Ruslana

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.

  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. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ "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.