Report_Issue 1/2009 - Jubiläum/ 20 Jahre Mauerfall

„ Our future
is European!“
— Ruslana Lyzhichko, May 2009 —
There are, it seems, certain years of strength, of concentrated
energy, times of upheaval and breakthrough. To be
synchronised means that one’s best times coincide with
those of your country, says Ruslana (Lyzhichko) today. In
2004 things clicked for her: with her ethno song Dyki Tantsi
(wild dances) presented in the form of an audio-visual
spectacle this 36 year old won the Eurovision Song Contest
for Ukraine, and then later received the World Music
Award. As if this were not enough the Orange Revolution
started only a short while later, which, as one of the most
famous Ukrainians, she actively supported – even going as
far as a hunger strike. “2004 was the year Ukraine soared
highest. Suddenly all kinds of opportunities were there”,
she enthuses. “We captured the world!” “Capturing” in this
case means shifting Europe’s geographically largest country,
with a population of 46 million, from a blind corner to
the centre of global attention. On world tours Ruslana told
about her country, about shaking off a semi-authoritarian
regime, about a new freedom and the cultural treasures
that, thanks to the abolition of visa requirement, tourists
were able to visit without any problems only a few months
later. “It was a pleasure to do promotion work for Ukraine”,
she says: “Ukraine is my great friend.” Since then a lot of
water has flown down the country’s main river, the Dnipro.
Ruslana’s love of her country remains as great as ever, as
does her energy for life and her involvement in UNESCO.
And she continues to produce music. But the drive behind
the revolution has left Ukraine. The disappointment about
the enmity between the former political white hopes lies
over the country like a shroud: “People have lost faith in
our politicians”, says Ruslana: “But don’t worry, all the potential
has survived.” When she looks at the activity in the
music scene and the expectations of the youth then Ruslana
is certain of one thing: “Perhaps we are not travelling
along the European path as quickly as it once seemed. But
we are still moving along it! Our old mentality has been
discarded, our future is European!”
Before the Orange Revolution Ruslana Lyzhichko won the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 for Ukraine with the ethno song “Dyki Tantsi” (Wild Dances). Her musical style, an original mix of drive-ethno-dance, her costumes
borrowed from the folklore of the country, her fiery dance routines and her reputation as a national pop icon have focussed Europe’s gaze on Ukraine and brought Ruslana a golden disc for the single. This fullblooded
musician, who first appeared on stage at the age of only four and who completed training as a pianist and orchestra conductor, was one of the most famous Ukrainians to support the political change in autumn
last year. As a protest against the old regime she even chose to go on hunger strike. Ruslana is also active as a UNICEF ambassador and supports the OSCE in its fight against trafficking in human beings.
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