Jump to content

Ruslana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Ruslana Lyzhichko)
For other people named Ruslana, see Ruslana (name).
In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Stepanivna and the family name is Lyzhychko.

Ruslana Lyzhychko
Руслана Лижичко
Ruslana in 2015
Born
Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko

(1973-05-24) 24 May 1973 (age 51)[1]
Lviv, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine)
NationalityUkrainian
Other namesRuslana
Occupations
  • Singer
  • lyricist
  • dancer
  • producer
  • composer
  • pianist
  • voice actress
  • conductor
  • politician
  • activist
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1995)​
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
  • drums
  • keyboards
  • trembita
  • tambourine
Years active1996–present
Labels
Websitewww.ruslana.ua
People's Deputy of Ukraine
5th convocation
In office
25 May 2006 – 23 November 2007
ConstituencyOur Ukraine Party, No.5[4]

Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko (Ukrainian: Руслана Степанівна Лижичко, IPA: [rʊsˈlɑnɐ steˈpɑn⁽ʲ⁾iu̯nɐ lɪˈʒɪtʃko]; born 24 May 1973),[1] known mononymously as Ruslana, is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, actress, activist, and former politician. She is a World Music Award and Eurovision Song Contest winning recording artist,[5] holding the title of People's Artist of Ukraine.[6] She is also a former MP serving as deputy in the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) for the Our Ukraine Party.[7] Ruslana was the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Ukraine in 2004–2005.[8] She is recognized as the most successful Ukrainian female solo artist internationally[9][10] and was included in the top 10 most influential women of 2013 by the Forbes magazine.[11] The U.S. Secretary of State honored her with the International Women of Courage Award in March, 2014.[12] She has been named an honorary citizen of her hometown Lviv[13] and was nominated to receive the title Hero of Ukraine.[14]

She is a singer, songwriter, producer, musical conductor, multi-instrumentalist, dancer, voice actress and social activist. She writes, composes and produces her own songs and music videos. Since 28 December 1995 she has been married to Oleksandr Ksenofontov, a Ukrainian record producer.[15] Together they have run the company Luxen Studio since 1993, producing radio and film trailers.[15]

Ruslana was the first artist from the former Soviet Union to officially receive a platinum disc, her Dyki tantsi album selling more than 170,000 copies in the first 100 days after its release.[16] This album is the best selling Ukrainian album to date, together with its English version, more than 500,000 copies being sold solely in Ukraine.[17][18]

She won the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Wild Dances" receiving 280 points, which at that time was a record of points.[19] Following her victory, she rose to fame in Europe and became one of the biggest pop stars from the Eastern part of the continent. Her winning song "Wild Dances" dominated the European charts for 97 weeks peaking at number one in Belgium for 10 consecutive weeks.[20] Her Eurovision winning song was included on the official compilation album called The Very Best of Eurovision celebrating the 60th anniversary of the contest.[21]

Her repertoire includes songs performed mainly in Ukrainian and English, but she also recorded cover versions in Spanish and Latin languages.

Early life

[edit]

Ruslana was born on 24 May 1973 in Lviv, Ukraine to Ukrainian father Stepan Lyzhychko and Russian mother Nina Sapegina.[22] She was raised in the Lviv Oblast (province). Encouraged by her mother, Ruslana studied from the age of four at an experimental musical school and sang in different bands, including in the vocal-instrumental band Horizon, the band Orion and the children's ensemble Usmishka (Smile). With Usmishka, Ruslana performed at a large concert in the Druzhba Stadium in 1989. One of the headlining acts of that concert was Vasyl Zinkevych, People's Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, who noticed her talent. At the end of the concert, Zinkevych asked her to come on stage and declared in front of an audience of 15,000 spectators: "Remember this young singer, your compatriot. You will see: she will definitely become a real star."[23] After finishing secondary school, Ruslana entered the Lviv Conservatory where she graduated as a classical pianist and symphonic orchestra conductor in 1995.[24]

Musical career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Ruslana started her career as the winner of the Slavianski Bazaar song competition in Vitebsk, Belarus in 1996 with the song Oj, letili dyki husi.[24] In the same year, she was among the nominees for the Ukrainian Singer of the Year award and the video for Dzvinkyi Viter (Wind Bells) was awarded Music Video of the Year. Since her early career, Ruslana's producer was Oleksandr Ksenofontov, whom she married in 1995.[25]

In 1997, Ruslana began working on Christmas with Ruslana – the first L'viv Christmas television project of an All-Ukrainian scale including the video clip Ballad of a Princess which was the first animated music video made by a Ukrainian singer.

Her first album Myt Vesny – Dzvinkyi Viter (A Moment of Spring – Wind Bells), released in 1998, received high praise from the critics.

