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Wild Dances
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| "Wild Dances" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ruslana | ||||
| from the album Wild Dances | ||||
| B-side | "Hutsul Girl" | |||
| Released | 17 May 2004 | |||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Composer | Ruslana Lyzhychko | |||
| Lyricists |
| |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Ruslana singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Wild Dances" on YouTube | ||||
| Eurovision Song Contest 2004 entry | ||||
| Country | ||||
| Artist | Ruslana Lyzchicko | |||
| As | ||||
| Languages | ||||
| Composer | Ruslana Lyzhychko | |||
| Lyricists |
| |||
| 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, Sherena Dugani and Yuliya Rai. It represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, held in Istanbul, resulting in the country's first win at the contest. "Wild Dances" was subsequently released as a single and topped the charts of Flanders and Greece.
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 Ukrainian-only version called "Dyki tantsi" (Ukrainian: "Дикі танці") only 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.[4][5] It was first aired on 6 May 2004 on MTV Russia in the 12 Angry Viewers show, but was booed by the audience.[6]
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.[7] 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.[8]
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 Albania's "The Image of You" by Anjeza Shahini and preceding Croatia's "You Are the Only One" by Ivan Mikulić.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]
As the winning broadcaster, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) gave NTU the responsibility to host the following edition 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.[12]
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Sales and certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (BRMA)[31] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Greece (IFPI Greece)[32] | Gold | |
| Romania[32] | 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".[33]
In other media
[edit]The song is used in the soundtrack of the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV.[34] American gymnast and 2011 world champion Jordyn Wieber has revealed that she uses this song as her floor exercise music.[35]
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.
- ^ "Ось вам, бусурманцi, нашi «Дикi танцi»". umoloda.kyiv.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "Руслана "Дикі танці". Знакові українські кліпи". Tochka.net (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2005 grand final". Eurovision Song Contest. 21 May 2005. NTU / EBU.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Ruslana – Wild Dances" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Charts – TopHit – Highway to Airplay". 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.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. 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 Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2004" (in Dutch). 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. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
External links
[edit]- "Wild Dances" at Discogs (list of releases)
- Belgium 2004 year end chart. Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- Peak positions of Wild Dances
Wild Dances
View on GrokipediaDevelopment
Conception and Writing
"Wild Dances" drew its primary inspiration from the traditional Hutsul folk dances and rituals of the Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine, transforming these ancient cultural elements into a dynamic fusion of pop and ethnic music. Ruslana Lyzhychko, whose father hails from the Hutsul region, sought to capture the raw, mystical energy of this heritage following her personal exploration of the area's vocal techniques and rhythms. This adaptation emphasized the vibrant, untamed spirit of Carpathian traditions, blending them with contemporary beats to create an infectious, high-energy track.[11][12] The song was composed by Ruslana Lyzhychko, Oleksandr Ksenofontov, Jamie Maher, Michael Fayne, and Sherena Dugani, with lyrics co-written by the same team, reflecting an international songwriting collaboration that incorporated diverse perspectives.[13] This teamwork infused the track with both authentic Ukrainian motifs and accessible, global pop sensibilities, ensuring its appeal beyond domestic borders. The creative process built on Ruslana's earlier expedition to the Carpathians in spring 2003, which informed the album Dyki Tantsi—of which "Wild Dances" formed a key part—released that June in Ukraine.[14][15] Two linguistic versions were developed to maximize reach: the original Ukrainian "Dyki Tantsi," rooted in local folklore, and the English "Wild Dances," tailored for international audiences with altered verses while preserving the iconic chorus and melodic structure. These adaptations highlighted subtle shifts in phrasing to convey universal themes without diluting the ethnic core. Thematically, the song celebrates wild energy and the joy of dance as expressions of ethnic pride, positioning it as a bold emblem of Ukrainian cultural identity and resilience.[13][16][17]Recording and Production
