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Associated Press (AP), Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 16, 2004
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Ruslana's High Tempo Song Impressed Europe
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ISTANBUL, Turkey --- Ruslana of Ukraine won the Eurovision Song
Contest with the song "Wild Dances" in a colorful performance inspired by mountain folk music.
Ruslana beat out Zeljko Joksimovic and the Ad Hoc Orchestra of Serbia and montenegro, the first entry in 12 years from the country formerly known as
Yugoslavia.
Ruslana's performance -- inspired by the folk music and dances of
highlanders in the Carpathian Mountains -- included traditional instruments,
a fast dance routine mixed with acrobatic moves, flamboyant costumes of fur
and leather, and a background that included shooting flames.
Greece's Sakis Rouvas, the favorite in Europe's most publicized song
contest, took third.
More than 100 million viewers were expected to tune in to watch contestants
from 24 countries participating in the finals.
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Ruslana performs at the Eurovision Song Contect
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Bookmakers had largely pointed to Rouvas, whose performance of "Shake it!"
combines Greek rhythms and provocative dancing, as the favorite in the
contest. But Ruslana had been considered another top contender.
The win means that Ukraine will host the contest next year.
Sertab Erener, a classically trained soprano who shook her belly to win the
Eurovision contest for Turkey last year, opened Saturday's show with a
medley of her songs and dances that also included a performance by Turkey's
traditional whirling dervishes.
Security was tight following suicide attacks in Istanbul last November
blamed on al-Qaeda that killed 62 people. Scores of police were on guard
outside the venue and atop the ancient city walls across the street.
The street in front of the downtown Abdi Ipekci arena, where the contest was
held Saturday night, was closed to traffic. Police also stopped a group of
about 100 people from approaching the venue to stage a demonstration
protesting next month's NATO summit in Istanbul.
Created in 1956 by the Geneva-based European Broadcasting Union, Eurovision
has become one of Europe's most popular annual music events and the biggest
pop music pageant of its kind in the world.
The Swedish rock group Abba, which won 30 years ago with the song
"Waterloo," is the best-known group to win the competition and go on to a
major international career.
Associated Press (AP), Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 16, 2004
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