BREAKING NEWS:
THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Dear friend, this post was completed
more than a year ago and scheduled
to run sometime in 2022. I decided
to publish it today because I found
a time sensitive message directly
related to the current crisis in
Ukraine. It was placed on
YouTube and Facebook by
the Ukranian rock duo Sergey
Sershen and Daria Zaritskaya,
the featured artists in this post.
Their message to concerned
fans reads as follows:
This video was supposed to be released on feb 24, but the war had other plans
for us. It’s been 13 days since we’ve been living in fear, (Editor's Note: 21 days
as of today's publication date), not knowing if there will be tomorrow. But even
in the darkest days, music has always been our salvation. We simply refuse to
give up on our dreams, we refuse to stop fighting, refuse to abandon things
we love to do. We refuse to lay down our arms- guitars, mics and drumsticks.
We will clench our teeth and cling to our hopes with every fiber of being.
With life being so unpredictable today - at any moment we can lose this
connection, or they’ll shut down YouTube, we decided to share this
video now. We’ve had such a massive support from you guys.
We are so thankful to have such an amazing community!
Together We Stand!
- Sershen & ZarĂtskaya, March 8, 2022
NOW, HERE BELOW IS THE POST
AS ORIGINALLY PRODUCED:
WASSUP,
U PARTY
MONSTER?
I'm Chloe, the titular
(don't you just love
that word?) "B-----
in Apartment 23" on
the television sitcom
Don't Trust the B-----
in Apartment 23.
I'm a hard-partying,
irresponsible, free-
loading, sexually
adventurous con
artist described as
having "the morals
of a pirate" - and
those are my
good qualities!
I love rock & roll,
so put another dime
in the jukebox, baby.
I'm revved up and
ready to rock your
world with totally
awesome sights
and sounds.
Consider this a sneak preview
of what I hope will someday
become my very own radio
show here on S-P-M-M.
I was thinking of calling
it "Whiskers on Kittens"
but I decided to go with
BLUNT
FORCE
TRAUMA.
In this sneak preview, I am excited
to present Sershen & Zaritskaya,
the Ukranian duo made up of
guitarist Sergey Sershen and
singer Daria Zaritskaya (right).
S&Z are shaking up the rock
world with their cover videos,
and I'm going to play a few
of their best. Are you ready
to par-tay down with Chloe,
the B---- in 23? Let's rock!
In 1990, Alannah Myles scored a chart-
topping hit with "Black Velvet," a song
that in 1991 won the Canadian singer
and songwriter the Grammy for Best
Female Rock Vocal Performance.
CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!
Thirty years later, Daria Zaritskaya
sizzled and smoked as she and her
band performed a cover that will
stand the test of time as a
classic in its own right!
"Black Velvet" - Alannah Myles cover
by Sershen & Zaritskaya (Nov. 2020)
Sershen & Zaritskaya have the knack
of authentically performing songs in
various genres and styles, from
mellow, laid-back, unplugged
soft rock to hard rock and metal.
The dynamic duo's metal cred
is proudly on display as they
blaze through this medley +
mashup of songs by Metallica
which includes "Wherever I
May Roam," "Sad But True,"
"Master Of Puppets," "Fuel,"
"Enter Sandman" and
"So What."
"Metallica Medley + Mashup ("Wherever I May Roam,"
"Sad But True," "Master Of Puppets, "Fuel," "Enter Sandman"
and "So What") by Sershen & Zaritskaya (Feb. 2019)
START VIDEO NOW!
If you're just tuning in I'm Chloe,
the B----- in 23 and your new
the B----- in 23 and your new
BFF, and this is a sneak peek
at my upcoming radio show
BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA
(or something like that) on
S-P-M-M... the station that
rocks harder. Continuing
now with my salute to
Sershen & Zaritskaya, the
exciting duo from Ukraine,
exciting duo from Ukraine,
here they covering Skid Row's
"Youth Gone Wild," a single
that brushed the UK top 20
in the summer of '92. Hell,
S & Z don't just tackle
this rock classic...
they wrestle it to
the ground, babe!