Still, wider recognition did not come until 1998 with the song Svitanok (Sunrise) and the album Myt' Vesny – Dzvinkyj Viter Live. Svitanok was the first Ukrainian big-budget music video. In 1998, Ruslana was awarded Person of the Year, the song Svitanok was awarded Song of the Year and its accompanying music video was awarded Music Video of the Year. In the second half of 1998, she organized a charity tour which had the aim of raising funds for the restoration of the old castles from Western Ukraine. The tour was a success and thanks to Ruslana's efforts, the Zolochiv Castle was restored.[26]

In 1999, she worked on the Christmas musical Ostanne rizdvo 90th (The Last Christmas of the 90s), which won the Ukrainian Movie of the Year award. With the video clip to the song Znaju ya (I Know), which is about the ancient people of the Hutsuls living in the Ukrainian Carpathians, Ruslana set new standards for modern video clip filming.

Education

[edit]
Ruslana conducting a symphony orchestra

In 1995, Ruslana graduated from the Lviv Conservatory as professional conductor and classical pianist. She was the student of one of the most prominent Ukrainian composers and conductors, Mykola Kolessa who is regarded as 'the father of the Ukrainian conducting school'. She used to be a part of the student choir of the Lviv Music Academy.

2004: Wild Dances Project and Eurovision victory

[edit]
Ruslana performing "Heart on Fire" at the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005.

Wild Dances Project

[edit]

Ruslana's father is from the West-Ukrainian area of the Hutsuls, the dwellers of the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. They have a unique culture with an ancient and rich history that inspired Ruslana to create her concept album Wild Dances. It combines powerful and permeating ethnic drums, trumpet sounds of the trembita, an ancient Hutsul music instrument, with modern dance beats. The album was composed by Ruslana after an expedition to the Carpathian Mountains in spring 2003.[27]

The album Dyki Tantsi (Wild Dances) was released in June 2003 in Ukraine. The album sold more than 170,000 copies in the first 100 days after its release, even without a supporting tour.[16] Together with its English language counterpart it was the first album ever to be certified five times platinum in Ukraine, selling more than 500,000 copies, making it the most successful album in Ukraine ever.[24]

Eurovision Song Contest 2004

[edit]
Main article: Eurovision Song Contest 2004

Ruslana was internally selected by the NTU to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. Before the contest, she was a hot favorite for victory by the bookmakers. At the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, she performed her self-composed song, Wild Dances and won the contest receiving 280 points. In the semifinal, the song received points from all other participating countries; in the final, Switzerland was the only country not giving any points to the song.

The single Wild Dances stayed a total of 97 weeks in various European single charts. It was certified gold in Belgium, Sweden, Russia, Greece, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In Belgium, it topped the singles charts at #1 for 10 consecutive weeks. Also in Ukraine and Greece, the song peaked at #1.[20] The English language album Wild Dances was released in many European countries in the autumn of 2004. In Las Vegas she received the World Music Award as best selling Ukrainian artist.[9]

After her victory Ruslana was appointed advisor to the Ukrainian prime minister, and the Ukrainian president bestowed upon her one of the country's highest honors when she received the title of People's Artist of Ukraine.[6]

In Belgium she was among the top 15 ranked performers with her singles "Wild Dances" and "Dance with the Wolves".[28] Ruslana was named the most popular person in Belgium,[28] the sexiest girl in Greece,[28] the most influential public person in Ukraine[28] and was the first foreigner to receive the award of the Federation of Journalists in Turkey.[28]

2005

[edit]
Main article: Eurovision Song Contest 2005
Ukrainian stamp celebrating Ruslana's victory at the Eurovision Song Contest

Ruslana had been initially chosen to host the semi-final and the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005.[29] However, the singer had to decline the offer due to her involvement in the organization of a big charity concert dedicated to the victims of the Chernobyl disaster. Therefore, Ruslana appeared at the event only as a guest star. She performed a medley of Wild Dances and Heart on Fire at the opening ceremony being accompanied by the Zhyttia ballet and the Ukrainian drums ensemble ARS Nova. After interviewing the competitors in the green room she also performed her latest single The Same Star. During this performance, Ruslana wore a red costume inspired by Ukrainian ethnic elements.

Also in 2005, Ruslana designed the cover for Jonathan Safran Foer's The Unabridged Pocket Book of Lightning which was produced as part of Penguin Books' 70th birthday celebrations.[30]

2006

[edit]
Main article: Die Grand Prix Hitliste

In 2006, Ruslana's song "Wild Dances" was named Germany's all-time favorite Eurovision entry in an internet poll arranged by the German public television broadcaster NDR. During the television program Die Grand Prix Hitliste, "Wild Dances" was presented as the winner, ahead of well-known classics, such as "Waterloo" and Germany's only winner (at the time), "Ein Bißchen Frieden", which finished in sixth and twelfth place respectively. The programme was viewed by a television audience of approximately six million people in Germany.[31]

For the FIFA World Cup 2006 Ruslana went on tour in Germany to support the Ukraine national football team. She performed in Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin, Leipzig, and Nuremberg.

