December 28, 2004
RUSLANA
Ukrainian pop star. Born Lviv, Ukraine, May 24, 1974. Started singing & playing piano at 4. Graduate of Lviv music conservatory. Married 5 years to producer Aleksander Ksenofontov. Uses motifs of Ukrainian nationalism: Carpathian Mountains, Renaissance & medieval castles, folk art, samples of Hutsul music.
Won All Ukrainian Festival of Modern Songs, Best Performer, Best Song, Best Video, Best Personality 1999 & 2000. Most recent album first Ukrainian platinum disc (+100,000). World Music Award 2004 Bestselling Ukrainian Artist. Tireless performer who left hospital bed to perform concert in June.
Winner 2004 Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul with song Wild Dances (beating Greek fave Sakis Rouvas). Previous famous / infamous winners ABBA (1974), Bucks Fizz (1981), Celine Dion (1988). Wild Dances became hit song in Belgium (#1), Greece (#1), Sweden (#8), Europe Top 100 (#16), Russia (#6), Germany (#40).
Carried Olympic torch in July. Declared hunger strike Nov. 25 to tens of thousands in Independence Square to support Yushchenko, but stopped when Parliament unanimously rejected election results Nov. 27: "I, as millions of other people, do not understand what happened to my vote cast in the election."
On Wild Dances' Conan the Barbarian getups: "Really, we didn't set out to make them raunchy. They'Â’re made from leather & metal & are ethno-military style; I think we look like mountain Amazons. Parts were made by traditional Hutsul craftsman in the Carpathian Mountains. The methods are so secret no one else has ever managed to copy them."
On her roots: "My father is from trans-Carpathia & I also come from the area. The mountains are a very special place where the ancient Hutsul people live & have a very regenerative effect on people."
On gearing up for Eurovision 2005 in Kiev: "Kiev is the city that will make the whole world fall in love with it." (Ruslana will host with Ukrainian boxers the Klitschko brothers, also vocal Yushchenko supporters.)
Ruslana performing in Vilnius: "I was coming to Lithuania to demonstrate my show, but today I feel that I first have to thank Lithuania & its President Valdas Adamkus for the support to our country." (Adamkus mediated election crisis with Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski)
On how she approved new CD cover: "When 10 out of 10 men stood breathless looking at the picture & were trying to gasp some air, no other proofs were needed."
On what Ukraine means to the West: "What is happening in Ukraine is not only important for the future of my country & my people. Mikhail Gorbachev said that the current events in Ukraine can be compared to the breakdown of the Berlin Wall. Now in Ukraine the modern history of Europe is made & it is influencing the whole political situation in the world."
Ukrainian Pravda June 2004: "(Prime Minister) Yanukovich'Â’s desperation was seen in appointment as his 'adviser' Ruslana Lyzhychko, who won the Eurovision contest in Istanbul." (Yanukovich gave Ruslana small statue of a Cossack representing 'the dignity of the Ukraine')
On salo, Ukrainian chocolate-covered pork-fat: "I love it as it's unusual. I was given the first serving of Lviv's chocolate salo. Perhaps they were testing my bravery, but I ate it & I'm still alive!"
On her ancestors: "Calling the Wild Dances barbaric is an exaggeration. It is based on ethnic traditions of Ukrainian highlanders but to call those traditions barbaric is to consider cultural heritage a worthless possession. In every European there lives a subtle passion for the way his forefathers used to live, work, sing & dance."
Hubby Aleksander: "Living with Ruslana is very difficult. It'Â’s like living on top of a volcano, but I like it."
Israeli music journalist: "Ruslana's album portrays not only the most 'non-Eurovisiony' winner ever, but an updated version of Shakira & a secure candidate to be an international star."
See also Ruslana videos. Ukrainian name page on Ruslana. Politburo Diktat: Warrior Wins Eurovision
Posted by Jeff at December 28, 2004 02:50 AM
Comments
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Posted by: yener at August 4, 2005 06:57 AM
You are beautiful and perfect and wow!!!!Youre songs are very very very very good!Bye - Bye .
Tell my please: . You will go to the Bratislava - SLOVAKIA.
See you soon.
Youre sincerly Igor and Silvia.
Posted by: Igor a Silvia at November 10, 2005 03:21 AM
hi ruslana!! im from canada so i dont quite understand your music but i still love it!! my dance teacher lets us warm up to it in ukrainian dance class and it gives me lots of energy! u inspire me and i want to be just like you! keep up the great work and good luck in the future! byebye
Posted by: laurel at November 30, 2005 07:28 PM
hope to see you soon!
Posted by: acia at December 16, 2005 02:03 PM