"Youth Gone Wild" - Skid Row cover by Sershen & Zaritskaya
feat. Kim and Shturmak (Aug. 2019)
START VIDEO NOW!
In case you're experiencing sensory
overload by now and can't even think
straight, I will remind you that you're
hard wired to a sneak preview of
BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA
(or something equally shocking)
with little old me, Chloe, the B
in 23, apprentice Shady Bunch
deejay in training, right here at
your home for rock... S-P-M-M.
We're plowing thru a 7-in-a-row
rave party... running down the
hard and heavy sound of the
fabulous Ukrainian duo
Sergey Sershen and Daria
Zaritskaya. In Nov., 2019,
S & Z took the frequently
recorded AC/DC hit
"Back In Black" and
made it their very own!
"Back in Black" AC/DC cover by Sershen & Zaritskaya
feat. Kim and Shturmak (Nov. 2019)
CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW!
Moving ahead to December,
2019, we find our featured
artists Sershen & Zaritskaya
doing justice to one of the best
known Kiss songs. It's shock
and awe time as S & Z prove
they're for real covering--
"Detroit Rock City!"
"Detroit Rock City" - Kiss cover by Sershen & Zaritskaya
ft. Kim and Shturmak (Dec. 2019)
I hope you had a blast getting it on with guitarist Sergey Sershen
and vivacious vixen Daria Zaritskaya, a duo from Ukraine
that really knows how to rock.
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
Stick around because I'll be back someday, hopefully sooner rather than later,
with more top shelf party sounds to rock you around the clock. To play us off,
here again are my featured artists S & Z, covering glam rocker Billy Idol's
with more top shelf party sounds to rock you around the clock. To play us off,
here again are my featured artists S & Z, covering glam rocker Billy Idol's
hit "Rebel Yell." Now this is Chloe, the B in 23, reminding all my party
peeps to keep on rockin', and when you do, be sure to rock hard!
"Rebel Yell" - Billy Idol cover by Sershen & Zaritskaya
feat. Kim and Shturmak (Mar. 2020)
BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA
(OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT)
STARRING CHLOE, THE B----- IN 23
COMING SOON TO SHADY'S PLACE!
“Are you ok?” are more than just 3 words today. It’s “I care for you”,
“I’m here for you”, “I love you”. So I just wanted to let you guys know
that me and the guys are safe, we are in Kyiv and we’re not gonna run.
Thank you for showing that you care - as I’ve said million times before.
“Together We Stand” - like this picture says. - Daria Zaritskaya
Singer Victory Vizhanska is another Ukrainian
artist that I have featured in Shady's Place posts.
Please take a couple of minutes to read Victory's
words and watch her two latest videos. They tell
the heartrending story of her plight as the war
drove her and her mother and their cats from
their home and turned them into refugees.
VICTORY
VIZHANSKA
FEBRUARY 27, 2022
I am a simple Ukrainian girl, I am 17 years old, I live in Kyiv.
I had many
goals and dreams!
But there was a war. Russia attacked my country. 4 days
we sit in fear. Outside the window, explosions, automatic bursts, it's very
scary.
I planned to move to America in the future. Or to Europe to become
a world star. But this is in the future, these were plans, get a visa, get on a
plane and start a new life.
But now I'm crying, out of fear, my mother reads
a prayer all the time.
In the early days, we were unable to leave on the
evacuation train to the border, now we have a curfew,
if in the coming
days I manage to survive, I'm afraid every night, maybe my mom and
my cats, we can get on at least some train, and we can survive. I pray
for it.
This cover, I recorded it in my favorite room, which I dreamed
of since childhood, and which I will have to leave so quickly, fleeing
the bombs of Russia.
If I stay alive, I will continue to sing, and I will
try to achieve my goal! Thank you all for your support!
I don't say
goodbye!
I believe and pray🙏
And I love you all❤❤❤
- Victory Vizhanska
"Hallelujah" - Cover by Victory Vizhanska (Feb. 22, 2022)
MARCH 13, 2022
Putin's troops attacked Ukraine. The war began on February 24, 2022, at 5 o'clock
in the morning.