2008: Wild Energy and Grand Theft Auto IV

[edit]

Ruslana's project Wild Energy was based on the science fiction novel by Maryna and Sergij Diachenko Wild Energy. Lana. In a future city which experiences a global energy crisis, far more threatening than lack of oil and gas, people are lacking their will to live, their energy of the heart – the "fuel for people". Lana, one of the synthetic inhabitants, sets out to find the mystical energy source. After many adventures, she discovers that the wild energy comes from her own heart. Wild Energy combines the art of music and video production, literature and social commitment in an extraordinary way. In June 2006 Ruslana presented the new single and video Wild Energy in a unique fantasy style. In this video clip, the singer develops from a synthetic blonde girl into her wild image.

In March 2008 Ruslana's Ukrainian album Amazonka was released in Ukraine, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The English album Wild Energy was released by Warner Music in Canada and several European countries in autumn 2008.[32]

The album was recorded at the Hit Factory Studio in Miami and contains two collaborations with American Urban superstars T-Pain and Missy Elliott.[33] On this release Ruslana creates her own distinctive technique of incorporating ancient ethnic styles of the Carpathian Mountain people with modern popular music.

In Grand Theft Auto IV, Ruslana lends her voice as the host of Vladivostok FM. Her song "Wild Dances" is featured as one of the songs on Vladivostok. On 13 May 2008, Grand Theft Auto IV broke the Guinness World Records for "Highest grossing video game in 24 hours" and "Highest Revenue Generated by an Entertainment Product in 24 Hours". It sold 3.6 million copies on day one generating $310 million in revenue.[34]

2009–2010: Asia Song Festival & new album recordings

[edit]
Ruslana on the catwalk of the 2009 Asia Song Festival in Seoul, Korea

In 2009, she was invited to attend the sixth Asia Song Festival which took place in Seoul, Korea. The event was held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium where Ruslana sung in front of an audience of 60,000 people. Together with the Zhyttia ballet, she performed three songs from her first international album: "Wild Dances", "Dance with the Wolves" and a bilingual version of "Play, Musician!". Her act was met with great enthusiasm by the Asian public who didn't know her until that moment. Even if she was supposed to receive only an award for her contribution to the cultural exchange between Ukraine and Asia in music, in the end she also won the main award of the festival, receiving the golden statue for the best artist of the Asia Song Festival 2009.[35]

2011–2012: The Voice of Ukraine and Ukrainian album Ey-fori-YA

[edit]

In 2011, Ruslana was appointed as one of the judges of the Ukrainian version of The Voice show. Her involvement in the project was featured on the Dutch TV where the original show of the series kicked off. Eventually, Ruslana's alumni, Tonya Matvienko, placed 2nd in the grand final of the Ukrainian show.

Also in 2011, her song Wild Dances was used by the American gymnast Jordyn Wieber as the soundtrack for her floor exercise.[36] Wieber eventually became the 2011 World Women's All-Around Champion and won the golden medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics performing her floor exercise on Ruslana's song.[36]

In April 2012 the new Ukrainian language album ЕЙ-форі-Я (EY-fori-YA) was released in Ukraine. The album on which Ruslana had worked for four years was produced in the US, Sweden and Ukraine produced by Vlad Debriansky and Ruslana and features musicians such as Rusty Allen, Victor Little, George Benson, Brian Coller and others.[37]

Despite its intercontinental rock and pop nature, the album EY-fori-YA and the three songs taken from it previously is based on Slavic rhythms. Ruslana integrated old Slavic circle dances, liturgies and elements of classic pieces of Russian composers including Glinka, Tschaikowsky, Mussorgsky, and Rachmaninow.[37] The album is designed for flash mob type synchronous dances. In April/May 2012 she toured 11 Ukrainian cities with a unique show concept called OGO Show. During these open-air events Ruslana appeared as lead dancer teaching the audience the moves. The audience doesn't consume passively, but is integrated into the show.[38] More concept concerts followed within the framework of the EURO 2012 public fan events.

2013: International album My Boo! (Together!) & Clash of the Choirs

[edit]

Her third international album was set to be released in 2013 under the title My Boo! (Together!).[39] The new material shows how versatile Ruslana is as an artist as she completely changed her style since the Wild Energy project, from a wild Amazon to an Urban pop princess.

Most of the album was produced by Vlad DeBriansky in Los Angeles and includes the names of American top musicians such as Rusty Allen, Victor Little, Oscar Seaton, Brian Coller as well as Stefan Örn from Sweden who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 as a songwriter. Goran Bregovich, the legendary Balkan musician from Serbia produced the song Kray[40]

At the same time of the release of the new English album Ruslana's Ukrainian album ЕЙ-форі-Я (EY-fori-YA, Euphoria) was re-released under the new title Мій Брат! (разом) (Miy Brat! (razom!), My Brother! (together!)). The renaming of the album had become necessary because of the coincidental same name of the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. The Swedish singer Loreen won the event with the song Euphoria, one month after Ruslana had released her Ukrainian album and song of the same name. In order to avoid misunderstandings Ruslana's renamed not only her album but also her English song Euphoria into This Is Euphoria.[41]

In August 2013 Ruslana globally released the single This Is Euphoria digitally. The track was composed and produced by Ruslana and the Swedish musician Stefan Örn.

