Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004
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Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
participated in the
Eurovision Song Contest 2004 The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 was the 49th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Istanbul, Turkey, following the country's victory at the with the song "Everyway That I Can" by Sertab Erener. Organised by the European Broa ...
with the song "
Wild Dances "Wild Dances" is a single by Ukrainian singer-songwriter Ruslana. The song, representing , won the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 held in Istanbul with a score of 280 points. A Ukrainian-language version called "Dyki tantsi" () was released in Rus ...
" written by
Ruslana Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko ( uk, Руслана Степанівна Лижичко, ''Ruslana Lyzhychko''; born 24 May 1973), known mononymously as Ruslana, is a World Music Award and Eurovision Song Contest winning recording artist, holding ...
and
Oleksandr Ksenofontov Oleksandr Ksenofontov (or Xenophontov) ( uk, Олександр Ксенофонтов) (born 14 April 1968) is a Ukrainian record producer and lyricist. He is the husband of the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, Ruslana. Ksenofontov ...
. The song was performed by Ruslana, who was internally selected by the Ukrainian broadcaster
National Television Company of Ukraine The Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine ( uk, Національна суспільна телерадіокомпанія України, Natsionalna Suspilna Teleradiokompaniia Ukrainy; abbr. NSTU), shortened to Suspilne ( uk, Суспіль ...
(NTU) to represent Ukraine at the 2004 contest in
Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
, Turkey. "Dyki tantsi" performed by Ruslana was announced as the Ukrainian entry on 23 January 2004. The song was later retitled as "Wild Dances" and presented to the public on 25 March 2004. Ukraine competed in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 12 May 2004. Performing during the show in position 11, "Wild Dances" was announced among the top 10 entries of the semi-final and therefore qualified to compete in the final on 14 May. It was later revealed that Ukraine placed second out of the 22 participating countries in the semi-final with 256 points. In the final, Ukraine performed in position 10 and placed first out of the 24 participating countries, winning the contest with 280 points. This was Ukraine's first win in the Eurovision Song Contest.


Background

Prior to the 2004 contest, Ukraine had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest one time since its first entry in where they placed 14th with the song "Hasta la Vista" performed by
Oleksandr Ponomaryov Oleksandr Ponomariov ( ua, Олександр Пономарьов; born August 9, 1973) is a Ukrainian singer. He has been awarded the country's "Singer of the Year" seven times. Ponomariov was born in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. One of his early ...
. The Ukrainian national broadcaster,
National Television Company of Ukraine The Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine ( uk, Національна суспільна телерадіокомпанія України, Natsionalna Suspilna Teleradiokompaniia Ukrainy; abbr. NSTU), shortened to Suspilne ( uk, Суспіль ...
(NTU), broadcasts the event within Ukraine and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. NTU confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest on 15 October 2003. The broadcaster had used an internal selection in order to select the Ukrainian entry in 2003, a method which was continued to select the 2004 Ukrainian entry.


Before Eurovision


Internal selection

On 23 January 2004, NTU announced that they had internally selected
Ruslana Lyzhychko Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko ( uk, Руслана Степанівна Лижичко, ''Ruslana Lyzhychko''; born 24 May 1973), known mononymous person, mononymously as Ruslana, is a World Music Awards, World Music Award and Eurovision Song Co ...
to represent Ukraine in Istanbul. Ruslana's selection as the Ukrainian representative was decided upon from two artists considered by the Arts Council of NTU, the other being
Ani Lorak Karolina Myroslavivna Kuiek, russian: Каролина Мирославовна Куек (born 27 September 1978), popularly known as Ani Lorak,, russian: Ани Лорак is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and former UN ...
. Anzhelika Rudnytska was also reported by Ukrainian media to have been considered by the broadcaster, however, this was later denied by the broadcaster. On 28 January 2004, it was announced during a press conference that Ruslana would be performing the song " Dyki tantsi" at the Eurovision Song Contest, which was named after her latest album released in June 2003. The song, written by Ruslana together with
Oleksandr Ksenofontov Oleksandr Ksenofontov (or Xenophontov) ( uk, Олександр Ксенофонтов) (born 14 April 1968) is a Ukrainian record producer and lyricist. He is the husband of the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, Ruslana. Ksenofontov ...
, was retitled as "Wild Dances" and featured a bilingual mix of
Ukrainian Ukrainian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Ukraine * Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe * Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine * So ...
and
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
lyrics. "Wild Dances" was presented to the public through the release of the official music video, directed by Evgeny Mitrofanov and filmed at the Ice Palace in
Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...
, on 25 March 2004.


