http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...E16947,00.html
By Matthew Westwood & Agencies
May 17, 2004
LOOKING like a warrior queen from the Carpathian mountains, Ukrainian singer Ruslana Lyzichko won her nation's first Eurovision Song Contest title at the weekend.
Her winning song, Wild Dance, was a fusion of rock and ethnic folk sounds that picked up 280 points from voting countries.
The performance saw Ruslana and dancers dressed in raunchy leather outfits -- the singer managing to avoid a Janet Jackson-style wardrobe malfunction.
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."
She hoped that the Eurovision title would help spread the message of her country's friendship, adding: "I would like you to forget about Chernobyl."
Australian Eurovision fans held parties and voted for their favourite songs as the contest was televised on SBS last night.
The forerunner of talent shows like Australian Idol, Eurovision has become a cult annual event, especially for its daggy songs and blatantly partisan voting.
This year's contest, hosted for the first time by Turkey, was believed to be the biggest yet, with 36 nations taking part, and attracting an estimated worldwide audience of 100 million.
The finals took place in Istanbul's Abdi Ipekci Arena amid a heavy police presence, after the recent bombings in the city.
But the host country -- eager to join the European Union -- used the opportunity to present an image of religious and cultural tolerance through the broadcast.
With the title Under the Same Sky, the broadcast featured a stage design reminiscent of Istanbul's famous landmarks, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
Second place went to Zeljko Joksimovic of Serbia and Montenegro.
Hey Tamarisk I Have some vacation time i was thinking of visiting some area in Europe I Would Prefer a Place by a Sea know of any Such Place?
:shy
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