Ruslana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruslana Lyzhychko
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| Руслана Лижичко | |
Ruslana in 2015
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| Born |
Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko
24 May 1973 |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Other names | Ruslana |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Oleksandr Ksenofontov
(m. 1995) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | |
| People's Deputy of Ukraine | |
| 5th convocation | |
| In office 25 May 2006 – 23 November 2007 |
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| Constituency | Our Ukraine Party, No.5 |
Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko (Ukrainian: Руслана Степанівна Лижичко; born on May 24, 1973), known simply as Ruslana, is a famous Ukrainian singer, songwriter, and dancer. She is also a music producer, actress, and activist. Ruslana has won a World Music Award and the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. She holds the important title of People's Artist of Ukraine.
Ruslana was also a Member of Parliament in Ukraine for a short time. From 2004 to 2005, she was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Ukraine. Forbes magazine named her one of the top 10 most influential women in 2013. In 2014, she received the International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. Secretary of State.
She writes, composes, and produces her own songs and music videos. Since 1995, she has been married to Oleksandr Ksenofontov, who is also a music producer. They have worked together on their company, Luxen Studio, since 1993.
Ruslana was the first artist from the former Soviet Union to get a platinum disc. Her album Dyki tantsi sold over 170,000 copies in just 100 days. This album, along with its English version, is the best-selling Ukrainian album ever, with over 500,000 copies sold in Ukraine alone.
Contents
Ruslana's Early Life and Education
Ruslana was born on May 24, 1973, in Lviv, which is now part of Ukraine. Her father is Ukrainian and her mother is Russian. She grew up in the Lviv region.
Her mother encouraged her to study music from a young age. Ruslana started at an experimental music school when she was four. She sang in different bands, including a children's group called Usmishka (Smile).
In 1989, she performed with Usmishka at a big concert. A famous Ukrainian artist named Vasyl Zinkevych noticed her talent. He told the audience that she would become a "real star." After high school, Ruslana went to the Lviv Conservatory. She graduated in 1995 as a classical pianist and a conductor for symphonic orchestras.
Ruslana learned from Mykola Kolessa, a very important Ukrainian composer and conductor. He is known as the "father of the Ukrainian conducting school." She was also part of the student choir at the Lviv Music Academy.
Ruslana's Musical Journey
Starting Her Music Career
Ruslana began her professional music career by winning the Slavianski Bazaar song competition in Belarus in 1996. Her song was Oj, letili dyki husi. That same year, she was nominated for Ukrainian Singer of the Year. Her music video for Dzvinkyi Viter (Wind Bells) won Music Video of the Year.
Her husband, Oleksandr Ksenofontov, has been her producer since her early career. In 1997, Ruslana created Christmas with Ruslana, a special Christmas TV project for Lviv. It included her first animated music video, Ballad of a Princess.
Her first album, Myt Vesny – Dzvinkyi Viter (A Moment of Spring – Wind Bells), came out in 1998. Critics really liked it. She became more widely known in 1998 with her song Svitanok (Sunrise). This song had the first big-budget music video in Ukraine. Ruslana was named Person of the Year, and Svitanok won Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year.
In 1998, she also organized a charity tour. This tour helped raise money to fix old castles in Western Ukraine. Thanks to her efforts, the Zolochiv Castle was restored. In 1999, she worked on a Christmas musical called Ostanne rizdvo 90th (The Last Christmas of the 90s), which won Ukrainian Movie of the Year.
Winning Eurovision with "Wild Dances"
Ruslana's father comes from the Hutsuls, a group of people living in the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. Their unique culture and history inspired Ruslana to create her album Wild Dances. This album mixes strong ethnic drums and the sound of the trembita (an ancient Hutsul instrument) with modern dance beats. Ruslana composed the album after visiting the Carpathian Mountains in 2003.
The album Dyki Tantsi (Wild Dances) was released in Ukraine in June 2003. It sold over 170,000 copies in its first 100 days. Along with its English version, it was the first album in Ukraine to be certified five times platinum. It sold over 500,000 copies, making it the most successful album in Ukraine ever.
Ruslana was chosen to represent Ukraine at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. She was a favorite to win. She performed her song, "Wild Dances", and won the contest with 280 points. This was a record number of points at the time. After her victory, she became very famous in Europe.
