An anthem for a remarkable story of compassion, trust and love
Tiny charity Dnipro Kids releases beautiful new version of "Sunshine on Leith" with support of The Proclaimers
Music has power. It provides a soundtrack for our lives, songs that tap into our memories and emotions. As the great author and storyteller, Hans Christan Andersen conceded: “Where words fail, music speaks.”
Some songs talk to us of first love, or of loss. Some call us home. And some, just a few, become anthemic, bringing us together to a better time, a kinder place, a greater feeling.
This song has touched and inspired millions around the world. It’s been described as an “anthem of love” and “a cross between a hymn and an Eagles song.” Most recognisably in Scotland’s Capital, it has been officially voted as the UK’s greatest football anthem.
It is, of course, Sunshine on Leith and yesterday a hauntingly beautiful new version of the famous Proclaimers song was released by the charity Dnipro Kids, marking 20 years of work in caring for Ukrainian orphanage families. The charity was set-up more than 20 years ago, in September 2005, when Hibs travelled to eastern Ukraine to Dnipro for their second leg of the UEFA Cup play-off round, during which fans had visited a local orphanage and taken gifts.
The release of the song on music download website Bandcamp yesterday is the culmination of an extraordinary Scottish-Ukrainian musical collaboration. Written by Craig and Charlie Reid, better known as The Proclaimers, arranged for the charity by Ukrainian musician and composer Bohdan Ilnytskyi, and performed by Scottish singer Luke La Volpe and Ukrainian Mariia Sysa, backed by an orchestra made up of musicians from both countries.
Charity’s bold evacuation captured hearts
When this tiny, volunteer run charity successfully evacuated more than 50 kids from six Ukrainian orphanage families shortly after the Russian invasion in early 2022, it was a story that captured hearts around the world. Now the next chapter of that remarkable story begins.
The music video to accompany the song also features some of the young people evacuated and one, dancer Vladislava Marchuk, performs in places around Leith. She was an under 18 world champion ballroom dancer (jive with gymnastics) when she came to Scotland, and you can see an excerpt by clicking on the instagram link below.
The single is designed to help raise funds for that next stage of the charity’s journey – the refocus on orphanage families struggling in Ukraine. However, it will also continue working with partners in Edinburgh and Perth to support the group of orphanage families the charity evacuated to Scotland. I am privileged to be involved with the charity.
The next chapter
The song will play a central role in a feature length documentary being made to tell the truly remarkable story. Indeed, the documentary is called “Tears Clear My Blindness” – a line from the song – and it is due to be released later this year. Final scenes are to be shot in Ukraine, when charity chairman and co-founder Steven Carr returns to visit government officials and orphanage families to liaise on how best to support them going forward.
Steven said: “We know from talking with Ukrainian government officials and people in Dnipro and elsewhere that there is sadly an increasing need in Ukraine, as Russia’s brutal invasion sadly sees more children lose parents and pressure on the care system increase.”
Making the single the documentary’s theme song was the brainchild of Hibs fan, Leither, and film-maker Ross Addy, whose agency Arms & Legs is based in the port. He and his team have been instrumental in bringing the project together and were determined from the start that it should be something special.
“It’s an amazing song, and we were determined that it would play a central role in the soundtrack we are creating for the documentary with Bodhan. We knew from the start that to truly reflect the charity’s story this had to be a real collaboration between Scotland and Ukraine, and everyone involved has given their time freely to make it happen. It’s been a privilege to work on.”
That ethos of collaboration has also been carried through in the making of the documentary, with film-makers, designers, marketeers and others from both countries working together. It is hoped that the documentary will be broadcast, and there are plans for a charity fund-raising red carpet launch towards the end of this year.
Bohdan Ilnytskyi created the arrangement of the song, blending traditional Ukrainian bandura with western guitars and orchestral instruments to create a unique version of Sunshine on Leith.
Extraordinary collaboration
Currently studying at the Royal Conservatoire Scotland, he plays both piano and violin. He is also composing a score for the documentary. He said: “When I heard the charity was looking for someone to help with music for this project, I really wanted to help.”
Luke La Volpe also generously offered his time. The Bathgate singer has already scored a Scottish Number 1 single. His duet with Ukrainian Mariia Sysa brings together two very different but beautifully blended voices.
Luke said: “What an experience it was making this music, all the amazing musicians I played alongside at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow. I am thankful to get the chance to be involved, and I bit their hands off when I heard about the amazing charity and the work that they do.”
To download the track and support the work of the charity please click here.