Wild Dances Explained

Wild Dances
Cover:Wild_Dances.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Ruslana
Album:Wild Dances
B-Side:Hutsul Girl
Length:3:00
Label:EMI
Composer:Ruslana Lyzhychko
Lyricist:
Producer:
  • Oleksandr Ksenofontov
  • Ruslana Lyzhychko
Prev Title:Kolomyjka
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:Dance with the Wolves
Next Year:2005
Misc:
Embed:yes
Song: "Wild Dances"
Year:2004
Country:Ukraine
Artist:Ruslana Lyzchicko
As:Ruslana
Languages:English, Ukrainian
Composer:Ruslana Lyzhychko
Place:1st
Points:280
Place Semi:2nd
Points Semi:256
Prev:Hasta la vista
Prev Link:Hasta la vista (Oleksandr Ponomariov song)
Next:Razom nas bahato
Next Link:Razom nas bahato, nas ne podolaty

"Wild Dances" is a song composed and recorded by Ukrainian singer-songwriter Ruslana, with lyrics by herself, Oleksandr Ksenofontov, Jamie Maher, Michael Fayne, and Sherena Dugani. It in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, held in Istanbul, resulting in the country's first win at the contest.

Background

Conception

"Wild Dances" was composed and recorded by Ruslana, with lyrics by herself, Oleksandr Ksenofontov, Jamie Maher, Michael Fayne, and Sherena Dugani.[1] The work on the song lasted for about three months. Editing and sound engineering was done by Ruslana together with specialists from Kyiv, London, and New York City. The recording was done together with a guitarist from Cool Before, and an ex-trumpet player from Zdob și Zdub. The Ukrainian and English lyrics of the song, as well as the chorus and melody, underwent significant changes since the initial stage. She released a version only in Ukrainian called "Dyki tantsi" in Ukraine and Russia.

Selection

On 23 January 2004, the National Television Company of Ukraine (NTU) announced that it had internally selected Ruslana as its performer for the of the Eurovision Song Contest.[2] On 28 January 2004, NTU announced that "Wild Dances" would be the for Eurovision.[3]

Music video

The official music video was filmed in the abandoned building of the Ice Palace, which was at once renamed "The Iceberg Palace" by the members of Ruslana's crew because no heating equipment brought with Ruslana could heat the cold air of the huge building to a comfortable level. The building was 'decorated' with sheer concrete and windows without glass. Despite the script of the video-clip, which provided for constant burning fire in large barrels, torches on the stage, wireworks and even a real military flame thrower, only the "Wild Dances" could help people to ultimately warm up. It was first aired on 6 May 2004 on MTV Russia in the 12 Angry Viewers show, but was booed by the audience.[4]

Eurovision

On 12 May 2004, the semi-final for the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul hosted by the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), and broadcast live throughout the continent. As Ukraine had not finished in the top 10 at the, the song had to compete in the semi-final. Ruslana performed "Wild Dances" eleventh on the night, following 's "Shake It" by Sakis Rouvas and preceding 's "What's Happened to Your Love" by Linas and Simona. The song qualified for the grand final.[5] After the grand final it was revealed that it had received in the semi-final 256 points, placing second in a field of twenty-two.[6]

Mistakenly, the song title was captioned on screen at the contest as being "Wild Dance", without the S, both in semi final and grand final.

On 14 May 2004, the grand final for the Eurovision Song Contest was held. Ruslana performed again "Wild Dances" tenth on the night, following 's "The Image of You" by Anjeza Shahini and preceding 's "You Are the Only One" by Ivan Mikulić.[7] Her performance is memorable for an energetic performance, which Ruslana gave in a leather outfit, inspired by and the ethnic tradition of Ukraine.

At the close of voting of the grand final, it had received 280 points, winning the contest.[8] It was the first victory for Ukraine. With a mixture of English and Ukrainian lyrics, "Wild Dances" was also the first Eurovision-winning song to be sung at least partly in a language other than English since the rule-change of 1999, when countries were allowed to sing in a language of their choosing, rather than one of their official languages. With this win, Ukraine became the third post-Soviet country to win the contest, after and .