The recording of "Wild Dances" primarily took place at Luxen Studio in Lviv, Ukraine, during 2003, with additional sessions conducted at international facilities including BFD Studios Ltd. in England, Cosmos Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida, and the Hit Factory in New York.[18] These sessions incorporated contributions from specialists in Kyiv, London, and New York for editing and sound engineering, spanning approximately three months in late 2003 to early 2004.[19] Production was led by Ruslana Lyzhychko and her husband Olexandr Ksenofontov, who handled recording, mixing, and production duties for the title track, with additional production support from Ego Works on select elements.[20] The track features a fusion of traditional Ukrainian instrumentation—such as synthesized approximations of the trembita, an ancient Hutsul wooden horn, alongside ethnic percussion and rhythms inspired by Hutsul folk dances—with contemporary dance-pop elements including electronic beats, synthesizers, and high-energy synth lines.[18][20] Mixing occurred at various locations, including Real World Studios in the UK for parts of the album, while mastering was finalized at Sterling Sound in New York by early 2004 to prepare for the Eurovision Song Contest.[21] EMI handled international distribution, releasing the single and album globally through subsidiaries like Pomaton EMI, ensuring polished audio for worldwide platforms.[21] The song follows a standard verse-chorus structure with an instrumental intro and escalating build-ups to the chorus, clocking in at a duration of 3:17 to suit contest regulations and radio play.[22]Eurovision Participation
Internal Selection
The National Television Company of Ukraine (NTU), the country's public broadcaster, opted for an internal selection process to choose Ukraine's entry for the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, forgoing a public national final in favor of a curated approach to represent the nation effectively. This decision came in the wake of Ukraine's debut participation in 2003, where Olexandr Ponomaryov placed 14th with "Hasta la Vista," prompting NTU to seek a more impactful showing for their second outing. On 23 January 2004, NTU confirmed Ruslana Lyzhychko, an established Ukrainian singer with prior domestic success including her debut album Myt' Vesny – Dzvinkyi Viter (1998), as the performer, allowing her significant creative control over the song choice. The selection criteria prioritized an energetic, folk-infused pop track to highlight Ukrainian cultural elements, aligning with NTU's goal of a vibrant international debut that could elevate the country's profile. Ruslana proposed "Wild Dances," developed as part of her Wild Dances project, blending Carpathian folk rhythms with modern beats to embody national identity. The song's ethnic inspirations, rooted in Hutsul traditions, were briefly referenced in the proposal to underscore its cultural authenticity. Shortly after the announcement, preparations intensified, with the team adapting "Wild Dances" to meet Eurovision's strict rules, including a maximum three-minute duration and ensuring originality without prior commercial release. This internal process enabled rapid alignment with contest requirements, positioning Ukraine for a bold entry aimed at captivating a global audience.Music Video
The official music video for "Wild Dances" was filmed in early 2004 in an abandoned Ice Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, under the direction of Evgeny Mitrofanov and Ruslana with a small production team. The location's stark, unheated interior—renamed "The Iceberg Palace" by the crew due to temperatures around -10°C—provided a raw, industrial backdrop that enhanced the song's theme of untamed energy and freedom. Visual elements included concrete decor, glassless windows, burning barrels for light and warmth, torches, wireworks, and even a military flamethrower to create dramatic effects.[23] The video's visual style emphasized high-energy dance sequences, with Ruslana in a leather skirt and halter top leading a group of muscular male dancers clad in traditional Hutsul ethnic costumes from Ukraine's Carpathian region. These sequences incorporated foot-stamping rituals, whip cracks, and cries of "Hey," blending ancient mystic elements with modern pop aesthetics like electric guitar riffs and synthesizer beats to evoke a sense of primal, wild liberation. The ice rink setting symbolized the song's "wild" essence, turning the cold, echoing space into a fantasy rock concert stage that highlighted the track's ethnic fusion and dance-driven rhythm.[11] Premiered on May 6, 2004, on MTV Russia as part of the "12 Angry Viewers" show, the video served primarily as a promotional tool ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest, airing internationally shortly thereafter to build anticipation for Ruslana's performance. It later broadcast on various European music channels to complement the song's high-energy production style.[23] Reception to the music video was mixed, praised for its raw energy and unconventional spectacle that captured the song's dynamic theme but criticized for its low-budget roughness and intense, unpolished aesthetic. During its MTV Russia debut, the video faced booing from the audience, reflecting some viewers' surprise at its bold, non-mainstream approach, though it ultimately contributed to the song's buzz leading into Eurovision. Academic analyses have noted its role in essentializing Ukrainian Hutsul traditions for a global audience, blending authenticity with commercial simulation to project a modern yet exotic national identity.[11][23]Contest Performance