Until that time, we lived, practiced beauty, sang, loved!
But at once
it all ended and it was necessary to choose the risk of life under the sound of siren
explosions, or escape and look for ways to survive, but go through the evacuation.
Mom and I decided to take one suitcase in which we put only two favorite dresses
and sneakers.
Tears tears tears. We left everything we had. My brother stayed
in Kyiv with his family. In this video that I want to show, not even half of what I
had to go through.
What will happen next, I don't know. We are with my mother
and cats in Poland, have not yet moved away from all this terrible.
Thank you
for staying with me! Thanks for being so kind! I wish you all never go
through what I went through! I wish you all peace!
- Victory Vizhanska
"Memories. Sweet Home" - Victory Vizhanska (March 13, 2022)
Tom,
ReplyDeleteHave you featured Sershen & Zaritskaya before? I did a quick search but came up empty handed. Did I do something wrong or perhaps I'm just remembering wrong. Regardless, I enjoyed this Ukrainian band. My favorite song of the set was "Black Velvet". Daria's voice is just perfect for this song. War is an ugly thing. I hope it ends soon. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed today's line up. Have a wonderful Wednesday, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for coming early, dear friend! Yessum, I introduced both of these acts, Sershen & Zaritskaya and Victory Vizhanska, in previous posts.
I introduced Victory in 2020 in my Best of the Quarantunes post:
https://tctgyb.blogspot.com/2020/08/new-sense-8-ions-best-of-quarantunes.html
Victory appeared again in the first episode of my series Rick-Rolled:
https://tctgyb.blogspot.com/2021/06/hashtag-rick-rolled-alternate-title-if.html
Last Halloween, I posted S&Z's cover of "Ghostbusters":
https://tctgyb.blogspot.com/2021/10/symphony-of-destruction-pt-2-of.html
Yessum, I agree that Daria does a phenomenal job with "Black Velvet." She is a very soulful vocalist, one of the greatest rock queens on the mewsic scene today.
I feel terrible about what these three gifted performers are going through in the Russian invasion of their country.
Thank you again for being first to arrive, dear friend Cathy. Have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow!
Tom,
DeleteThanks for sharing your past blog posts featuring these artists. I was fairly certain you had at least introduced me to Sershen & Zaritskaya but I wasn't sure about Victory. I pray that these folks and all other innocents are safe during this turbulent time and that this war ends soon. Have a blessed day, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteVery nicely put, dear friend! Thank you for expressing these things on behalf of the innocent citizens of Ukraine.
I'm happy to refresh your memory on S & Z and Victory appearing in previous posts. Sometimes I have trouble remembering which vids are still embedded in drafts and which ones have already been published.
Your prayers are needed and appreciated, dear friend Cathy!
That was rather heartbreaking to read. We'll be praying for those ladies and their families.
ReplyDeleteHi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for coming on day one of this time sensitive post, good buddy!
Yes, I am heartbroken over the plight of the Ukrainian people. I have been following Sergey, Daria and Victory on YouTube for several years now. I feel like I know them. They seem like friends or family to me. I care what happens to them. Their lives have been turned upside down by war. I feel just awful, and the situation keeps worsening by the hour.
Thanks for offering prayers, good buddy Alex!
I like the covers.
ReplyDeleteWhat's happening in Ukraine is awful.
Hi, Mary!
DeleteThank you very much for being here on day one as the situation keeps evolving in Ukraine, not for the better. It has me very upset that these talented musicians are having their lives wrecked by war. I'm glad you appreciated the covers by S & Z.
THanks again for stopping in, dear friend Mary!
We have no idea what it means to fight for freedom, escape from tyranny with only a suitcase, if we are lucky. People who were bitching about their freedom a month ago because they didn't want to wear a mask. A simple mask would be sucking their thumbs if placed in this scenario. I am generalizing but so many of those truckers that were in Ottawa would run away or be the spies for the Russians. OK...I bitched enough:)) You know I am not into heavy metal at all but can appreciate the quality of the music and the musicians. The first song was excellent and I like their version better than the original. She is clearly a stunner. I did enjoy her AC/DC rendition as well as the Billy Idol song. The guitarist is superb. I know the men can't leave but, it seems, she chose to stay and fight. They are courageous.
