Wild Dances

"Wild Dances"
Single by Ruslana
from the album Wild Dances
B-side	"Hutsul Girl"
Released	May 17, 2004
Format	CD Single, digital download
Recorded	2003/2004
Genre	Pop folk
Length	3:00
Label	EMI
Writer(s)	Oleksandr Ksenofontov, Jamie Maher, Ruslana Lyzchicko, Michael Fayne, Sherena Dugani
Producer(s)	Oleksandr Ksenofontov, Ruslana Lyzchicko
Ruslana singles chronology
"Kolomyjka" (2003) "Wild Dances" (2004) "Dance with the Wolves" (2005)
"Wild Dances" Eurovision Song Contest 2004 entry Country Ukraine Artist(s) Ruslana Lyzchicko As Ruslana Languages English, Ukrainian Composer(s) Ruslana Lyzchicko Lyricist(s) Ruslana Lyzchicko, Oleksandr Ksenofontov Finals performance Semi-final result 2nd Semi-final points 256 Final result 1st Final points 280 Appearance chronology ◄ "Hasta la Vista" (2003)    "Razom nas bahato" (2005) ►

"Wild Dances" (Ukrainian: Дикі танці) is a single by Ukrainian singer-songwriter Ruslana. The song won the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 held in Turkey with an amount of 280 points.^[1] A Ukrainian version called Dyki tantsi was released in Russia and Ukraine.

Background and composition

After qualifying second for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, it scored a total of 280 points in the final, making it he first and only victory for Ukraine. With a mixture of English and Ukrainian lyrics, "Wild Dances" had the distinction of becoming the first Eurovision winner to be sung at least partly in a language other than English since the rule-change of 1999, when countries were allowed to sing in a language of their choosing, rather than one of their official languages. With this win, Ukraine became the third ex-USSR member to win the Contest after Estonia and Latvia having previously done so. The song was remembered for an energetic performance, which Ruslana gave in a leather outfit, inspired by ethnic tradition of Ukraine. The work on the song lasted for about 3 months. Editing and sound engineering was done by Ruslana together with specialists from Kiev, London and New York. The recording was done together with a guitarist from Cool Before, and an ex-trumpet player from Zdob Si Zdub. Ukrainian and English lyrics of the song, as well as the chorus and melody, suffered significant changes since the initial stage. The song was bought with exclusive copyright in Vietnam by Vietnamese singer-songwriter Hồ Quỳnh Hương. She has an own Vietnamese version of the song, entitled "Vũ điệu hoang dã".^[2]

Usage in media and popular culture

The song is used as a soundtrack of the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV.^[3] American gymnast and 2011 world champion Jordyn Wieber has revealed that she uses this song as her floor exercise music.^[4] The single was included on the official compilation album called The Very Best of Eurovision celebrating the 60th anniversary of the contest. ^[5]

Track listing

Official versions

1. "Wild Dances" [Ukrainian version radio edit] - 2:55
2. "Wild Dances" [Album version] - 3:00
3. "Wild Dances" [Ukrainian version Harem's pop mix] - 2:48
4. "Wild Dances" [Harem's pop mix] - 2:48
5. "Wild Dances" [Part II] - 3:58
6. "Wild Dances" [Ukrainian version Harem's club mix] - 3:16
7. "Wild Dances" [Harem's club mix] - 3:16
8. "Wild Dances" [Ukrainian version Harem's percussion mix] - 2:52
9. "Wild Dances" [Harem's percussion mix] - 2:52
10. "Wild Dances" [Break mix] - 3:25
11. "Wild Dances" [Groove mix] - 3:16
12. "Wild Dances" [Instrumental version] - 3:00
13. "Wild Dances" [Part II instrumental version] - 3:57

Music video

The official music video for the song was first aired on May 6, 2004 (before Eurovision), on MTV Russia in the 12 Angry Viewers show, but was booed by the audience.^[6] The shooting took place in the abandoned building of the Ice Palace, which was at once renamed 'The Iceberg Palace" by the members of Ruslana's crew because no heating equipment brought with Ruslana could heat the cold air of the huge building to a comfortable level. The building was 'decorated' with sheer concrete and windows without glass. Despite the script of the video-clip, which provided for constant burning fire in large barrels, torches on the stage, wireworks and even a real military flame thrower, only the"Wild Dances" could help people to ultimately warm up.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2004-2005) Peak position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 43 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 25 Czech Republic (IFPI)[10] 7 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles) 25 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] 20 Germany (Official German Charts)[12] 40 Greece (Greek Singles Chart)[13] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[14] 44 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 25 Romania (Romanian Top 100) 44 Russia (NFPP) 38 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 8 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 24 Turkey (Turkish Singles Chart)[18] 19 Ukraine (FDR Singles Chart) [19] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] 47

Certifications and sales Dyki tantsi Region Certification Sales/shipments Ukraine (IFPI) Diamond 500,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone Wild Dances Region Certification Sales/shipments Belgium (BEA)[21] Gold 25,000^* Romania (UFPR) Gold 2,000^^ Greece (IFPI Greece)[22] Gold 10,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Chart precession and succession

Release history

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Region	Date	Format
Ukraine	17 May 2004	CD single
Germany	24 May 2004
Greece
Netherlands
Finland
Belgium
Sweden
Latvia
Lithuania
Estonia
Poland
Israel
Turkey
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Slovenia
United Kingdom
United States	29 April 2008	Digital download

References

1. "Ukraine celebrates Eurovision win". BBC. 2004-05-16.
2. VietNamNet - Sau "đạo giai điệu" lại đến "đạo hoà âm"
3. gta4.net - GRAND THEFT AUTO IV - Music: Soundtrack, Radio Songs
4. Bloggs, Wiwi (2011-10-12). "Ruslana’s "Wild Dances" Inspires U.S. Gymnast Jordyn Wieber". WiwiBloggs.Com. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
5. "Very Best of Eurovision Song Contest - A 60th Anniversary (CD / Digital Download Available NOW)". SBS.au. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
6. 07.05.2004 Новости за May 2004, связанные с проведением Конкурса Песни Евровидение 2004.
7. "Austriancharts.at – Ruslana – Wild Dance" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
8. "Ultratop.be – Ruslana – Wild Dance" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
9. "Ultratop.be – Ruslana – Wild Dance" (in French). Ultratop 50.
10. "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2004-06-26. Archived from the original on August 5, 2004. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
11. "Ruslana: Wild Dance" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
12. "Musicline.de – Ruslana Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
13. "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2004-06-26. Archived from the original on July 17, 2004. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
14. "Chart Track: Week 24, 2004". Irish Singles Chart.
15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Ruslana search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
16. "Swedishcharts.com – Ruslana – Wild Dance". Singles Top 100.
17. "Swisscharts.com – Ruslana – Wild Dance". Swiss Singles Chart.
18. "Digital Singles Charts - Turkey". Number One Top 20. Archived from the original on 20 May 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2004.
19. "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". Web.archive.org. 2004-05-21. Archived from the original on June 6, 2004. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
20. "Ruslana: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
21. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2004". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
22. "Greek single certifications – Ruslana – Wild Dances" (in Greek). IFPI Greece.

External links

• Amazon.com about the single
• Belgium 2004 year end chart.
• Peak positions of Wild Dances