Ruslana performed "Wild Dances" in the semi-final of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest on 12 May in Istanbul, Turkey, where it placed second with 256 points, securing qualification for the grand final.[24] The performance featured an energetic choreography blending modern pop elements with Ukrainian folk influences, accompanied by backup dancers in stylized traditional attire.[7] In the grand final on 15 May 2004, Ruslana delivered the song as the tenth act, captivating the audience with a high-energy routine that included flame jets shooting from the stage and dynamic movements by leather-clad dancers, evoking the wild spirit of Hutsul Carpathian culture.[7][11] The staging emphasized spectacle through synchronized dance sequences and fire effects, highlighting the song's fusion of electronic beats and ethnic motifs.[7] "Wild Dances" won the contest with 280 points, a record total at the time, marking Ukraine's debut victory in its second year of participation.[6][25] It received the maximum 12 points from ten countries, including Albania, Estonia, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Russia, and Turkey, reflecting strong televote support particularly from Eastern European nations and others across the continent.[25] The performances were broadcast live to an estimated global audience of over 100 million viewers, with Ruslana's visually striking presentation noted for its innovative use of pyrotechnics and cultural flair that contributed to the event's overall spectacle.[26]Immediate Aftermath
Following Ruslana's victory with "Wild Dances" at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul, Ukraine experienced a surge of national pride, with the win celebrated as a symbol of the country's cultural emergence on the European stage. President Leonid Kuchma publicly commended her achievement, stating that she had "brought glory to the Motherland," while Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych described Ruslana as a "national treasure."[27] The singer was honored with the Order of Merit (III degree) by presidential decree, recognizing her contribution to Ukraine's international prestige.[27] This acclaim extended to widespread media attention, with outlets across Europe portraying Ruslana as a vibrant ambassador for Ukrainian folk-infused pop music, highlighting her energetic performance and the song's blend of traditional Hutsul elements with modern dance beats.[28][29] In the ensuing months, "Wild Dances" resonated deeply within Ukraine, evolving into an informal anthem that fostered a sense of unity amid political tensions leading to the Orange Revolution later in 2004. Ruslana actively supported pro-democracy protests in Kyiv's Maidan Nezalezhnosti, performing the song at rallies alongside opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, which amplified its role as a rallying cry for national solidarity and European aspirations.[30] The track's immediate post-win follow-up included its feature on the official compilation album The Very Best of Eurovision Song Contest: A 60th Anniversary, released in 2015 to mark the contest's milestone, underscoring the enduring recognition of her 2004 triumph.[31] As part of Ukraine's hosting obligations for the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ruslana contributed prominently to the event by performing in the grand final's interval act and conducting backstage interviews with contestants in the green room, helping to showcase her homeland's vibrant hosting capabilities.[32] The victory also propelled her onto initial international tours across Europe, where she delivered high-energy performances that capitalized on the song's buzz, enhancing her visibility and establishing connections with global audiences through promotional appearances and concerts in multiple countries.[33] This period of extensive press coverage in 2004–2005 further solidified her position as a key figure promoting Ukrainian music abroad, with features in major outlets emphasizing the win's role in bridging Eastern European traditions with Western pop culture.[27][28]Commercial Performance
Chart Performance
"Wild Dances" achieved significant commercial success across European music charts following its release and Ruslana's victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, primarily driven by the contest's exposure. The single topped the charts in Belgium's Flemish region (Ultratop 50), where it held the number-one position for 10 consecutive weeks and remained on the chart for a total of 20 weeks. It also reached number one in Greece, reflecting strong regional popularity in Southern Europe.[34] In other European markets, the song entered the top 10 in Sweden, peaking at number 8 on the Sverigetopplistan and charting for 18 weeks. It performed moderately in the Netherlands (peak #30, 5 weeks), Switzerland (#24, 9 weeks), and Finland (#20, 1 week), while charting lower in Germany (#40, 9 weeks) and Austria (#43, 6 weeks). The track had limited impact in the UK, reaching number 47 on the Official Singles Chart for 2 weeks, and number 44 in Ireland for 1 week.[35][36] On year-end charts, "Wild Dances" ranked third in Belgium's Flemish region for 2004, underscoring its sustained popularity there. The song's chart run was largely confined to Europe, with no notable placements found in Asia or broader international markets beyond minor European entries, highlighting the Eurovision buzz's regional focus. Compared to other 2004 Eurovision entries in the dance-pop genre, such as the UK's "Hold On to Our Love" (UK peak #42), it outperformed many by securing multiple number-one positions and longer chart durations.[37]| Country | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium (Flanders) | 1 | 20 | Ultratop |
| Greece | 1 | N/A | Eurovision.tv |
| Sweden | 8 | 18 | Hitparade.ch |
| Netherlands | 30 | 5 | Hitparade.ch |
| Switzerland | 24 | 9 | Hitparade.ch |
| Finland | 20 | 1 | Hitparade.ch |
| Germany | 40 | 9 | Hitparade.ch |
| Austria | 43 | 6 | Hitparade.ch |
| UK | 47 | 2 | Official Charts |
| Ireland | 44 | 1 | Acharts.co |
