Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova[a][1][2] (born 27 August 1983), known professionally as Jamala,[b] is a Ukrainian singer. She represented Ukraine and won the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with her song "1944". In 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024 she served as a judge at Vidbir, the Ukrainian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. In November 2023, Russia added Jamala to its wanted list.[3]

Jamala
Джамала
Jamala in 2016
Background information
Birth nameSusana Alimivna Jamaladinova (Susana Alim qızı Camaladinova)
Born (1983-08-27) 27 August 1983 (age 41)
Osh, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union (present day Kyrgyzstan)
OriginCrimea
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active2001–present
Labels
Websitejamala.ua

Early life

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Susana Dzhamaladinova was born in Osh, Kirghiz SSR, to a Muslim Crimean Tatar father and an Armenian mother.[4][5][6][7][8][9] Her Crimean Tatar ancestors were forcibly resettled from Crimea to the central Asian republic under Joseph Stalin during World War II, although her own relatives fought on the Soviet side.[10] In 1989 her family returned to Crimea.[citation needed] Her maternal ancestors are Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh region.[11] They were well-to-do peasants until her great-grandfather's land was confiscated and he was exiled to Osh where he changed his Armenian name to make it sound more Russian.[citation needed]

She grew up in a family of musicians — her mother worked as a teacher at a music school, and her father was a conductor by education.[12]

Her parents divorced for about four years so that her mother could purchase a house in Crimea for the family under her maiden name. During this period, Soviet authorities did not allow ethnic Crimean Tatars, like her father, to purchase property in Crimea.[citation needed]

Career

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2010–2015: Early work

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Jamala has been fond of music since her early childhood. She made her first professional recording at the age of nine, singing 12 folk and children's Crimean Tatar songs. She entered the Simferopol Music College[13] and later graduated from Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine as an opera singer, but preferred a career in pop music.

 
Jamala signing an autograph for a fan on the red carpet of the third annual festival of the Odesa Film Festival on 13 July 2012.

On 14 February 2010, she released her first single "You Are Made of Love" from her debut studio album For Every Heart. She released "It's Me, Jamala" as the second single on 18 October 2010. On 23 November 2010, she released "Smile" as the third single from the album. Early in 2011, she participated on the national selection show in an attempt to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Smile".[14] The song was a crowd favorite and Jamala herself managed to land a spot in the finals of the competition.[14] However, she later decided to withdraw from the competition.[15] On 12 April 2011, she released her debut studio album For Every Heart through Moon Records Ukraine. On 8 November 2012, she released "Ya Lyublyu Tebya" (Russian: «Я Люблю́ Тебя́», English: "I Love You") as the lead single from her second studio album All or Nothing.

She released "Hurt" as the second single, and "Kaktus" (Ukrainian: «Ка́ктус», English: "Cactus") was released on 6 March 2013, as the third and final single from the album. She released All or Nothing on 19 March 2013, through Moon Records Ukraine. On 25 September 2014, she released "Zaplutalas" (Ukrainian: «Заплу́талась», English: "Confused") as the lead single from her debut EP Thank You. The EP was released on 1 October 2014, through Enjoy Records. On 26 March 2015, "Ochyma" was released as the lead single from her third studio album. "Shlyakh dodomu" (Ukrainian: «Шлях додо́му», English: "The way home") was released as the second single on 18 May 2015. On 15 June 2015, "Podykh" (Ukrainian: «По́дих», English: "Breath") was released as the third single. She released her album Podykh on 12 October 2015, through Enjoy Records.

2016–present: Eurovision Song Contest and subsequent projects

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Jamala performing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.

Jamala successfully represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "1944".[16] The song is about the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 and particularly about her great-grandmother, who lost her daughter while being deported to Central Asia.[13][17][18] Jamala wrote the song's lyrics in 2014. In the second semi-final of the contest, Jamala performed 14th and was one of ten participants who qualified for the grand final. It was announced later that she placed second, scoring 287 points, and won the televoting with 152 points[19] On 14 May 2016, Jamala won the competition with 534 points.[20] Jamala's song was considered by Russian media and lawmakers to be critical of the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the "ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine" in Donbas.[21][22]

After her Eurovision Song Contest victory, she was awarded the title People's Artist of Ukraine by then-Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko.[23] She has then continued to release new music, including "I Believe in U", which she performed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 as an interval act, along with "Zamanyly".

