Miks Galvanovskis: I believe in Latvia

Thinking about the Day of Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia and gratitude for the peaceful sky, this holiday does not require comments. That is why for a week we will be together with seven Latvians who love their Motherland to the bone, we will increase belonging to our land and our people.

Several years ago, while knitting (I think) at least the 107th pair of socks, my grandmother quietly whispered something to herself, but in such a way that I heard. And heard clearly enough that these words will accompany me for the rest of my life. “How good that Latvia is independent. How good that we are free. How good it is to live here in Latvia!” I believe that today, she, continuing to knit, but already from the edge of the sky, has not changed her mind.

The first Latvian is the musician and businessman Miks Galvanovskis, who, proudly holding the Latvian flag on his shoulders, sings in his concerts in such a way that tears the heart and shows his soul.

“I am honored to live in Latvia

To call his land

Fluttering red white red

Do not confuse anyone

Because my country is Latvia

My blood and spirit

And as long as we stick together

No one will touch it.”

Let these words and this song of strength accompany Latvia all week, waiting for May 4!

Mik, what is independence to you?

Independence is a feeling. About the fact that the choice is in your hands. You can be anything you want to be. You can look what you want and do what you want.

Freedom!

Yes, this is one of the factors – freedom. Of course, in a different context, we are also talking, because there is also national independence. But to me, independence is being able to live in a country where I’m allowed to choose and do the things I want. The only thing is sometimes condemnation from society, but that’s all. And that’s what I count on. I’m not afraid of that.

Unfortunately, you have to live with these condemnations for the rest of your life.

As it is, it must be lived like that!

Do you celebrate May 4th? How do you usually mark?

When I was younger, I always celebrated the 4th of May at the Freedom Monument, where Latvia’s best brass bands gather and show their parade programs. I play the saxophone in the brass band of the 4th secondary school in Jelgava. Until I was 18, that’s exactly how I spent May 4th. Currently, together with my family, we celebrate November 18th more, but I also spend May 4th going to the Freedom Monument.

I am a patriotic person. Recently, I have spent the holiday on May 4 at various events and concerts. On May 4 this year, I will be on television, as the event was recorded some time ago. You will be able to hear my song “To call my land”.

How else am I going to spend May 4th? I don’t really know, but I think the day will tell.

I think a lot about the Latvian flag. One is that we display the holiday at home so that it flies, but you put the flag on your shoulders at concerts. I don’t want to say that you are in the same boat as athletes, or those who climbed Everest and left the Latvian flag there, but the parallels draw.

You know, you can’t say that I’m not in the same boat with athletes, because one of the most wonderful things in my career as a musician happened a month and a half ago. When the Latvian national team came out to my song in the European qualification championship, it was unique.

What does the Latvian flag mean to me? Let me start by saying that the flag is everywhere for me. I wear it pinned to my clothes almost every day. I have also tattooed the flag of Latvia on my arm, where you can see as if a child has drawn it with a brush. I have also tattooed the earlobe.

Also, I try as much as I can to get young people excited about patriotism. If I am able to give an idea of ​​what Latvia is to me, then I have done it in a song. I try to prove it with my works.

Your love for the Motherland is visible!

Yes, it all came from my family. We are a very Latvian family, with our own values. Although I don’t call all of the above patriotism because it’s my everyday life. This is how I live. The way I present myself and the way I see myself.

Are you proud of the fact that your passport says Latvian?

Yes. There are people who have said: Well, yes, you are already the patriot of Latvia!” I answer: “I am a Latvian who does not ask for comments anymore. I love my country.”

Yes, it is possible that not everything happens here as we would like, but we each live our individual lives and we each look from our individual prism.

I also love the Latvian language and I am proud that so few of us in the world speak it. Sometimes people also need to remember that we are so special because we are a small nation. If you are traveling to another country, remember that you, the individual, represent the entire country.

