Eurovision Song Contest 2004
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 was the 49th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, an international song competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union and held for the first time with a semi-final format on 12 May and a grand final on 15 May in Istanbul, Turkey, at the Abdi İpekçi Arena, following Turkey's victory in the 2003 contest with Sertab Erener's "Everyway That I Can."[1][2] Ukraine won the contest with Ruslana's "Wild Dances", marking the country's second consecutive victory and introducing energetic world music influences that propelled the song to international chart success.[1][2] The event featured 36 participating countries, including debuts from Albania, Andorra, Belarus, and Serbia and Montenegro, while Monaco withdrew; the semi-final qualified ten additional acts to join the twenty-four automatic qualifiers from the "Big Four" and prior winners, aiming to broaden participation amid growing interest from Eastern Europe and the Balkans.[1][3] Notable aspects included heightened geopolitical tensions reflected in voting patterns, with accusations of bloc voting favoring Ukraine from Slavic and neighboring nations, contributing to its 280-point tally over runner-up Greece's "Shake It" by Anna Vissi.[4][2] Hosted by Meltem Cumbul and Korhan Abay, the contest underscored Turkey's cultural outreach under the theme "Under the Same Sky," yet faced internal production challenges and debates over the semi-final's fairness in amplifying non-traditional entrants.[1]Background and Hosting
Host Country Selection
Turkey was selected to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 as the winner of the 2003 edition, in accordance with the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) tradition that the broadcaster of the victorious entry organizes the subsequent contest. On 24 May 2003, in Riga, Latvia, Sertab Erener represented Turkey with the song "Everyway That I Can", composed by herself and Demir Demirkan, accumulating 167 points to secure victory over competitors including Belgium's Urban Trad (165 points) and Austria's Alf Poier (101 points).[5] This marked Turkey's debut win after 28 years of participation since 1975, prompting Turkish broadcaster Türkiye Radyo Televizyon Kurumu (TRT) to assume hosting duties.[6] TRT evaluated potential host cities within Turkey, initially weighing Ankara, the political capital, against Istanbul for its geographic and cultural prominence. Istanbul, uniquely straddling Europe and Asia, was ultimately chosen for its symbolic alignment with the contest's theme of unity "Under the Same Sky" and its capacity to accommodate international logistics as Turkey's largest metropolis. Antalya was considered but dismissed due to inadequate venue infrastructure and accessibility for a event expecting over 10,000 visitors, including delegations from 36 participating countries.[6][7] The decision reflected practical EBU criteria, including arena suitability (requiring at least 10,000 seats), broadcast facilities, and security, amid Turkey's preparations for EU accession talks, which amplified the event's diplomatic weight. TRT confirmed Istanbul as host city on 26 June 2003, enabling venue finalization at Abdi İpekçi Arena.[8]Geopolitical Context
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 took place in Istanbul, Turkey, shortly after the European Union's largest enlargement on May 1, 2004, which added ten countries—Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia—expanding the bloc to encompass much of post-Cold War Eastern Europe and symbolizing continental reconciliation amid ongoing integrations like NATO expansions.[9] While the new EU members had long participated in Eurovision via the European Broadcasting Union, the timing underscored the contest's role in broader European unity narratives, with Turkey's hosting positioned as a bridge between East and West.[8] Turkey, a candidate for EU membership since 1999 with negotiations advancing in the early 2000s, leveraged the event to promote its secular, pro-Western orientation and soft power, as officials explicitly tied the hosting to bolstering accession efforts amid domestic reforms under the Justice and Development Party government.[10] The contest's theme, "Under the Same Sky," explicitly highlighted aspirations for Turkish integration into a unified Europe, reinforcing national identity construction through cultural diplomacy at a time when EU-Turkey relations emphasized economic and political alignment despite persistent hurdles like the Cyprus dispute.[8][11] Cyprus's participation amid Turkish hosting revived tensions over the island's 1974 division and Turkey's non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, prompting domestic debates in Cyprus about potential boycotts, though none materialized; instead, mutual acknowledgments occurred through voting patterns, illustrating Eurovision's capacity to navigate geopolitical frictions without formal rupture.[10][12] Debuts by Albania, Belarus, North Macedonia, and the Serbia and Montenegro union reflected stabilizing post-communist and post-Yugoslav transitions, with the latter representing a fragile federal state formed in 2003 following Milošević's ouster and amid simmering independence pressures that would culminate in Montenegro's 2006 referendum.[13] These entries expanded the contest's geographic scope, mirroring Europe's evolving borders and the inclusion of states navigating authoritarian legacies, ethnic conflicts, and Western alignments.[14]Format and Rules
