Brad Paisley drops track feat. Zelenskyy on 1st anniversary of Russian invasion – National

Country singer Brad Paisley and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are the duo that nobody anticipated — however collectively they’ve created a heartwarming international ballad.

On Friday, Paisley launched a brand new track entitled Same Here to mark the sombre one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The monitor options phrases spoken by President Zelenskyy, who boldly boasted concerning the resiliency of Ukraine and its folks.

“On this one year anniversary of the invasion, I’m reminded of the ways we are all so similar,” Paisley, 50, wrote on Instagram.

Same Here sees Paisley croon in typical nation stylings about site visitors, beer, sunsets and watching sports activities. Using the favored American motifs, Paisley clearly hopes to remind listeners that the human spirit is identical world wide, no matter geography, tradition or language.

“If you miss your mama and worry ’bout your babies / And love each other like crazy / And want someone to share your hopes and fears / Same here,” Paisley sings.

Though he by no means mentions Ukraine by identify, on the finish of the track, Paisley consists of audio from a cellphone name between him and Zelenskyy, 45.

He asks Zelenskyy learn how to say “Same Here” in Ukrainian. The president responds, “Так само.”

“We speak different languages in our life, yes, but I think we appreciate the same things — children, freedom, our flag, our soldiers, our people; the biggest treasure we have — and friends,” Zelenskyy says within the track. “And we’re proud of our army who defends our freedom and will defend our lives.”

The track is Paisley’s first from his new document, Son of the Mountains, which will likely be launched later this 12 months.

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Zelenskyy fights again tears speaking about his household on 1-year mark of Russia-Ukraine warfare

Paisley instructed the Associated Press that Zelenskyy didn’t simply log off on the track — he even had some constructive criticism to supply.

“I think he understands that art is how you reach the most people, especially in the heart,” Paisley mentioned of Zelenskyy, who was an actor and comic earlier than changing into president. “He can give as many speeches as he can give, but it’s a lot easier to hear something with a melody maybe.”

Paisley, a three-time Grammy Award winner, mentioned he’s been invited to go to Ukraine, which he’d love to do. In the meantime, he hopes the track’s message will bolster the nation now going through a second 12 months of warfare.

“That’s where it gets really rewarding … feeling like maybe the heart of this helps paint the picture they want to paint,” Paisley mentioned.

Paisley’s royalties for the track will likely be donated to United24 to assist construct housing for hundreds of displaced Ukrainians whose houses have been destroyed within the warfare, he mentioned.

Using his platform to advocate for causes essential to him has all the time been a part of his profession, whether or not it was opening a free grocery retailer in Nashville together with his spouse, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, or preventing starvation by donating 1 million meals in the course of the pandemic.

— with information from the Associated Press

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