Post by Susanelizabeth28 on May 16, 2004 15:18:13 GMT -5
Ruslana, warrior princess
With The Eye
17may04
UKRAINE won the Eurovision Song Contest last night, delighting fans with an eye-catching mix of frenetic dancing, skimpy leather costumes and passionate vocals in a song called Wild Dance.
Singer Ruslana, a cult figure in the former Soviet republic, was accompanied by a group of dancers in warrior costumes intended to evoke the Carpathian mountains.
"All of us are making a positive image of Ukraine. I want my country to open up before you with friendship and hospitality," an ecstatic Ruslana said after the show.
"I would like you to forget about Chernobyl," she said, referring to the 1986 nuclear accident, which has long marred Ukraine's image.
The Eurovision Song Contest, hosted for the first time by Turkey, winner of last year's event, attracts an annual worldwide audience of more than 100 million people.
With its victory, Ukraine earns the right to stage the 50th Eurovision Contest in 2005.
Asked what would be the first thing she did after returning to Kiev, Ruslana said: "I will do as Russell Crowe in Gladiator. I will kneel in my homeland, take a piece of Ukrainian earth and kiss it."
The song, sung in Ukrainian and English, is described as a modern take on traditional Ukrainian ethnic music based on ancient rhythms and dances, mixing rock with ethnic dance music.
* * * * * * *
After the elegance of the Danish royal wedding, it was time to unleash the tackiness of the Eurovision Song Contest.
UKRAINE'S answer to Xena: Warrior Princess went home with the Eurovision Song Contest's top prize - and any wonder, really.
Sultry beauty Ruslana had fans (and judges) in a spin with THAT leather outfit.
She even had SBS commentator Des Mangan on side - he gave a cheer when she won her way through to the final.
HIGHLY tipped Greek heart-throb Sakis Rouvas could only manage third after being the hot tip.
His flashy strip-off act with the shimmying dancing girls just couldn't clinch it.
It was a popular gimmick, though. Spanish entrant Ramon had the same idea.
WHERE there's a triumphant winner at Eurovision, there always has to be a loser.
Last year, it was daggy Brit duo Jemini who finished last (and without a single point, we might add). This year, it was poor old Norway.
Last year's winner, Turkey's Sertab Erener, was back to open the show.
Funny . . . we haven't seen her crop up anywhere else since her big win.
ONE of the funniest acts this year had to be the super-camp performance by Bosnia-Herzegovina's Deen and his dancers.
The lovers'-tiff-acted-out-on-stage theme was pretty popular.
Our favourite was Maltese couple Julie and Ludwig - she looked like an older Mariah Carey and his slick-back hairdo was hilarious.
Boy bands were also popular, with Austria's the Break and Dutch duo Re-Union.
CHEESINESS aside, a Eurovision highlight this year was the fantastic Abba tribute shown after the semi-final.
It featured a huge roster of stars, including British actor Rik Mayall and Cher, along with the fab four themselves.
With The Eye
17may04
UKRAINE won the Eurovision Song Contest last night, delighting fans with an eye-catching mix of frenetic dancing, skimpy leather costumes and passionate vocals in a song called Wild Dance.
Singer Ruslana, a cult figure in the former Soviet republic, was accompanied by a group of dancers in warrior costumes intended to evoke the Carpathian mountains.
"All of us are making a positive image of Ukraine. I want my country to open up before you with friendship and hospitality," an ecstatic Ruslana said after the show.
"I would like you to forget about Chernobyl," she said, referring to the 1986 nuclear accident, which has long marred Ukraine's image.
The Eurovision Song Contest, hosted for the first time by Turkey, winner of last year's event, attracts an annual worldwide audience of more than 100 million people.
With its victory, Ukraine earns the right to stage the 50th Eurovision Contest in 2005.
Asked what would be the first thing she did after returning to Kiev, Ruslana said: "I will do as Russell Crowe in Gladiator. I will kneel in my homeland, take a piece of Ukrainian earth and kiss it."
The song, sung in Ukrainian and English, is described as a modern take on traditional Ukrainian ethnic music based on ancient rhythms and dances, mixing rock with ethnic dance music.
* * * * * * *
After the elegance of the Danish royal wedding, it was time to unleash the tackiness of the Eurovision Song Contest.
UKRAINE'S answer to Xena: Warrior Princess went home with the Eurovision Song Contest's top prize - and any wonder, really.
Sultry beauty Ruslana had fans (and judges) in a spin with THAT leather outfit.
She even had SBS commentator Des Mangan on side - he gave a cheer when she won her way through to the final.
HIGHLY tipped Greek heart-throb Sakis Rouvas could only manage third after being the hot tip.
His flashy strip-off act with the shimmying dancing girls just couldn't clinch it.
It was a popular gimmick, though. Spanish entrant Ramon had the same idea.
WHERE there's a triumphant winner at Eurovision, there always has to be a loser.
Last year, it was daggy Brit duo Jemini who finished last (and without a single point, we might add). This year, it was poor old Norway.
Last year's winner, Turkey's Sertab Erener, was back to open the show.
Funny . . . we haven't seen her crop up anywhere else since her big win.
ONE of the funniest acts this year had to be the super-camp performance by Bosnia-Herzegovina's Deen and his dancers.
The lovers'-tiff-acted-out-on-stage theme was pretty popular.
Our favourite was Maltese couple Julie and Ludwig - she looked like an older Mariah Carey and his slick-back hairdo was hilarious.
Boy bands were also popular, with Austria's the Break and Dutch duo Re-Union.
CHEESINESS aside, a Eurovision highlight this year was the fantastic Abba tribute shown after the semi-final.
It featured a huge roster of stars, including British actor Rik Mayall and Cher, along with the fab four themselves.
U know I remember when they said Cher loved Mamma Mia I immediately got tkts for it and loved it! Thanks for chering!
I also like their ABBA gold album.. I will soon have to bring that out now, thinking about it, oh the memories, LOL.. 