On 17 May 2016, Poroshenko announced that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry would be nominating Jamala as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.[24]

On 12 October 2018, Jamala released her fifth studio album, Kryla. The title track was released as the first single on 21 March 2018. She had previously performed the track as the interval act for the 2018 Ukrainian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, Vidbir.

In 2022, she appeared in season 26 of the Polish TV show Taniec z Gwiazdami (Dancing with the Stars).[25]

Jamala performed "1944" during the flag parade in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, alongside fellow past Ukrainian entrants Go_A, Tina Karol, and Verka Serduchka.[26] One year later, she was the Ukrainian spokesperson at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Personal life

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On 26 April 2017, Jamala married Bekir Suleimanov.[27][28] Their relationship became known in September 2016, when she appeared with him at the Manhattan Short Film Festival.[27] The couple married in the Kyiv Islamic Cultural Center using the traditional wedding ceremony Nikah.[27] Suleimanov had recently graduated from the Physics and Mathematics Department of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and is an activist of the Muslim[29] Crimean Tatar community.[27]

In November 2017, Jamala announced that she and Suleimanov were expecting their first child together.[30] On 27 March 2018 their son Emir-Rahman Seit-Bekir ogly Suleimanov was born.[31]

Jamala is fluent in Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, Russian and English.

In February 2022, amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she and her two children left Ukraine and initially took refuge in Romania, before eventually landing in Turkey.[32][33]

After February 24, 2022, the celebrity participated in the GIDNA project from Future for Ukraine Charity Foundation. While reading the votes at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, she announced that she was expecting her third child.

Discography

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Jamala on a 2017 stamp of Ukraine

Studio albums

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Title Details
For Every Heart
All or Nothing
  • Released: 19 March 2013
  • Label: Moon Records Ukraine
  • Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl
Подих
(Podykh)
  • Released: 12 October 2015
  • Label: Enjoy! Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl
1944
Крила
(Kryla)
  • Released: 12 October 2018
  • Label: Enjoy! Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl
Ми
(My)
  • Released: 12 March 2021
  • Label: Enjoy! Records
  • Format: Digital download
Qırım (Crimea)

Live albums

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Title Details
For every heart.
Live at Arena Concert Plaza

Compilation albums

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Title Details
10
  • Released: 6 September 2019
  • Label: Enjoy! Records
  • Format: Digital download, Vinyl
Свої
(Svoi)
  • Released: 21 February 2020
  • Label: Enjoy! Records
  • Format: Digital download

Remix albums

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Title Details
Solo
  • Released: 15 February 2019
  • Label: 2220 Records, Enjoy! Records
  • Format: Digital download

Extended plays

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Title Details
Thank You
  • Released: 1 October 2014
  • Label: Enjoy! Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD
1944
  • Released: 10 May 2016[36]
  • Label: Enjoy! Records
  • Format: Digital download, CD
5:45
  • Released: 23 April 2021
  • Label: Enjoy! Records
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UKR
[37]
AUT
[38]
BEL
(Fl)

[39]
FIN
[40]
FRA
[41]
HUN
[42]
POL
[43]
SPA
[44]
SWE
[45]
SWI
[46]
UK
[47]
"You're Made of Love" 2010 For Every Heart
"It's me, Jamala"
"Smile" 71
"Я люблю тебя" ("I love you") 2012 All or Nothing
"Hurt"
"Кактус" ("Cactus") 2013
"Заплуталась" ("Confused") 2014 Thank you
"Злива" ("Shower")
(with Andrii Khlyvniuk)
10
"Чому?" ("Why?") Non-album singles
"Очима" ("With my eyes") 2015 Podykh
"Шлях додому" ("Way to home") 93
"Подих" ("Breath")
"1944" 2016 7 54 63 64 49 40 25 32 46 73 289 1944
"Заманили" ("Lured")
(with DakhaBrakha)
44 10
"I Believe in U" 2017 19 Kryla
"Сумую" ("I miss") 82
"Крила" ("Wings") 2018 54
"Самға" Non-album singles
"Solo" 2019 89 7 10
"Крок" ("Step")
(with Cape Cod)
Svoi
"Кохаю" ("I love")
(with Jah Khalib)
61
"Ціна правди" ("The price of truth") Non-album singles
"Забирай"
(with alyona alyona)
Svoi
"Жалі"
(with alyona alyona)
2020 27
"Эндорфины" ("Endorphins")
(with Pianoboy)
Non-album single
"Вдячна" ("Grateful") 2021 12 My
"Моя земля" ("My land")
(with Tayanna)
71 Non-album single
“Потайки” ("Secretly") Non-album single
“Новий рік з тобою“ ("New Year with you") Non-album single
“Хай буде так, як хочеш ти” ("Let it be as you wish") 2022 OST “Rocky Road to Berlin“
“Thank you, Stranger“ Non-album single
“Коли закінчаться війни“ ("When the wars will end") Non-album single
“The Great Pretender” 2023 Spotify Singles
“Frozen“
“Верше, мій верше“ ("Vershe, miy vershe") Non-album single
“Мій брате“ ("My brother") 2024 Non-album single
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Filmography