ReplyDeleteThe 2nd gal has a sweet voice but needs more work to gain strength (Says I who can't sing a note). She is all girl and that kitten is beyond cute!! Was that their apartment building that got shelled? The bathroom on that train is beyond gross. I shudder and have no words. I am glad her mom, the pussy cats and her are now safe and pray they can go back to their country sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, Putin will not stop if he takes Ukraine. We are looking down the barrel of a shotgun but we must do this to stop this new Stalin.
Hi, Birgit!
DeleteThank you very much for making time for a first day visit, dear friend, as the crisis in Ukraine continues to worsen.
I greatly appreciate the depth of your comments, BB. You have keen insight because of the horror stories your mother shared with you over the years, stories that you have retold on your site to help us understand what tyranny and war are all about. I totally agree with you about the entitled Karens and Kens who bitch about losing their freedom every time they are asked to make essential, common sense sacrifices for the common good. They haven't a clue what real sacrifice is and what it really means to lose your freedom.
I'm glad you appreciate the vocal artistry of Daria and the musicianship of Sergey on their rock and metal covers, including the stellar performance on what has become a country-rock standard, "Black Velvet." Everybody and his (her) brother are covering the song lately on YouTube, but I think Daria's performance tops them all. I agree she nailed AC/DC and Billy Idol, and Sergey is a guitar wizard second to none. Together S & Z are one of the hottest rock duos in the world today. To think that they are holed up in Ukraine's capital city, under siege and in harm's way, grieves me tremendously. My heart also goes out to teenager Victory V. The footage in her first video shows her and her little white kitty in her comfortable bedroom just before the invasion. To me, her little white cat symbolizes the innocence that will soon be shattered by Russian shells and bombs. I don't know if that shot you mentioned is Victory's damaged apartment building. It might be a building across the street or close to where she lived. The second video shows the family going into exile, the poor kitten taken away from its familiar surroundings and looking cold and confused inside a travel cage on a crowded refugee train on the way to Poland. I can tell you agree with Mrs. Shady and me that Poland might not be a safe haven for long. If Putin isn't stopped, Poland could be the next domino to fall in his relentless march. I am literally in tears over this situation, Birgit.
Thank you again, dear friend BB, for adding so much to the content of the post by sharing your considerable background knowledge and opinions about this invasion. Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll be over to see you tomorrow.
I am reading this now and Putin's next stop, I think, will be the Balken States because he doesn't believe in their own country either. They are also connected to the Baltic sea and he is gearing up for world domination. From there, Moldova, Poland etc...
DeleteI recall going to Hungary in 1982 and I got a good glimpse of Communistic rule especially when the bus had to go through No Man's land.
When you mention the Karen and Ken's out there, I can't help but think of the Barbie dolls...bland with no private parts.
These artisans are brave and we can learn from them. I hope we open our doors to the Ukrainians as they need our help. We must cut the head of the snake off.
Thank you for this poignant and heartbreaking post, Shady. 🇺🇦🌻💙💛☮️
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear friend Kelly!
DeleteObviously, when I put this sneak preview post together more than a year ago, I had no inkling that the context would change from lighthearted to deadly serious. I didn't feel like reworking the entire post on such short notice and with the volatile situation in Ukraine changing hour by hour. That's why I left Chloe's post intact and added to the beginning and end of it.
Please keep Sergey, Daria and Victory in your thoughts and prayers. You are a dear friend, Kelly, and I thank you for being here to experience this nightmare with me.
So sad and so unnecessary--all of this suffering.Just when we thought the mad men might be dwindling, we're proven wrong. Thank you for posting the updated post as well as the original.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cheryl-Lee!