She was invited to perform at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013 which took place in her country's capital Kyiv.[42] Nevertheless, she withdrew her act from the show considering the violence shown by the Ukrainian authorities against those who were peacefully protesting in the country's capital.[43]

She was one of the coaches of the first season of the Clash of the Choirs TV show in Ukraine. Ruslana and her alumni from the city of Lviv have won the grand final of the project on 5 January 2014, receiving 78% of the tele voting.[44]

2014–2016: Eurovision juror

[edit]

In January 2014 her international album My Boo! (Together!) was released digitally. For her subsequent album Ruslana intended to study again ethnic motifs as she regarded the Wild Dances project as her most creative work.[45] Due to her active involvement in the Euromaidan in Ukraine, Ruslana had to postpone her musical plans.

Ruslana was invited as music expert for Eurosong, the Belgian selection for the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in order to choose the best candidate to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014.[46]

On 9 and 10 October Ruslana held two concerts at the Manchester Ukrainian Cultural Centre 'Dnipro'. She originally planned on performing only one show however as the tickets sold out within hours, it was decided that she would perform a second concert the next day. Tickets for that show were also almost sold out.[47]

On 24 October, Ruslana performed a concert along with the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus in Massey Hall in Toronto. The purpose of the concert was to showcase the beauty and the importance of the Bandura in Ukrainian music and culture. For her final song, Ruslana performed along with the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus as well as the Zoloti Struny Youth Bandura Ensemble based in Toronto. She was a judge at Vidbir, Ukraine's National Selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. Out of the three jury members, she was the only one who supported the singer Jamala who later on became the second Eurovision winner from Ukraine.

In late 2016, after Jamala's victory at Eurovision in Stockholm, Ruslana played 3 concerts in Western Europe. In October she played in London, in November she played in Paris and in December she played in Hanover (Hannover). In all of these concerts she spoke about the victory that Jamala brought for Ukraine, and how Ukraine would be opening up to the world again in May 2017.

2017: It's Magical / Ya lyublyu

[edit]

After her long-lasting creative break, which was caused by the dramatic and stormy events in Ukraine, Ruslana presented her new single "It's Magical / Я люблю" at the Eurovision Grand Finale in Kyiv on 13 May 2017. The new music style combines tender cradle songs with brisk exotic melodies and rhythms. The original, exotic manner of singing which forms the basis of the soundtrack Ruslana acquired on sometimes extreme expeditions into the Carpathian Mountains. The song was released in an English ("It's Magical") and a Ukrainian version ("Я люблю" / "Ya lyublyu" / "I Love").[48]

The film production took place in a unique place, the Basalt quarry in the Rivne region. Director Oles Sanin created a thunderstorm in a realistic way for the video clip. The image of Ruslana in the chainmail in which she appears in the clip resembles her internal state. After all the events in her country and her extreme expeditions into the mountains, Ruslana feels like a kind of warrioress who is called to protect the most valuable: Love. In her song, video Ruslana wants to draw attention to the widespread deforestation in the Carpathians. Her aim is the preservation of the Carpathian primeval forests, their unique wildlife, and exceptional culture.[49]

Political activities

[edit]

2004: Orange Revolution

[edit]
Main article: Orange Revolution

In autumn 2004 Ruslana actively supported the democratic processes in Ukraine known as the Orange Revolution, to which her song "Dance with the Wolves" was devoted. She declared her support for Viktor Yushchenko during the disputed Ukrainian presidential elections. She became one of the prominent figures that addressed the mass crowds rallying in support of Yushchenko's demand that his original defeat be declared fraudulent. From spring 2006 to summer 2007 she was a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament for the party Our Ukraine.[50]

Ruslana endorsed Yulia Tymoshenko during the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election[51] and actively supported her candidature during the election campaign.[52][53]

2012: Campaign against judicial arbitrariness

[edit]

In December 2012 Ruslana launched the human rights campaign Не мовчи (Don't keep silent) which challenges the juridical system of Ukraine. In particular she supports the case of Dmytro and Sergiy Pavlichenko who claim to have been forced to admit a murder they have not committed. The father and son were convicted of killing a judge of a district court in Kyiv and sentenced to life imprisonment and 13 years in prison respectively.[54] The verdict was widely criticized mainly by football fans.[55] Ruslana dedicated her song and video Це – Ей-форі-Я (This is Euphoria) to the case of the Pavlichenkos who according to her are victims of a misjudgement.[56]

2013–2014: Euromaidan

[edit]
See also: Euromaidan
Ruslana reading out an official resolution of Euromaidan, 29 November 2013
Ruslana with José Manuel Barroso and Henri Malosse at the Plenary Session of the EESC in Brussels
First Lady Michelle Obama and Deputy Secretary Heather Higginbottom pose for a photo with 2014 Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award Winner Ruslana

Ruslana was one of the leading figures of the pro-EU protests known as Euromaidan.[57][58][59] On 22 November 2013, Ukrainian citizens started spontaneous protests in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, after the Ukrainian government had suspended preparations for signing an Association Agreement with the European Union.[60]

External videos
video icon Ukrainian star & activist Ruslana speaks at the National Press Club, 5 March 2014, 1:09:44

From the first day of the protests she stayed on Kyiv's Maidan Nezalezhnosti virtually all night, up to ten hours a night.[61][62] In an interview with The Daily Beast on 11 December 2013 she explained her role in the opposition as "charging Maidan with freedom-loving energy", insisted she "hates" politics[63] and denied supporting any single leader.[64]

In total Ruslana spent at least 100 days and 100 nights on the Maidan stage during the cold winter inspiring the crowds, giving speeches and singing the Ukraine national anthem every hour day after day and night after and night, often sleeping just a couple of hours on the floor of the Trade Union building occupied by the protesters.[65] As a symbol of people power, peace and freedom she established holding up flashlights while singing the Ukraine national anthem.