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Music videos
Year Song Director Cinematographer
2009 History Repeating Alan Badoev Yaroslav Pilunskyi
2010 You're Made of Love + (in Russian) Kateryna Tsaryk Yuriy Korol
It's Me, Jamala + (in Ukrainian) Charley Stadler Fraser Taggart
2011 Smile Maksym Ksionda Serhiy Mykhalchuk
Find me John X Carey
2012 Я люблю тебя (in Russian) Serhiy Sarakhanov Yevheniya Drach, Mykola Bulavskyi
2013 Кактус (in Russian) Denys Zakharov Denys Zakharov
All These Simple Things Oleksandr Milov
Depends On You + (in Russian) Viktor Vilks Yaroslav Pilunskyi
2014 Чому? (in Ukrainian) Denys Zakharov, Oles Sanin Serhiy Mykhalchuk
2015 Заплуталась (in Ukrainian) Anatoliy Sachivko Mykyta Kuzmenko
Иные (in Russian) Mikhail Emelianov Viktor Fedoseev
2016 Шлях додому (in Ukrainian) Anna Kopylova Denys Lushchyk
1944 Anatoliy Sachivko Mykyta Kuzmenko
Обещание (in Russian) Denys Zakharov, Olena Demianenko Oleksiy Moskalenko
2017 I Believe in U Ihor Stekolenko Denys Lushchyk
Сумую (in Ukrainian)
2018 Ти любов моя (in Ukrainian) Oleh Malamuzh Teodor Neshchadym
Крила (in Ukrainian + in Kazakh) Anna Kopylova Anton Fursa
The Great Pretender Anna Buriachkova Svitlana Aparina
2019 Solo
Ціна правди (in Ukrainian) Kateryna Tsaryk, Agnieszka Holland Yuriy Korol
Забирай (in Ukrainian) Anton Shtuka Ivan Fomichenko
2020 Жалі (in Ukrainian) Dmytro Cherniavskyi Anton Fursa
Эндорфины (in Russian) Maksym Kotskyi Dmytro Cherniavskyi
2021 Вірю в тебе (in Ukrainian) Anna Kopylova Anton Fursa
Моя земля (in Ukrainian) Nazar Dorosh Nazar Dorosh
Потайки (in Ukrainian) Oleksandr Guzhelya Ilya Sostanovskyi
Новий рік з тобою (in Ukrainian) Tima Darmenov Vlad Penkov
Film
Year Title Role Ref.
2014 The Guide Olha Levytska [48]
2017 Jamala.UA Herself [49]
2020 Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga Herself [50]
Television
Year Title Role Ref.
2009 Like Cossacks... Singer in a bar [51]
2010 Anatomy of a Voice. Jamala Herself [52]
The True Story Of Scarlet Sails Cuban singer [53]
2013 Kvitka. A voice in a single copy Herself [54]
Trading Lives Host [55]
2014 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Caterpillar [56]
2016 My truth Herself [57]
Look at yourself! Herself [58]
2017 Jamalas kamp Herself [59]
2018 Crimea: Russia’s Dark Secret Herself [60]
2024 Grimsburg Ekaterina