You can see on my hands, for example, the rings made of white jewelry. I usually have a big cross on my neck. People ask, “What is this, what kind of religion is this?” I answer, “Our beloved pagan religion.“

Not that I believe in any of the religions, but I think it’s nice that we’ve had such a glorious past. I am proud that we have been heathens, we still are, but many do not talk about it. I’ve also read comments where people say, “How can he talk like that, mention this in his songs.”

I had never heard it anywhere except in our folk songs since I was a child, but that nowadays anyone includes this religion in music, no.

I believe that people need to be reminded of what our roots are, what our values ​​are, what we once had. Of course, times pass and change, but traditional values ​​remain.

Returning a little more to the stage. It’s no secret that you held your first big solo concert a week ago. Are emotions still running high? And what does it even mean that at home, in Latvia, you can organize a beautiful, powerful concert and summon Latvians.

I hope not just one concert. It’s a dream come true for me. Can’t say it means everything to me because then I’d have to stop because it’s done.

Emotions spilled over the edges. Now I’m still trying to just walk away from everything, how beautifully it turned out in the end. Of course, when I left the stage, when the whole hall sang this patriotic song “To call my country”, I didn’t know what to do next, because I had planned the final song – one, two, three…

I entered the audience with the Latvian flag in the middle and that’s how we ended the concert. We all sang this song together.

What I saw in this concert, what I experienced, it means a lot to me. Direct support from people. Those who are not envious came to this concert, who were happy for me. People came to hear what I had prepared and most, because I cannot speak for everyone, were happy to hear and see. I myself was happy to give what I could give.

And give more!

Yes. The night before, I wrote to my nine musicians: “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to give it 109% tomorrow. 100% will be from me and I will give everyone a percentage of myself. Everything worked out, everything was wonderful. I believe that many received this dose of patriotism while preparing for May 4th.”

A holiday must be celebrated. The World Hockey Championship will also be coming soon, which means a lot to me. I have watched the championship in person for two years in a row. I was in Finland, then in Latvia and this year I will also go.

You have to support your people both when they succeed and when they fail, but I have always supported them. A year ago, from the very first match, I supported and believed in the national team. I believed there would be medals. There was someone who said to me: “Mik, well, well, well, well, someone will be…” And when was it? Then I was told, “Mike, wow, you were right!”

I don’t really watch sports where Latvians don’t participate. It is important for me to support Latvians.

I just realized that it is important for you not to lose faith! And not only for yourself, but also in people.

I hope so. That’s the idea. You can believe in many things in life, but the most beautiful thing is to believe in things that can surprise you.

If you have surprised another person because you have believed, then he also begins to believe. I believe in Latvia, we are so small, but we can do so much.

And we can not only “eat” each other for breakfast, lunch, dinner, but also support each other. I have realized that our nation is divided into parts. I’m trying to show that we can be together and not just share parts.

What have you learned while living in the Motherland?

Everything! I haven’t lived anywhere else. When I go on a trip or vacation, 3, 4 days is enough for me, I can’t be away from home longer.

Home pulls back?

Exactly. And from everything I have done in this country, an imprint has remained – smaller, larger, but still. When I go somewhere else, I feel good because I see another culture, but I’m not where I was formed and where I was formed.

Who taught you in Latvia?

They are people. Understand, I will always defend the country in which I live. I have also been involved in heated discussions that disparage Latvia, but they also live here… I don’t like it, but it has also taught me, taught me, making me understand what my values ​​are.

I myself do not impose my values ​​on anyone, but if someone tries to impose on me that Latvia is not a value, then it can get lost.

What do you wish for Latvians?

To remember that we are, of course, that clichéd saying – we are big, we are powerful… But this time maybe look at each other and understand what your values ​​are and how much you have been given by being in this very place in the ground.

You are given so many opportunities. You can be anything you want in one day in Latvia. Nothing is denied to us here. I’m not talking about bad things, of course, but about choices.

I wish to remember where you come from, who you are and why.

Ask your question to the NRA Lifestyle experts by sending it to e-mail: [email protected]