«Ой верше мій верше» Maryna Krut, Capital Ukrainian Festival, Ottawa 2019

A stellar, soulful, standout performance by Марина Круть / Marina Krut on the bandura, of the bittersweet Lemko lovesong «Ой верше мій верше» during the Capital Ukrainian Festival in Ottawa, Canada, July 20, 2019. I have heard many great versions of this song, live in person, over the years, and this is the best I've yet heard. There was magic that happened there on stage; Marina's expressive voice along with her command of the bandura melded into musical art. It was an unexpected privilege to see the performance which she brought to the stage in Ottawa. !!!!BRAVA!!!! Video by UKRmedrin - ♫♪♪♫... Ой верше, мій верше, Мій зелений верше Уж мі так не буде, Уж мі так не буде Як - як било перше... ...Уж мі так не буде, Уж мі так не буде Як - - як било перше Бо перше мі било, так мі добре било Од своєй мамички, Од своєй мамички Не ходити било... ...Од своєй мамички, Од своєй мамички Не ходити било Не ходити било, Куди я ходила Не любити било, Не любити било Кого я любила... ...Не любити било, Не любити било Кого я любила Не ходити било, Горами, стежками, Не любити хлопця, Не любити хлопця З чорними бровами... ...Не любити хлопця, Не любити хлопця З чорними бровами ...Ой верше... ... ...Мій верше... ... ♫♪♫♪ - This is a song of love, longing, heartbreak, loss, and regret - themes most prevalent in the "Romance" genre/category of Ukrainian songs, but which are also thematic hallmarks of the blues genre. Though not constructed in the same familiar stylistic musical form as the American blues, these songs definitely share the same emotional themes. Marina's performing a Lemko folk blues, about a theme that's as old as the hills: lost love.