'Wild Dances' by Ruslana (Ukraine 2004)

Countdown to Eurovision 2013: my all-time favourites



Whips at the ready, boys.

My my Ruslana, what PIPES you have – by which I refer to both her impressive yodels and her musicians’ very long instruments.  Ahem.  As for the rest, well... Whips!   Furs!  Leather bikinis!  And, of course, TOTAL CHOON.  Quite simply, a masterclass in what modern Eurovision should be offering up, year in, year out.  (The fact that Terry sounds unconvinced just reinforces that – though he admits he's only just started drinking, so...)

 

It is of no importance that most of the lyrics make no discernible sense to either English or (I assume) Ukrainian speakers - what counts is that the whole of Europe can manage "dine-ah, dine-ah mumble mumble LOVE, dine-ah, dine-ah mumble mumble CHANCES", whilst stamping and headbanging.  Course, no-one stamps or bangs more expertly than Ruslana herself, all leather-chainmail chic and Kiev’s glossiest hair.  No wonder it won.  And no wonder Olympic gold medallist Jordyn Wieber used it for her gymnastics floor routine.  (Gymnastics to Eurovision?!?  I KNOW.)

 

It’s just a brilliant, brilliant dance number and – until Loreen appeared – my all-time fav.  GO GO GO WILD DANCES!