When during the night of 30 November 2013 the riot police wanted to clear the occupied Maidan and started beating up peacefully sleeping activists, Ruslana rushed for help and managed to seek shelter with about 100 students, some of them wounded, in a nearby monastery.[66] During another night in December 2013, when riot police advanced again towards the square, Ruslana did her utmost to deescalate the situation by talking to them from the stage repeating over and over again "Quiet! No violence!". The 2,000+ riot police eventually retreated.[67]

Her commitment in the pro-European movement was featured in many international publications. While the American press regarded her as the 'true heroine of Ukraine',[68] the German magazine Spiegel called her 'Kyiv's queen of the night',[69] and the Spanish newspaper El Mundo compared her to Jeanne d'Arc.[70] The media even compared her to Katniss Everdeen, the heroine of The Hunger Games trilogy.[71] The Russian Forbes magazine included her in the top 10 of the most influential women of 2013[72] and the Business Ukraine magazine named her 'person of the year'.[73]

From January 2014, Ruslana started to meet with key EU and U.S. politicians asking for support for Ukraine. Her first appearance in this role at the 495th Plenary Session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and a meeting with José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, resulted in a resolution of the EESC to support the Ukrainian civil society and its democratic rights.[74] In the following months Ruslana travelled to Stockholm, Paris, Warsaw, Brussels, Vienna, Strasbourg, Berlin, Munich, São Paulo, Washington, D.C., and New York speaking to leading government officials calling for international support, and giving interviews to press about the situation in Ukraine.

Her activism put herself in serious danger. She received numerous death threats on her phone, her car was followed and she couldn't live in her house for several weeks because it was constantly observed. Snipers aimed at her while she was standing on the Maidan stage. The threats started after she started demanding sanctions from the EU governments against the Yanukovych government.[75] Ruslana had also noted the presence of paid provocateurs who have instigated fights in the otherwise peaceful protests.[76] After President Viktor Yanukovych had fled the country in late February 2014 and the fights in Ukraine escalated Ruslana targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin as aggressor and demanded sanctions against him and his government. In Washington, D.C., she stated: "Putin's propaganda is a machine against the truth. Putin started his terrorist operation in Eastern Ukraine and is preparing his way to Kyiv. Russia's special forces, terrorist, are invading Ukraine ... Tomorrow we will wake up and see that Putin took away everything he wanted."[77]

For her extraordinary courage, commitment and dedication Ruslana was honoured with several awards including the International Woman of Courage Award, awarded by First Lady Michelle Obama at the Woman in the World Summit in New York[78] and the 2014 Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award from at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C.[79]

On 24 May 2014, the day before the presidential election in Ukraine which happened to be also her birthday, Ruslana organized a global joint prayer which involved one million people in several countries highlighting the unity of Ukrainians across the world and the global support for Ukraine. Ruslana herself read the prayer "For Ukraine, for peace and quiet" and performed the Ukraine national anthem in 12 languages on Mount Khomyak in the Carpathian Mountains.[80]

Social commitment

[edit]

In 2004 to 2005 Ruslana was appointed Good Will Ambassador of Ukraine by the UNICEF and combats trafficking in human beings.[81] She released two video clips which aim to make potential victims aware of the dangers of human trafficking. In February 2008 Ruslana performed at an anti-human trafficking event in Vienna, Austria, organized by UN.GIFT (The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking) in front of 117 international delegations. Her song Not for Sale became the anthem of the anti-trafficking campaign.[82]

Within the frames of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Kyiv she gave a charity concert for children suffering from the consequences of the Chernobyl tragedy. For another charity project Ruslana joined forces with German rock star Peter Maffay.[83] In April/May 2007 they went together with artists from 14 countries on a four weeks tour through Germany. The funds gathered benefited children in need.

Ruslana has also staged numerous charity concerts benefiting Children's hospitals in Kyiv, Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk.