Aftermath

The single was included on the official compilation album called The Very Best of Eurovision celebrating the 60th anniversary of the contest.[9]

As the winning broadcaster, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) gave NTU the responsibility to host the of the Eurovision Song Contest. The grand final held on 21 May 2005, opened with Ruslana performing a medley of "Wild Dances" and "Heart on Fire" accompanied by the Zhyttia ballet and the Ukrainian drums ensemble ARS Nova. She also performed her latest single "The Same Star" in the interval act and presented the trophy to the winner.[10]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2004–2005)Peak
position
Croatia (HRT)[11] 3
Greece (IFPI)[12] 1
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[13] 44
Turkey (Turkish Singles Chart)[14] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (2004)Position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 43

Sales and certifications

Release history

RegionDateFormat
Ukraine17 May 2004CD single
Germany24 May 2004
Greece
Netherlands
Finland
Belgium
Sweden
Latvia
Lithuania
Estonia
Poland
Israel
Turkey
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Slovenia
United Kingdom
United States29 April 2008Digital download

Legacy

The song was bought with exclusive copyright in Vietnam by Vietnamese singer-songwriter Hồ Quỳnh Hương. She has an own Vietnamese version of the song, entitled "Vũ điệu hoang dã".[17]

In other media

The song is used in the soundtrack of the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV.[18] American gymnast and 2011 world champion Jordyn Wieber has revealed that she uses this song as her floor exercise music.[19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2004 Ukraine. The Diggiloo Thrush.
  2. Web site: Polishchuk . Tetyana . 23 January 2004 . Руслана замахується на «Євробачення-2004» . 8 September 2022 . day.kyiv.ua . uk.
  3. Web site: Bakker . Sietse . 29 January 2004 . Ukrainians send Ruslana Lyzhicko to 2004 contest . 8 September 2022 . Esctoday.
  4. Web site: News of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.. www.eurosong.ru.
  5. Eurovision Song Contest 2004 - Semi-final. Eurovision Song Contest 2004. Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision Song Contest. TRT / EBU. 12 May 2004.
  6. Web site: Official Eurovision Song Contest 2004 semi-final scoreboard. Eurovision Song Contest.
  7. Eurovision Song Contest 2004 - Grand Final. Eurovision Song Contest 2004. Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision Song Contest. TRT / EBU. 14 May 2004.
  8. News: Ukraine celebrates Eurovision win. BBC. 16 May 2004.
  9. Web site: Very Best of Eurovision Song Contest – A 60th Anniversary (CD / Digital Download Available NOW). 1 May 2015. SBS.au. 1 May 2015.
  10. Eurovision Song Contest 2005 grand final. Eurovision Song Contest 2005. Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision Song Contest. NTU / EBU. 21 May 2005.
  11. Web site: HR Top 20 Lista. Croatian Radiotelevision. 7 March 2021. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040616184438/http://www.hrt.hr:80/hr/top20/maineng.html. 16 June 2004.
  12. Web site: Top 50 Singles: Εβδομάδα 11–17/7 . 26 June 2004 . 29 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040717032705/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm . 17 July 2004.
  13. Web site: Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 31, saptamina 2.08 – 8.08, 2004. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050221213336/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10130.html. 21 February 2005. 21 July 2020.
  14. Web site: Digital Singles Charts – Turkey . Number One Top 20 . 20 May 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140701235932/http://www.hayatadair.info/number-one-top-20/ . 1 July 2014 . dead.
  15. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2004. Ultratop. 11 January 2020.
  16. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2004. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 11 January 2020.
  17. Web site: VietNamNet – Sau "đạo giai điệu" lại đến "đạo hoà âm" . 13 December 2007 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20090416110729/http://www.giaidieuxanh.com.vn/nhacviet/2006/03/549023/ . 16 April 2009 .
  18. Web site: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV - Music: Soundtrack & Radio. www.gta4.net.
  19. Web site: Bloggs . Wiwi . Ruslana's "Wild Dances" Inspires U.S. Gymnast Jordyn Wieber . WiwiBloggs.Com . 12 October 2011 . 15 March 2012.