Wild Dances
| "Wild Dances" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Ruslana | ||||
| from the album Wild Dances | ||||
| B-side | "Hutsul Girl" | |||
| Released | 17 May 2004 | |||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Composer(s) | Ruslana Lyzhychko | |||
| Lyricist(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Ruslana singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Wild Dances" on YouTube | ||||
| Eurovision Song Contest 2004 entry | ||||
| Country | ||||
| Artist(s) | Ruslana Lyzchicko | |||
| As | ||||
| Languages | ||||
| Composer(s) | Ruslana Lyzhychko | |||
| Lyricist(s) |
| |||
| Finals performance | ||||
| Semi-final result | 2nd | |||
| Semi-final points | 256 | |||
| Final result | 1st | |||
| Final points | 280 | |||
| Entry chronology | ||||
| ◄ "Hasta la vista" (2003) | ||||
| "Razom nas bahato" (2005) ► | ||||
| Official performance video | ||||
| "Wild Dance" (Final) on YouTube | ||||
"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 represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, held in Istanbul, resulting in the country's first win at the contest.
Background[edit]
Conception[edit]
"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" (Ukrainian: Дикі танці) in Ukraine and Russia.
Selection[edit]
On 23 January 2004, the National Television Company of Ukraine (NTU) announced that it had internally selected Ruslana as its performer for the 49th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.[2] On 28 January 2004, NTU announced that "Wild Dances" would be the Ukrainian entry for Eurovision.[3]
Music video[edit]
The official music video was filmed in the abandoned building of the Ice Palace,[which?] 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.[citation needed] 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[edit]
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 previous contest, the song had to compete in the semi-final. Ruslana performed "Wild Dances" eleventh on the night, following Greece's "Shake It" by Sakis Rouvas and preceding Lithuania'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]
On 14 May 2004, the grand final for the Eurovision Song Contest was held. Ruslana performed again "Wild Dances" tenth on the night, following Albania's "The Image of You" by Anjeza Shahini and preceding Croatia'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 Xena: Warrior Princess 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 Estonia and Latvia.
Aftermath[edit]
The single was included on the official compilation album called The Very Best of Eurovision celebrating the 60th anniversary of the contest.[9]
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Sales and certifications[edit]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (BEA)[28] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Greece (IFPI Greece)[29] | Gold | |
| Romania[29] | Gold | |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history[edit]
 |
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 17 May 2004 | CD single |
| Germany | 24 May 2004 | |
| Greece | ||
| Netherlands | ||
| Finland | ||
| Belgium | ||
| Sweden | ||
| Latvia | ||
| Lithuania | ||
| Estonia | ||
| Poland | ||
| Israel | ||
| Turkey | ||
| Czech Republic | ||
| Slovakia | ||
| Slovenia | ||
| United Kingdom | ||
| United States | 29 April 2008 | Digital download |
Legacy[edit]
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".[30]
In other media[edit]
The song is used in the soundtrack of the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV.[31] American gymnast and 2011 world champion Jordyn Wieber has revealed that she uses this song as her floor exercise music.[32]
References[edit]
- ^ "2004 Ukraine". The Diggiloo Thrush.
- ^ Polishchuk, Tetyana (23 January 2004). "Руслана замахується на «Євробачення-2004»". day.kyiv.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ Bakker, Sietse (29 January 2004). "Ukrainians send Ruslana Lyzhicko to 2004 contest". Esctoday. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ "News of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004". www.eurosong.ru.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2004 - Semi-final". Eurovision Song Contest. 12 May 2004. TRT / EBU.
- ^ "Official Eurovision Song Contest 2004 semi-final scoreboard". Eurovision Song Contest.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2004 - Grand Final". Eurovision Song Contest. 14 May 2004. TRT / EBU.
- ^ "Ukraine celebrates Eurovision win". BBC. 16 May 2004.
- ^ "Very Best of Eurovision Song Contest – A 60th Anniversary (CD / Digital Download Available NOW)". SBS.au. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ Ruslana — Wild Dances. TopHit. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Ruslana: Wild Dances" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ "Top 50 Singles: Εβδομάδα 11–17/7". 26 June 2004. Archived from the original on 17 July 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ruslana". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Ruslana" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 31, saptamina 2.08 – 8.08, 2004" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 21 February 2005. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Digital Singles Charts – Turkey". Number One Top 20. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2004.
- ^ "Ruslana: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2004". Ultratop. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2004" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2004". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
- ^ a b Lombardini, Emanuele (17 May 2019). Good evening europe. Youcanprint. ISBN 9788831619981.
- ^ "VietNamNet – Sau "đạo giai điệu" lại đến "đạo hoà âm"". Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2007.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "GRAND THEFT AUTO IV - Music: Soundtrack & Radio". www.gta4.net.
- ^ Bloggs, Wiwi (12 October 2011). "Ruslana's "Wild Dances" Inspires U.S. Gymnast Jordyn Wieber". WiwiBloggs.Com. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
External links[edit]
- "Wild Dances" at Discogs (list of releases)
- Belgium 2004 year end chart.
- Peak positions of Wild Dances