With her project Wild Energy Ruslana supports the use of renewable energy. She regards the energy of the sun, the water and the wind as an energy independence. The project gradually developed into this bigger meaning. Ruslana wants to make people aware of the dangers of global climate change.[84] In September 2018, she was appointed as global ambassador for renewable energy by Global100RE.[85]

After large regions in Western Ukraine were hit by a flood in July 2008 Ruslana set up the co-ordinating and relief centre Carpathians. Flood. SOS! 2008. The aim of the centre is to create a database of the people in need, to provide emergency humanitarian help and to collect and distribute donations both from the public and from other Ukrainian artists and sportsmen to support the victims of the flood.[86]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Ruslana discography

DVDs

[edit]
  • 1998: Rizdvo z Ruslanoju (Christmas With Ruslana)
  • 1999: Ostannje Rizdvo 90-h (Last Christmas of the 90's)
  • 2002: Rizdvjani Legendy (Christmas Legends)
  • 2003: Na Rizdvo do L'vivs'kogo (Christmas with L'vivians)
  • 2008: Wild Energy. Amazon. Wild Dances

International Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
AUT BEL (Vl) FIN DEU GRE POL ROM RUS SWE CHE TUR UKR UK
2004 "Wild Dances" 43 1 20 40 1 38 44 6 8 24 19 1 47 Wild Dances
"Dance with the Wolves"  – 19  –  – 25 97 95 105  –  –  – 3  –
2005 "The Same Star"  – 50  –  –  –  – 60 199  –  –  – 1  –
2006 "Wild Energy"  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  – 1  – Wild Energy
2008 "Moon of Dreams"  –  –  –  –  –  – 77  –  –  –  – 1  –
"Silent Angel"  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –
2013 "This is Euphoria"  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  – 9  – My Boo! (Together!)

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Presenter Award Result
1996 Slavianski Bazaar (Belarus) 1st place
"Oj, letily dyki gusy" 		Won
1999 Person of the Year 1999 (Ukraine) Person of the year Won
Best song of the year
"Svitanok" 		Won
Best video of the year
"Svitanok" 		Won
2004 Eurovision Song Contest 1st place
"Wild Dances" 		Won
Marcel Bezençon Awards Artistic Award
"Wild Dances" 		Won
World Music Awards (Las Vegas, USA) Best Selling Ukrainian Artist
"Wild Dances" 		Won
MAD TV Video Music Awards (Greece) Best International Video
"Wild Dances" 		Won
Arion Music Awards (Greece) Best Selling International Single
"Wild Dances" 		Won
2005 Romanian Most Loved Awards Most Loved International Singer Won
Macedonia's The Best 13 Best European Singer Won
2006 Die Grand Prix Hitliste (Germany) Best Eurovision song
"Wild Dances" 		Won
2009 Asia Song Festival The Special Award Won
Best Artist Won
2010 Person of the Year 2010 (Ukraine) Best solo artist Won
2011 World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders Award[87] Won
2013 Bitva Horiv - Clash of the Choirs Ukraine 1st place Won
Forbes Russia Women of the year 2013 Won
2014 Ukrainian Intellectual Society "Vasyl Stus" Award[88] Won
U.S. Secretary of State Woman of Courage Award[12] Won
Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Award[89] Won
International Republican Institute Freedom Award[90] Won
European Parliament Sakharov Prize[91][92] Nominated
Lech Wałęsa Lech Wałęsa Prize[93] Won
Washington Oxi Day Foundation The Battle of Crete Award[94] Won
2015 Lev Kopelev Forum "Lev Kopelev" Prize for Peace and Human Rights[95][96] Won

Music videos

[edit]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2000 2000 Today by BBC Herself Representative of Ukraine
2004 Eurovision Song Contest 2004 Ukraine's entry (winner)
World Music Awards 2004 Guest Star
2005 Melodifestivalen 2005
Making Your Mind Up 2005
Eurovision Song Contest 2005
2009 Asia Song Festival Guest Star
2010 Wipeout (BUM, Bytva Ukrayinskyh Mist) Participant
True La–La: Three Divas Guest Star
2011 Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Ukrainian Spokesperson
The Secret History of Eurovision Guest Star
The Voice of Ukraine Coach
2012 Moya pravda / Ruslana. Ukroshcheniye stroptivoy Guest Star
MyDance Judge
2013 Eurosong 2013: A MAD show Guest Star
The Heart of Eurovision with Julia Zemiro
Clash of the Choirs Сoach (winner)
2014 Eurosong 2014 Music expert / Judge
The Charlie Rose Show Guest
2016 Ukrainian Eurovision national final 2016 Judge
2017 Unser Song 2017 Guest star
2022 Kaukės Contestant

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role
2015 Pray for Ukraine Herself
Kazka staroho melʹnyka (The Tale of the Old Miller)[97] TBA

Video Games

[edit]
Year Title Role
2008 Grand Theft Auto IV Herself as the DJ of Vladivostok FM