Notes

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  1. ^ Crimean Tatar: Susana Alim qızı Camaladinova; Ukrainian: Суса́на Алі́мівна Джамаладі́нова, romanizedSusána Alímivna Dzhamaladínova, IPA: [sʊˈsɑnɐ ɐˈl⁽ʲ⁾im⁽ʲ⁾iu̯nɐ dʒɐmɐlɐˈd⁽ʲ⁾inowɐ]; Russian: Суса́на Али́мовна Джамалади́нова, romanized: Susána Alímovna Dzhamaladínova, IPA: [sʊˈsanə ɐˈlʲiməvnə dʐəməlɐˈdʲinəvə].
  2. ^ Crimean Tatar: Camala, also spelt Джамала in Cyrillic; Ukrainian: Джама́ла, IPA: [dʒɐˈmɑlɐ]; Russian: Джама́ла, IPA: [dʐɐˈmalə].

References

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  1. ^ Viktoria Veselova (9 February 2016). "Crimean Tatar Singer Hopes To Take People's Tragedy To Eurovision". rferl.org. Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016.
  2. ^ Alisa Antonenko (18 August 2016). "Jamala performs in Turkey". day.kyiv.ua. The Day. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Jamala: Ukrainian Eurovision winner added to Russia's wanted list". BBC News. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Welcome to Ukraine". www.wumag.kiev.ua. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Ukraine's Crimean Tatar singer Jamala promises to embarrass Putin and bring Stalin's crimes to Eurovision Song Contest". bunews.com.ua. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Журнал: день с певицей Джамалой". Vogue UA. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  7. ^ Ruban, Mariya. "Джамала: "Хочу пишне кримсько-татарське весілля"". Cегодня.UA. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015. (in Ukrainian)
  8. ^ "Джамала: Моя мама христианка-армянка, папа крымский татарин-мусульманин Archived 24 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine". UA-Report. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2015. (in Russian)
  9. ^ "http://thenordar.com/jamala-interview-public-talk/ Интервью с Джамалой на Public Talk". Арт-журнал Thenordar. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2015. (in Russian)
  10. ^ Colin Freeman (14 May 2016). "'They kill you all': why Ukrainian Eurovision winner, Jamala, angered Russia with her 1944 song". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  11. ^ (in Russian) Сусанна Джамаладинова (Джамала): История моих армянских корней начинается с Карабаха | Центр поддержки русско-армянских стратегических и общественных инициатив. Russia-armenia.info (15 May 2016). Retrieved on 2017-12-21.
  12. ^ "Клецкин М.В. Интерпретация ценностного отношения в античности и в Новое время". Философия и культура. 12 (12): 1654–1663. December 2016. doi:10.7256/1999-2793.2016.12.18120. ISSN 1999-2793.
  13. ^ a b Veselova, Viktoria; Melnykova, Oleksandra (11 February 2016). "Crimean singer in line to represent Ukraine at Eurovision". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Ukraine: a new final!". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  15. ^ Hondal, Victor (1 March 2011). "Ukraine: Jamala withdraws from national final". EscToday.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  16. ^ Veselova, Viktoria; Melnykova, Oleksandra (11 February 2016). "Crimean singer in line to represent Ukraine at Eurovision". the Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Jamala entered Eurovision-2016 national selection". QHA.com.ua. 26 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  18. ^ Eurovision: Ukraine's entry aimed at Russia, BBC News (22 February 2016)
  19. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2016 Second Semi-Final". Eurovision Song Contest. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  20. ^ "Ukraine's Jamala wins Eurovision 2016". BBC News. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  21. ^ Telegraph Reporters (15 May 2016). "Eurovision 2016: Furious Russia demands boycott of Ukraine over Jamala's 'anti-Kremlin' song". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  22. ^ Heidi Stephens (15 May 2016). "Eurovision 2016: Ukraine's Jamala wins with politically charged 1944". the Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  23. ^ Granger, Anthony (16 May 2016). "Ukraine: Jamala Awarded Title "People's Artist of Ukraine"". Eurovoix.
  24. ^ "Ukraine's Foreign Ministry to nominate Jamala for UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador". Vector.news. 16 May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Ukraińska piosenkarka Jamala w show "Taniec z Gwiazdami"". www.polsat.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  26. ^ Hainey, Fionnula (13 May 2023). "Eurovision 2023: Who are GO_A, Jamala, Tina Karol, and Verka Serduchka?". The Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d Jamala married Seit-Bekir Suleymanov Archived 22 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine, QHA (26 April 2017)