The single "Wild Dances" stayed on various European music charts for 97 weeks. It became gold in Belgium, Sweden, Russia, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. In Belgium, it was number one for 10 weeks in a row. It also reached number one in Ukraine and Greece. In Las Vegas, she received the World Music Award for being the best-selling Ukrainian artist.
After her win, Ruslana became an advisor to the Ukrainian prime minister. The Ukrainian president also gave her one of the country's highest honors: the title of People's Artist of Ukraine.
Music Projects and Collaborations
In 2005, Ruslana was supposed to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Kyiv. However, she had to decline because she was busy organizing a big charity concert for the victims of the Chernobyl disaster. She still appeared as a guest star, performing a mix of "Wild Dances" and "Heart on Fire." She also performed her new song, "The Same Star".
In 2006, "Wild Dances" was voted Germany's favorite Eurovision song of all time in an online poll. It beat famous songs like "Waterloo". For the FIFA World Cup 2006, Ruslana toured Germany to support the Ukraine national football team.
Ruslana's project Wild Energy was inspired by a science fiction book. It tells the story of Lana, who searches for a mystical energy source in a future city. She discovers that the "wild energy" comes from her own heart. The Wild Energy project combines music, video, literature, and social messages.
In 2008, her Ukrainian album Amazonka was released. Her English album Wild Energy was released by Warner Music in Canada and Europe. This album was recorded in Miami and features collaborations with American artists T-Pain and Missy Elliott. Ruslana blended ancient ethnic styles from the Carpathian Mountains with modern pop music.
Her song "Wild Dances" was also featured in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto IV in 2008. Ruslana even lent her voice as a radio host in the game.
Later Music and TV Work
In 2009, Ruslana was invited to the Asia Song Festival in Seoul, Korea. She performed in front of 60,000 people. She won the main award for Best Artist, as well as a special award for her contribution to cultural exchange.
In 2011, Ruslana became a judge on the Ukrainian version of The Voice TV show. Also, her song "Wild Dances" was used by American gymnast Jordyn Wieber for her floor exercise. Wieber won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics performing to Ruslana's song.
In 2012, her new Ukrainian album ЕЙ-форі-Я (EY-fori-YA) was released. Ruslana worked on this album for four years, recording it in the US, Sweden, and Ukraine. The album mixes Slavic rhythms with elements from classical Russian composers. Ruslana toured Ukrainian cities with her "OGO Show," where she taught the audience dance moves.
Her third international album, My Boo! (Together!), was planned for 2013. This album showed a new style for Ruslana, moving from her "wild Amazon" image to an "Urban pop princess." The album included collaborations with American musicians and Swedish songwriter Stefan Örn.
In 2013, Ruslana was a coach on the TV show Clash of the Choirs in Ukraine. Her team from Lviv won the grand final.
Ruslana's Political and Social Activism
Supporting Democracy in Ukraine
In 2004, Ruslana actively supported the democratic changes in Ukraine known as the Orange Revolution. Her song "Dance with the Wolves" was inspired by this movement. She publicly supported Viktor Yushchenko during the Ukrainian presidential elections. She became a key figure, speaking to large crowds who believed the election results were unfair.
From 2006 to 2007, she served as a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament for the Our Ukraine party.
Human Rights and Euromaidan
In December 2012, Ruslana started a human rights campaign called Не мовчи (Don't keep silent). This campaign questioned Ukraine's legal system. She supported Dmytro and Sergiy Pavlichenko, who claimed they were wrongly accused of a crime. Ruslana dedicated her song and video Це – Ей-форі-Я (This is Euphoria) to their case.
Ruslana was one of the main leaders of the pro-EU protests known as Euromaidan. These protests began in Kyiv in November 2013 after the Ukrainian government stopped plans to sign an agreement with the European Union. Ruslana spent many nights on Kyiv's Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), sometimes for up to ten hours. She inspired the crowds, gave speeches, and sang the Ukrainian national anthem every hour.
When riot police tried to clear the square in November 2013, Ruslana helped about 100 students find shelter in a nearby monastery. During another tense night, she spoke to the police from the stage, asking for peace and no violence. The police eventually retreated.