See also

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Руслана.
Wikinews has related news:
Wikiquote has quotations related to Ruslana.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Руслана – Биография Archived 5 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Umka.com Ruslana. Dyki Tanci. (Wild dances) Archived 1 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Ruslana (2004) new album ‘Wild energy' Archived 13 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "People's Deputy of Ukraine of the V convocation". Official portal (in Ukrainian). Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  5. ^ eurovision.tv. Results of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 Archived 31 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b "Ukrainian singer wins the Eurovision Song Contest". Welcome to Ukraine. 3 June 2004. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Ruslana is ready to take her seat in the Parliament". for-ua.com. 29 March 2006. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  8. ^ "Ukrainian Eurovision winner Ruslana to back OSCE anti-trafficking campaign". OSCE. 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Ruslana among winners at World Music Awards in Las Vegas". UkrWeekly. 14 December 2004. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2004.
  10. ^ "Welcome the Ukrainian Madonna". NowToronto. 14 November 2008. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  11. ^ "Forbes: Most successful women of 2013". Forbes. 1 January 2014. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Ruslana — Woman of Courage, International Pop Star, Former Ukraine Parliament Member and EuroMaidan Protest Leader — to Discuss Current Crisis at National Press Club". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Lviv singer Ruslana became an honorary citizen of the city". kp.ua. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Lviv MP wants to name Ruslana Hero of Ukraine". zik.ua. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Ruslana's husband speaks out". Esctoday.com. 24 May 2004. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  16. ^ a b "Ruslana "Dyki Tantsi" 2003". for-ua.com. 3 October 2003. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  17. ^ "Ruslana, International pop star, Eurovision winner returns to USA with concert". prlog.org. 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  18. ^ "60th Most Influential Person in Ukraine in 2005". Korrespondent. 10 January 2006. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2006.
  19. ^ "Ukraine's Ruslana wins Eurovision Song Contest". The Moscow Times. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2004.
  20. ^ a b "Ruslana: My first victory after Eurovision..." ESCToday. 14 July 2004. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2004.
  21. ^ "Very Best of Eurovision Song Contest — A 60th Anniversary (CD / Digital Download Available NOW)". SBS.au. 1 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  22. ^ "Руслана Лыжичко пошла в бабушку". Gazeta.ua. 2 November 2006. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011.
  23. ^ Mishchenko, Maksym (20 May 2004). "Василь Зінкевич: "Я гордий, що у мене така творча донька" - "Високий замок", 19 травня". Lviv Portal (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  24. ^ a b c "Biography on Ruslana's official website". Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  25. ^ "Знаменитості України Лижичко Руслана Степанівна". ukrfoto.net. Archived from the original on 20 November 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  26. ^ "Who will Save Ukrainian Castles?". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  27. ^ "Ruslana – the first Ukrainian pop singer to win a major European pop song contest". Welcome to Ukraine. 3 June 2004. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  28. ^ a b c d e "Meet world famous Ukrainian celebrities Shevchenko, Klitschko and Ruslana". Ukraine All About. 14 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 January 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  29. ^ Bakker, Sietse (4 May 2005). "Ruslana resigns as host". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  30. ^ "Book cover archive". bookcoverarchieve.com. 5 June 2005. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  31. ^ Busa, Alexandru (4 July 2007). "Ruslana – The best of Eurovision". esctoday. Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2006.
  32. ^ "Ruslana signs major recording deal with Warner Records". EscToday.com. 15 February 2008. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  33. ^ "Ruslana Blog » RUSLANA TO RELEASE "WILD ENERGY" ON 10 OCTOBER, 2008". Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  34. ^ "Grand Theft Auto IV breaks Guinness World Records with biggest entertainment release of all-time". ign.com. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  35. ^ "Ruslana conquered Asian hearts". eurovision.tv. 22 September 2009. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  36. ^ a b "Jordyn Wieber wins world all-around title". ESPN. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  37. ^ a b "Ruslana. HEY-phori-YEAH. (EU-phori-A)". UMKA. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  38. ^ Ogoshow Archived 3 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  39. ^ "Ti-o mai amintesti pe Ruslana?". perfecte.ro. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  40. ^ "UMKA : Ruslana. HEY-phori-YEAH. (EU-phori-A)". Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  41. ^ Interview Ruslana – My boo! (World Out Games 2013 – Antwerp – Belgium) on YouTube
  42. ^ "Remarkable Ruslana to perform with a children's choir at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest". junioreurovision.tv. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  43. ^ "Why wasn't Ruslana at Junior Eurovision?". Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  44. ^ "Руслана розридалася на сцені "Битви хорів", почувши про перемогу своєї команди — Новини". 1plus1.ua. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  45. ^ "Ruslana: My s muzhem sozdany drug dlya druga". Obozrevatel.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  46. ^ "Belgium: Ruslana Joins Panel for Eurosong 2014". ESCflashMalta.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  47. ^ "Два надзвичайних живих концерти в Манчестері". Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  48. ^ "Ruslana releases brand new single and video "It's Magical"". Oikotimes. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  49. ^ "Ruslana releases brand new single and video "It's Magical"". Oikotimes. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  50. ^ "Ruslana resigns as Member of Parliament". Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  51. ^ (in Ukrainian) Руслана на виборах президента підтримає Тимошенко Archived 1 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrainska Pravda (26 June 2009)
