winner, 2004
Ruslana
Ruslana represented Ukraine at Eurovision 2004 in Istanbul with “Wild Dances”, and won.
- who
- Ukrainian singer
- born
- 24 May 1973, Lviv
- contest
- 2004
- win
- 2004
- music
- pop, folk-pop, world music
- plays
- guitar, piano, trembita
- active
- since 1993
- record labels
- Warner Music Group, EMI
- studied at
- Lviv Conservatory
- sang for
- Ukraine
Biography
Ruslana is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter and producer, who writes and composes the songs and produces the videos. In 2004 Ruslana won the contest in Istanbul with “Wild Dances”. It was Ukraine’s first win, at only its second attempt.
Ruslana holds the title of People’s Artist of Ukraine, served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Ukraine in 2004 and 2005, and sat in the Ukrainian parliament for the Our Ukraine party. In March 2014 the United States Secretary of State gave Ruslana the International Women of Courage Award.
Written by ESC Predictions, 8 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, “Ruslana”.
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The act’s own accounts, as listed on Wikidata. If one is wrong or out of date, tell us and we’ll take it down.
At Eurovision
One song, and what became of it.
-
2004 Istanbul
“Wild Dances”
Winner Won the contest with 280 points, ahead of 23 other songs.
- Sung in
- English, Ukrainian
- Written by
- Oleksandr Ksenofontov, Ruslana Lyzhychko
- Running order
- 10th of 24 in the final
- Semi-final
- 2nd of 22, 256 points
- Age on the night
- 30
Play: Ruslana — “Wild Dances”, the winning performance at Eurovision 2004 hear it YouTube the contest’s channel Spotify search Apple Music search
The story of Eurovision 2004: The first semi-final, and Ukraine wins at the second attempt
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Away from Eurovision
Other contests and shows
- Chervona Ruta
- Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk
- Tavriya games
- Asia Song Festival
- 1st season of The Voice Ukraine
- Clash of the Choirs
- Operación Triunfo
- Orange Revolution
- Euromaidan
Awards
- Person of the Year 1996
- Golden Firebird 1998
- Honorary Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine 2004
- People's Artist of Ukraine 2004
- Order "For Intellectual Courage" 2013
- International Women of Courage Award 2014
- Vasyl Stus Prize 2014
- M1 Music Awards 2016
As recorded on Wikidata, which is rarely the whole list.
In our contest stories
What we wrote about Ruslana, year by year. Follow a link for the rest of that night.
- 2004 The result
Ukraine had made its debut only the year before. Ruslana's "Wild Dances" won with 280 points.
- 2005 On screen
Ruslana, the reigning winner, was supposed to be one of the presenters. She was dropped before the show, for several reasons, one of them her English. She sang in the interval and interviewed the contestants backstage instead.
Results as published by the European Broadcasting Union. Biographical details from Wikidata. The photo is from Wikimedia Commons and is credited beside it. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it.