Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Country
  
Ukraine

Selected entrant
  
Ruslana

Final result
  
1st, 280 points

Selection process
  
Internal Selection

Selected song
  
"Wild Dances"

Semi-final result
  
Qualified (2nd, 256 points)

Ukraine was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 by Ruslana and "Wild Dances", performed in English. The Ukrainian broadcaster, Natsionalna Telekompaniya Ukrayiny (NTU) internally selected Ruslana to compete for Ukraine at the contest.

NTU, like their first entry in 2003, held an internal selection for the Ukrainian entry for the 2004 contest. The broadcaster held an open call for artists and songs who wished to compete for Ukraine at Eurovision. Entries received by NTU were reviewed by a jury, with the winner being Ruslana Lyzhychko, becoming the second Ukrainian entry at Eurovision. Her song, "Wild Dances", was written by Oleksandr Ksenofontov and composed by Ruslana herself.

At Eurovision

Because Ukraine placed 14th at the 2003 contest, Ruslana was forced to compete in the first Eurovision semi-final, held on 12 May 2004. Here, she performed 11th in the running order, following Greece's Sakis Rouvas and preceding Lithuania's Linas and Simona. She received 256 points, placing 2nd in a field of 22 and qualifying for the final.

At the final, Ruslana gave a repeat performance of her semi-final performance, performing 10th in the running order, following Albania's Anjeza Shahini and preceding Croatia's Ivan Mikulić. She received 280 points, winning the contest for Ukraine.

References

Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 Wikipedia