Cantó
* Daði og Gagnamagnið
* Destiny
* Efendi
* Gjon's Tears
* Go_A
* Hooverphonic
* Hurricane
* Natalia Gordienko
* Jendrik
* Jeangu Macrooy
* Måneskin
* Manizha
* James Newman
* Anxhela Peristeri
* Barbara Pravi
* The Roop
* Senhit
* Stefania
* Elena Tsagrinou
* Tix
* Tusse
* Victoria

|

Semi-finals|

* Albina
* Vincent Bueno
* Benny Cristo
* Fyr og Flamme
* Tornike Kipiani
* Montaigne
* Rafał
* Roxen
* Lesley Roy
* Ana Soklič
* Uku Suviste
* Samanta Tīna
* Vasil

Withdrawn|

* Galasy ZMesta

Songs|

| Final|

* "10 Years"
* "Adrenalina"
* "Birth of a New Age"
* "Dark Side"
* "El Diablo"
* "Discoteque"
* "Embers"
* "Fallen Angel"
* "Growing Up Is Getting Old"
* "Mata Hari"
* "I Don't Feel Hate"
* "Je me casse"
* "Karma"
* "Last Dance"
* "Loco Loco"
* "Love Is on My Side"
* "Russian Woman"
* "Set Me Free"
* "Shum"
* "Sugar"
* "Tout l'univers"
* "Voices"
* "Voilà"
* "Voy a quedarme"
* "The Wrong Place"
* "Zitti e buoni"

|

Semi-finals|

* "Amen" (Austria)
* "Amen" (Slovenia)
* "Amnesia"
* "Here I Stand"
* "Maps"
* "The Lucky One"
* "The Moon Is Rising"
* "Omaga"
* "Øve os på hinanden"
* "The Ride"
* "Technicolour"
* "Tick-Tock"
* "You"

Withdrawn|

* "Ya nauchu tebya (I'll Teach You)"

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

|

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