DeleteI'm very happy to see you, dear friend! Thank you for coming to experience a post that started out as rock and whimsy and turned into a sad commentary on our times, an unexpectedly troubling series of news updates from war torn Ukraine. The suffering, death and destruction experienced by millions of innocent citizens there is unimaginable. My thoughts keep turning to the three talented music makers featured in the post. I regard them as friends. At last report, two of them, S & Z, are hunkered down in the capital city, while the third, the teenager, Victory, was driven from her home and forced to live the life of a refugee in another country. As you stated: so sad, so unnecessary.
Thank you again for being here, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
Shady,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your support of the Ukraine. I've been tuning into this every day and each day my heart breaks for the Ukrainians. It truly is so sad and so unnecessary. Ukraine is an independent country and has been for 30 years.
WOW! I really loved Sershen & Zaritskaya - their cover of "Black Velvet" has been the best I've ever heard. I love the original, but I love the cover even more. I am going to have to check out the rest of their YouTube channel. VICTORY VIZHANSKA as well. Such talent for a 17 year old!
Let's keep Ukraine in our prayers and hold them up in spirit. Have a great day, dear friend.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThank you for coming, dear friend, and for joining us in support of the people of Ukraine as they struggle for survival, their plight becoming more desperate by the hour, the region a powder keg as nations scramble to determine what if anything can be done to thwart Russia's aggression.
I'm pleased that you enjoyed the covers by Sershen & Zaritskaya. As you might recall, they covered "Ghostbusters" in one of my Halloween posts last fall. Their YouTube channel is filled with excellent cover performances and I have several more in the pipeline embedded in future posts. I agree that Daria's rendition of "Black Velvet" is transcendental, otherworldly. Victory V. has already appeared in two other Shady's Place posts. She is a very sweet girl who loves and appreciates her fans. I left comments on several of her videos over the last couple of years, and she always took time to thank me and write personalized, conversational replies. That's a class act for you! I ask that you join me in praying for these three and their countrymen.
Thank you again for your visit and comment, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteWow! That truly is a class act! I will have to head over to her YouTube channel and leave her some love.
I'm really curious to see if this will become World War III. While I never hope for war, Putin needs to be stopped. With gridlock in our country, I'll be curious to see if other nations step in before us. These are really scary times.
Happy Thankful Thursday and St. Patrick's Day, dear friend.
Hi again, JM!
DeleteIt would be a kind and caring gesture if you could take time to leave a message of support for Victory on her latest post entitled "Memories. Sweet home." As recently as two days ago, Victory was responding to comments with a heart symbol, even though she was not writing replies. I'm sure she will see your comment and appreciate it.
Unlike WWI which inspired the quote, I fear that WWIII will indeed be "the war to end all wars."
Yessum, happy St. Patrick's Day to you as well, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI'll visit her channel tomorrow and leave some love. I'm about to head to bed, I only got three hours of sleep last night. I'm exhausted.
I agree with you, dear friend. Unfortunately, I fear that WWIII will indeed be "the war to end all wars." Tommy and I were talking about that last night. We both have that fear.
Hope you had a wonderful St. Pat's Day! Have a great Friday night and weekend.
Thank you, Jessica Marie!
DeleteI appreciate you adding so much to the discussion about this timely post. Things have only gotten worse in Ukraine since I published this piece. I am worried about S & Z and hoping they can get a new message out to the public soon.
Have a safe and happy weekend, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady, It is heartbreaking to see these young women and men going through a war. My heart and prayers go out to them and all Ukrainian people. War is such a horrible evil! May God's hands be over Ukraine and give them Victory, which is a meaningful name for one of the singers. She has a lovely voice and the duo have a good sound. Thank you for sharing their stories.
ReplyDeleteHi, Belle!
DeleteI am overjoyed to see you here, dear friend! Thank you very much for coming by and writing such thoughtful and caring words in support of the people of Ukraine, including the three music artists featured in the post.
I think about these three musicians every hour of the day because I have followed them on their YouTube channels for years, have left many comments on their videos and have received kind and appreciative replies and "hearts" from them. S & Z's Facebook and Twitter accounts disappeared a few days ago, leaving fans wondering and worrying about their wellbeing during this blackout. I hope Victory can upload a video soon giving us an update on her situation as part of the diaspora in Poland.