Her strong involvement in the protests was covered by many international news outlets. The American press called her the "true heroine of Ukraine." The German magazine Spiegel called her "Kyiv's queen of the night." She was even compared to Joan of Arc and Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. Forbes magazine in Russia included her in the top 10 most influential women of 2013.
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From January 2014, Ruslana met with important EU and U.S. politicians to ask for support for Ukraine. She traveled to many cities, including Stockholm, Paris, and Washington, D.C., speaking about the situation in Ukraine.
Her activism put her in danger. She received death threats and her home was watched. Snipers even aimed at her while she was on the Maidan stage. These threats began after she demanded that EU governments place sanctions on the Ukrainian government at the time.
For her bravery and dedication, Ruslana received several awards. These include the International Woman of Courage Award from First Lady Michelle Obama and the Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award from the Atlantic Council. On her birthday in May 2014, Ruslana organized a global prayer for Ukraine, with one million people participating worldwide. She sang the Ukrainian national anthem in 12 languages on Mount Khomyak in the Carpathian Mountains.
Environmental and Charity Work
From 2004 to 2005, Ruslana was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Ukraine. She worked to fight trafficking in human beings. Her song Not for Sale became the anthem for an anti-trafficking campaign.
During the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Kyiv, she gave a charity concert for children affected by the Chernobyl disaster. She also worked with German rock star Peter Maffay on a charity project. In 2007, they toured Germany to raise money for children in need. Ruslana has also held many charity concerts for children's hospitals in Ukraine.
With her Wild Energy project, Ruslana supports the use of renewable energy. She believes in using energy from the sun, water, and wind to become energy independent. She also wants to make people aware of the dangers of global climate change. In 2018, she was named a global ambassador for renewable energy by Global100RE.
After floods hit Western Ukraine in 2008, Ruslana set up a relief center. This center helped collect and distribute donations to support the flood victims.
Ruslana's Music Albums
Ukrainian Albums
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English Albums
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DVDs
- 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
Music Videos
- Ty (1998)
- Myt' Vesny (1998)
- Svitanok (1998)
- Balada pro princessu (1998)
- Kolyskova (1998)
- Znaju Ja (2000)
- Proschannya z disko (2001)
- Dobryi vechir, tobi... (2002)
- Kolomyjka (2003)
- Oj, Zagraimy, Muzychenku (2003)
- Wild Dances (2004)
- Dance with the Wolves (2004)
- Ring Dance with the Wolves (2005)
- The Same Star (2005)
- V rytme serdtsa (2005)
- Dyka Enerhija (2006)
- Moon of Dreams (feat. T-Pain) (2008)
- Vohon' chy lid (Vse ne te)(2008)
- Silent Angel (2008)
- Wow (2011)
- Sha-la-la (2011)
- Davaj hraj (2012)
- Tse – Ey-phori-Ya (2012)
- Rachmaninov (2013)
- It's Magical (2017)
- My viter (2020)
- Lirnytsia (2023)
- Iron Beat (2024)
Filmography
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2000 Today by BBC | Herself | Represented Ukraine |
| 2004 | Eurovision Song Contest 2004 | Ukraine's 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 | Coach (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 | |
| 2024 | The Masked Singer (Belgium) | Contestant (Zeeduivel) |
Movies
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Pray for Ukraine | Herself |
| Kazka staroho melʹnyka (The Tale of the Old Miller) | TBA |
Video Games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Grand Theft Auto IV | Herself as the DJ of Vladivostok FM |
See Also
- Eurovision Song Contest 2004
- Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest
- Ruslana's Charity Concert
Images for kids
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Ruslana in 2015
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Ruslana conducting a symphony orchestra
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Ruslana performing "Heart on Fire" at the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005.
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Ukrainian stamp celebrating Ruslana's victory at the Eurovision Song Contest
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Ruslana on the catwalk of the 2009 Asia Song Festival in Seoul, Korea
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Ruslana reading out an official resolution of Euromaidan, 29 November 2013
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Ruslana with José Manuel Barroso and Henri Malosse at the Plenary Session of the EESC in Brussels
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First Lady Michelle Obama and Deputy Secretary Heather Higginbottom with Ruslana, who received the 2014 International Women of Courage Award.