Promotion

Ruslana made several appearances across Europe to specifically promote "Wild Dances" as the Ukrainian Eurovision entry. Promotional activities included concert appearances in more than fourteen countries, and included performances at the Maltese Eurovision national final '' Malta Song for Europe 2004'' on 14 February and the Latvian Eurovision national final '' Eirodziesma 2004'' on 28 February.


At Eurovision

It was announced that the competition's format would be expanded to include a semi-final in 2004. According to the rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country, the " Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom), and the ten highest placed finishers in the
2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A des ...
contest are required to qualify from the semi-final on 12 May 2004 in order to compete for the final on 15 May 2004; the top ten countries from the semi-final progress to the final. On 23 March 2004, a special allocation draw was held which determined the running order for the semi-final and Ukraine was set to perform in position 11, following the entry from
Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
and before the entry from
Lithuania Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...
. At the end of the semi-final, Ukraine was announced as having finished in the top 10 and consequently qualifying for the grand final. It was later revealed that Ukraine placed second in the semi-final, receiving a total of 256 points. The draw for the running order for the final was done by the presenters during the announcement of the ten qualifying countries during the semi-final and Ukraine was drawn to perform in position 10, following the entry from
Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
and before the entry from
Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...
. Ukraine won the contest placing first with a score of 280 points. This was Ukraine's first victory in the Eurovision Song Contest since their first entry in
2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A des ...
. In Ukraine, both the semi-final and the final were broadcast on
Pershyi Natsionalnyi Pershyi ( uk, Перший, ; meaning First) is the Ukrainian public television channel, operated by the Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine. It is the only Ukrainian TV channel covering over 97% of Ukraine's territory. Its programs are orien ...
with commentary by presenter and reporter of the music channel M1 Rodion Pryntsevskyi. Pryntsevskyi was due to provide reportages from Istanbul for the show ''Euroserie'' before NTU invited him to commentate their live broadcasts. The Ukrainian spokesperson, who announced the Ukrainian votes during the final, was radio DJ, producer and presenter
Pavlo Shylko Pavlo Yurievich Shylko ( Ukrainian: Павло Юрійович Шилько) (also known as DJ Pasha, born 6 August 1977 in Mezhdurechensk) is a Ukrainian radio and television presenter. He co-hosted Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with Maria Efro ...
. As the last country to announce its votes when it had already become clear then that Ukraine would win the contest, Shylko screamed in Ukrainian at the beginning of his announcement: "Oh, how much we love you! We will go for vacation to Turkey as entire Ukraine! Do you understand?" Shylko would go on to co-host the
Eurovision Song Contest 2005 The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Kyiv, Ukraine, following the country's victory at the with the song "Wild Dances" by Ruslana. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (E ...
together with
Maria Efrosinina Mariia Oleksandrivna Yefrosinina ( uk, Марія Олександрівна Єфросініна; born 25 May 1979), professionally known as Masha Efrosinina ( uk, Маша Єфросініна), is a Ukrainian television host and media perso ...
.


Marcel Bezençon Awards

The
Marcel Bezençon Awards The Marcel Bezençon Awards were first handed out during the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in Tallinn, Estonia honouring the best competing songs in the final. Founded by Christer Björkman ( Sweden's representative in the Eurovision Song Contes ...
, first awarded during the 2002 contest, are awards honouring the best competing songs in the final each year. Named after the creator of the annual contest,
Marcel Bezençon Marcel Bezençon (; 1 May 1907 – 17 February 1981) was a Swiss journalist, media executive and the director of the European Broadcasting Union between 1954 and 1970. In 1955, he conceived the idea of the Eurovision Song Contest, based on the fa ...
, the awards are divided into 3 categories: the Press Award, given to the best entry as voted on by the accredited media and press during the event; the Artistic Award, presented to the best artist as voted on by the shows' commentators; and the Composer Award, given to the best and most original composition as voted by the participating composers. Ruslana was awarded the Artistic Award, which was announced during an after show party on 16 May 2004.


Voting

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Ukraine and awarded by Ukraine in the semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Serbia and Montenegro in the semi-final and the final of the contest.


Points awarded to Ukraine


Points awarded by Ukraine


References

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2004
2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...
Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004
Eurovision The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...