Thank you again for being here today and for expressing words of caring and concern for the people of Ukraine as their nightmare continues hour by hour and day by day. Your prayers are indeed welcome, dear friend Belle!
Hello my friend. It is so heartbreaking to see and read what is happening in the Ukraine. I just cannot imagine. Another reason, in my opinion, that we have to make sure the voting rights acts get passed so that we can continue to be a democracy. I sincerely hope that S & Z are safe. Thanks for highlighting them. Take care of yourself, Shady.
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet!
DeleteThank you very much for coming, dear friend!
I'm with you all the way regarding what you expressed here. We need to halt this steamroller and get things turned around and back on track before democracy is stamped out everywhere in the world, not just here in the U.S.
Thank you for the well wishes for S & Z. Let us also keep young songstress Victory Vizhanska in our thoughts and hope that she, her mother and her cats can someday return from exile in Poland and resume her life in the capital city of Ukraine.
Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Janet!
Beautiful post Shady. You know heavy metal isn't my thing but that girl can belt it out! Her voice doesn't match her sweet face! My heart goes out to the people of Ukraine. Thoughts of WWII and murderous dictators fill my mind as this senseless war goes on. From the sweet voice of the little girl in the bomb shelter singing a song from Frozen to these talented young people vowing to continue to make music and stand strong against all odds it touches my heart. I pray daily for them and hope all this will get over before it gets worse. Thanks for sharing this today. May they all be safe.
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThank you very much for reporting in and experiencing this post with me and our other friends. Yessum, Daria has powerful pipes, and yet her voice is nicely controlled and refined, the perfect combination for a rock queen, in my opinion. She is also versatile, able to capably cover soft, mellow unplugged ballads, classic rock, country rock and wild metal anthems.
Yessum, history seems to be repeating itself, and I know that your thoughts are now turning to your great father and the terrible things he saw and went through during the war, the sacrifices he made with his loving family waiting for him back home. It seems like we can't catch a break anymore and just have one good year without widespread disease and strife. It has us all searching our souls and relying upon our faith to pull us through. We can and must hope that the situation in Ukraine will be resolved soon. The situation has become more dire and the death toll has mounted considerably just since I published this piece. I am deeply concerned about the fate of these gifted musicians who, from everything I have seen, heard and read about them, are also very good people.
Thank you again for coming and for contributing to the dialogue, dear friend YaYa. I wish you a safe weekend, if not a very happy one.
Seeing these American-style videos of young people in American-style club clothing singing covers of American rock songs and knowing that it's coming from an Eastern European country that is now being invaded by Russia is something I can't quite get my head around. The whole thing seems ironic which I'm sure isn't the response you're looking for. Obviously, the last video is the exception, where you do get an idea what it's like for the people there. For what it's worth, I hope the Russians come out on the losing end of this military excursion of theirs, and, yes, the covers are very good.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for being here, good buddy, to check out my original post along with the additional material at the beginning and end added just before publication. When the invasion of Ukraine started to unfold, I immediately thought about these three talented Ukrainian musicians that I have introduced in past posts. I knew this was right time to run this piece and include their first hand reports on the crisis.
Yes, good buddy. The professional sound studio where S & Z produced these slick English language, Western style videos, creates a world of fantasy. It is difficult to reconcile that the studio and the talented musicians that make their magic in it, are all at risk, now subject to the harsh, brutal realities of invasion and war.
I am deeply touched by teenage Victory's words, songs and videos. The second video showing the people trying desperately to get aboard the avaculation train, looks like a scene from Schindler's List. Victory is a sweet girl. She generously thanks and corresponds with fans on her YouTube channel, always humble and appreciative. It breaks my heart to see Victory, her mother and her little cat uprooted from their home, fleeing for their lives and sleeping on the floor in filthy conditions.
I'm glad you appreciated Daria's vocal talent and Sergey's musicianship on their rock and metal covers. Thanks again for coming to express yourself on this important matter, good buddy Kirk. I wish you a safe and healthy weekend.