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	RUSLANA: WILD DANCES IN UKRAINE AS IT CELEBRATES FIRST EUROVISION CROWN, 'Ukraine is going nuts' and 'Everybody is playing 'Wild Dance'!'
	Agence France-Presse (AFP), Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, May 16, 2004 Greeting in L'viv. (PHOTO: ukrainian newspaper 'Postup') KIEV - "Ruslana has won! We've won!" proudly exclaimed Hennady, a young Ukrainian who along with millions of others was riveted this weekend watching singer Ruslana become the first Ukrainian to win the Eurovision music contest. "She wasn't like the others. She had real esprit and she deserved her victory," said Vika, a businesswoman from Kiev. Her friend Marina agreed that the charismatic brunette and her winning song "Wild Dance" were head and shoulders above the other contenders. Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma sent a personal message congratulating the singer Ruslana on her victory, which he welcomed as a boost to the former Soviet republic's image abroad. "You provided an unforgettable evening for millions of Ukrainian families... Thanks to you, the world will know more of the voices and melodies of Ukraine," Kuchma said in a statement. Ukrainian singer Ruslana shows the Eurovision Song Contest trophy after she arrives at Borispil airport in Ukrainian capital Kiev May 16, 2004. Ruslana won the 49th Eurovision song contest held in Istanbul's Abdi Ipekci Arena in Saturday. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich Reuters - May 16 3:45 PM Ruslana and her troupe of leather-clad dancers stole the show with their "Wild Dance," a fusion of rock and folk music, and a stomping dance routine inspired by the traditions of Ukraine's western Carpathian mountains. Her song, performed in English and Ukrainian, drew the lion's share of votes in a phone-in from television viewers in 36 participating countries. As victor, Ukraine is now set to host the event next year -- it has only participated twice in the 49-year history of the much-derided though hugely popular contest. In second place came Jeljko Joksimovic of Serbia and Montenegro, with a ballad blending pop and ethnic Balkan tunes, while Greece's Sakis Rouvas -- tipped as favourite before the contest -- had to settle for third place. Brimming with joy and patriotism, the singer from the western city of Lviv said the first thing she would do once back home would be "to kneel, take some soil and kiss it." "I hope that a new era can start in Ukraine... We have to stand up and make the most of our huge potential, because we have a great history and an ancient culture," she said in an interview with the 1+1 television channel. Ukrainian singer Ruslana arrives at Borispil airport in Ukrainian capital Kiev May 16, 2004. Ruslana won the 49th Eurovision song contest held in Istanbul's Abdi Ipekci Arena in Saturday. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich Reuters - May 16 3:46 PM In an emotional address to reporters on Sunday, Ruslana said she was "absolutely happy" and was "sure Ukraine is feeling great happiness today". "This happiness will stay with me for the rest of my life." The singer shared the contents of two text messages she received during the press conference, which read: "Ukraine is going nuts" and "Everybody is playing 'Wild Dance'!" Ruslana also vowed to press for the defence of gay rights -- an issue that has been dear to her heart -- in her country: "I will continue to work on this (issue) in Ukraine. If you want to be part of Europe, you have to be tolerant and respect human rights." The artist toured 14 countries ahead of the contest to promote her entry. Encouraged by her weekend victory, Ruslana already has plans to return to Europe and likely the United States. She is currently working on the English version of her album "Wild Dances", designed for the European and American markets, which is already the biggest selling Ukrainian record in history, with 100,000 copies sold. A graduate of the musical conservatory in Lviv, Ruslana has been a well-known figure on the Ukrainian scene since 1996. Ukrainian singer Ruslana arrives at Borispil airport in Ukrainian capital Kiev May 16, 2004. Ruslana won the 49th Eurovision song contest held in Istanbul's Abdi Ipekci Arena in Saturday. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich Reuters - May 16 3:45 PM She is co-author of most of her songs, strongly inspired by Ukrainian folklore, and works alongside her husband and producer Olexander Ksenofontov. Eurovision -- first held in 1956 -- is often associated with music of questionable merit, bizarre costumes and marked political bias in the voting. Yet all these elements have contributed to its enduring popularity. The contest this year attracted a record number of 36 entries, with Eastern Europeans putting a particular effort to prove themselves on the continental music arena. Agence France-Presse (AFP), Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, May 16, 2004 FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC USE ONLY

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