  52. ^ (in Ukrainian) Зірковий колгосп для Тимошенко Archived 3 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Ukrayinska Pravda (10 September 2009)
  53. ^ Best singers of country start tour in support of Tymoshenko Archived 1 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine, UNIAN (14 September 2009)
  54. ^ "Ukrainian ombudsperson promises to check Pavlichenkos' claims of extorted confession to murder". Interfax Ukraine. 14 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  55. ^ "theyarenotkillers.com". Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  56. ^ "Ruslana's advocacy campaign "Don't Keep Silent", Press-center UNIAN". RuslanaTube. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  57. ^ Musicians liven up EuroMaidan stage, Kyiv Post (29 November 2013) Archived 29 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  58. ^ "Bershidsky on Europe: Swiss Reject Pay Cap". Bloomberg. 25 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013. Yet the Euromaidan, as the protest campaign is known, is serious enough to give President Viktor Yanukovych a serious scare.
  59. ^ "Євромайдан" вимагає скасування рішення уряду про відмову від євроінтеграції (in Ukrainian). Voice of America: Ukrainian. 24 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  60. ^ "Ukraine drops EU plans and looks to Russia". Al Jazeera. 21 November 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  61. ^ Ukrainian Eurovision pop star becomes voice of protest Archived 16 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, NBCNews.com (12 December 2013)
  62. ^ Ukraine's EuroMaidan: How The Kiev Protests Reflect Ukraine's Dance Between East And West Archived 19 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, International Business Times (13 December 2013)
  63. ^ Meet Ruslana Lyzhychko, the Soul of Ukraine's Revolution Archived 16 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Beast (11 December 2013)
  64. ^ Eurovision winner sings for revolution in Ukraine Archived 27 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Yahoo! News (13 December 2013)
  65. ^ "Ruslana at John Batchelor Show, 7.4.2014". 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  66. ^ "Special police disrupts EuroMaidan". The Ukrainian Week. 30 November 2013. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  67. ^ "Ruslana Honored with International Women of Courage Award". Embassy of the United States in Ukraine. 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  68. ^ "Meet Ruslana Lyzhychko, the Soul of Ukraine's Revolution". Daily Beast. 11 December 2013. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  69. ^ "Revolutionssängerin Ruslana: Kiews Königin der Nacht". Spiegel. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  70. ^ "Ruslana, una indígena ucraniana por Europa". El Mundo. 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  71. ^ "How Ukraine is like "The Hunger Games"". Vocativ.com. 7 January 2014. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  72. ^ "Forbes: Most influential women of 2013". Forbes. 1 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  73. ^ "Person of the year: Ruslana". Business Ukraine. 13 January 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  74. ^ "The protest movement of Maidan in Kiev at the EESC". Website of the EESC. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  75. ^ "Ruslana: Titushky banished me from my home, threaten to punish me like Bulatov". Pravda.com.ua. 9 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  76. ^ "EuroMaidan rallies in Ukraine — Dec.9 - Dec. 10, 2013". KyivPost. 10 December 2013. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  77. ^ "2014 Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award: Ruslana Lyzhychko". Atlantic Council. 30 April 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  78. ^ "International Woman of Courage: Ruslana Lyzhchko of the Ukraine". Woman in the World Summit. 8 April 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  79. ^ "2014 Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award: Ruslana Lyzhychko". Atlantic Council. 30 April 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  80. ^ "Ruslana with a million people around the world prayed for Ukraine". Facebook RuslanaOfficial. 24 May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  81. ^ "Ruslana becomes first ever UNICEF National Ambassador in Ukraine". www.brama.com. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  82. ^ "Ruslana Blog". Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  83. ^ Website of Peter Maffay Archived 11 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  84. ^ "A Ukrainian Pop Star's Would-Be Revolution". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  85. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest Winner Ruslana appointed as Ambassador for the Global 100% Renewable Energy Platform". Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  86. ^ "身長を伸ばすには？". karpatysos.info. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  87. ^ YGL Honorees 2011 Archived 9 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine (pdf), via WEForum.com
  88. ^ "Presentation of the Vasyl Stus Prize". UNIAN. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  89. ^ "Ukrainian Singer Ruslana Moves a Washington Crowd". Atlantic Council. May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  90. ^ ""People's Artist of Ukraine": A Conversation with Ruslana Lyzhychko". CSIS. Archived from the original on 9 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  91. ^ "Euromaidan nominated for 2014 Sakharov Prize". New Europe. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  92. ^ "Lithuanian MEPs propose Sakharov Prize for Ukrainian singer Ruslana". Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  93. ^ "Евромайдану присудили премию Леха Валенсы". lb.ua. 25 September 2014. Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  94. ^ "Руслана Лыжичко получит премию Battle of Crete Award". bigmir.net. 18 October 2014. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  95. ^ "Kopelew-Preis an russische und ukrainische Zivilgesellschaft". die-glocke.de. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  96. ^ "Ukraine conflict colors 2015 Lev Kopelev Prize". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  97. ^ "Руслана, Ступка, Табаков, Вітовська, Мірзоян, Бурмака знялись в українській казці (фото)". 3 December 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
[edit]

Listening

[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winning composer of the Eurovision Song Contest
2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest
2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
N/A
 Best Ukrainian Act – World Music Awards
2004 		Succeeded by
N/A
Preceded by Best Artist – Asia song festival
2009 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ruslana&oldid=1254610949"