  28. ^ Джамала вийшла заміж (ФОТО) – Львівська газета Archived 15 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Gazeta.lviv.ua (26 April 2017). Retrieved on 2017-12-21.
  29. ^ "Eurovision winning entry: 1944, a harrowing family tale about Stalin's deportation of Muslim Tatars". The National. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  30. ^ Knoops, Roy (30 November 2017). "Ukraine: Jamala is expecting her first baby". ESCToday.
  31. ^ Ukraine's Jamala gives birth to a baby boy, UNIAN (29 March 2018)
  32. ^ (No last name), James. "Jamala, winner of Eurovision 2016, took refuge in Romania. She crossed the border with her two young children, while her husband returned to Kyiv". 24/7 News Bulletin. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Eurovision birincisi Jamala Türkiye'ye sığındı". www.sozcu.com.tr (in Turkish). March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Джамала выпустила дебютный альбом". focus.ua. Focus. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020.
  35. ^ Мила Кравчук (19 April 2012). "Джамала выпускает концертный альбом". music.com.ua. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012.
  36. ^ "Jamala releases Special EP "1944"". jamalamusic.com. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  37. ^ Ukraine Radio Hits:
  38. ^ "Austria Top 40 — Singles". austriancharts.at. Ö3 Austria Top 40. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016.
  39. ^ "Ultratip Bubbling Under". ultratop.be. Ultratop. 4 June 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020.
  40. ^ "Radiosoittolista". ifpi.fi. Suomen virallinen lista. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018.
  41. ^ "Top Singles Téléchargés". snepmusique.com. SNEP. 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016.
  42. ^ "Single Top 40 lista (#713)". slagerlistak.hu. Mahasz. 16 May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018.
  43. ^ "The Polish National Top 50". euro200.net. 12 June 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016.
  44. ^ "Physical/Digital Single Top 50". spanishcharts.com. Promusicae. 22 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020.
  45. ^ "Singles Top 60". swedishcharts.com. Sverigetopplistan. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016.
  46. ^ "Singles Top 75". hitparade.ch. Swiss Hitparade. 22 May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016.
  47. ^ Music Week's Charts:
  48. ^ Neil Young (8 August 2014). "'The Guide' ('Povodyr'): Odessa Review". hollywoodreporter.com. The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014.
  49. ^ "Movie Jamala.UA comes out nationwide". qha.com.ua. Crimean News Agency. 8 April 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  50. ^ Kateryna Hlianko (26 June 2020). "Jamala talks about her filming in "Eurovision": The Story of the Fire Saga" by Netflix". crimea.suspilne.media. UA:PBC. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  51. ^ "Зеленський відростив вуса, а Кошовий - чуб". tabloid.pravda.com.ua. Tablo ID. 24 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009.
  52. ^ "Побачити голос. Джамала "під мікроскопом"". inter.ua. Inter (TV channel). 17 February 2010. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
  53. ^ Iryna Ravchuk (28 February 2011). "It's me, Jamala". issuu.com. D'ÉPATE. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
  54. ^ "До 60-ї річниці від дня народження Квітки Цісик "Інтер" покаже власний документальний фільм про відому співачку". inter.ua. Inter (TV channel). 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
  55. ^ "IOM and MTV EXIT warn Ukrainian youth about dangers of trafficking". iom.org.ua. IOM Ukraine. 20 November 2013. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014.
  56. ^ "Musical Film "Alice in Wonderland"". kievpostproduction.com. Kiev Postproduction. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016.
  57. ^ "Моя правда. Джамала". stb.ua. STB (TV channel). 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
  58. ^ Богдан Кутєпов (4 August 2016). ""Дивись на себе!" Gonzo-мюзикл про Джамалу на Євробаченні". hromadske.ua. Hromadske.TV. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016.
  59. ^ "Swedish journalist shot film about Jamala and reprisals in Crimea". qha.com.ua. Crimean News Agency. 7 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020.
  60. ^ "Crimea: Russia's Dark Secret". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera. 22 December 2018. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest
2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
2016
Succeeded by
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