Introduction of the Semi-Final
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 marked the debut of a semi-final round, implemented by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to address the expanding number of participating countries and prevent overcrowding in the final. Prior formats had relied on a single grand final augmented by a relegation system that excluded lower-placing nations from the following year, but rising interest from EBU members necessitated a preliminary qualification stage to sustain broader inclusion without extending broadcast durations excessively. This structural shift enabled 36 countries to enter overall, with the semi-final serving as a filter for non-automatic qualifiers.[15][16] Held on 12 May 2004 at the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, the semi-final featured performances from 22 countries, primarily debutants and those not automatically advancing. The top 10 entries, determined by televote, qualified directly for the grand final on 15 May, joining 11 automatic qualifiers comprising the host nation Turkey, the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and the top 10 non-Big Four finishers from the 2003 contest. This setup prioritized viewer preference in the semi-final while reserving slots for established broadcasters and recent high performers, fostering competitive balance amid debuts by nations such as Albania, Andorra, Belarus, and Serbia and Montenegro.[17][15] Not all entrants broadcast the semi-final; automatic qualifiers France, Poland, and Russia opted out of transmission, though they participated in voting, as did Belgium's French-speaking broadcaster RTBF. The format emphasized expanded artistic exposure, allowing more songs and performers to reach audiences, while streamlining the final to 24 acts for feasible pacing and voting. This inaugural semi-final set a precedent for subsequent expansions, including a second semi-final in 2008, reflecting the contest's adaptation to geopolitical and membership growth in Europe.[15][16]Voting Procedures
Televoting formed the basis of the voting procedures for both the Qualifier Round (semi-final) on 12 May 2004 and the grand final on 15 May 2004, with each participating broadcaster required to implement public telephone and SMS voting accessible to at least 80% of its population.[18] A fixed ten-minute voting window applied to both events, extended from the previous five minutes to accommodate the larger number of entries and countries.[18] [19] Votes were aggregated nationally to rank entries, excluding a country's own performance, and the top ten rankings received points of 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, respectively.[18] In the semi-final, featuring 22 entries, televotes from participating countries that broadcast the event determined the rankings among those songs, with the top ten advancing directly to the final.[18] For the final, comprising 24 entries (the ten semi-final qualifiers plus 14 automatic qualifiers including the host nation Turkey and the "Big Four" of France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom), all 36 participating countries conducted televoting to award points to their top ten preferred performances.[18] Points were revealed during each show's broadcast by national spokespersons announcing in ascending order, first in English or French, followed by the local language.[18] Standby juries served as a contingency: each consisted of eight members (four music industry professionals and four public representatives) scoring entries from 1 to 10 points, with aggregated scores converted to the standard top-ten point distribution if televoting failed due to technical issues or insufficient participation (below a threshold verified by notaries).[18] Ties in rankings were resolved sequentially by the greatest number of countries awarding the tied score's highest points (starting with 12s, then 10s, down to 1s); unresolved ties resulted in shared positions without altering the winner.[18] In the final, Monaco awarded zero points to all entries after recording no valid votes, highlighting variability in national turnout.[20]Qualification and Eligibility Rules
Participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 was restricted to active members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), with broadcasters required to confirm their intent to participate by 1 October 2003.[18] The introduction of a qualifying round, held on 12 May 2004, allowed up to 26 countries to compete on a first-come, first-served basis, with the top 10 advancing to the grand final based on televoting results.[18] [15] Automatic qualification to the final was granted to the host broadcaster (Turkey), the "Big Four" countries (France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and the top 10 finishers from the 2003 contest, excluding overlaps with the aforementioned automatic qualifiers, resulting in 14 pre-qualified entries and a total of 24 finalists.[18] [19] This format replaced the prior relegation system, enabling broader annual participation without automatic exclusions for low performers.[15] Entries had to consist of original compositions, with lyrics and music not commercially released prior to 1 October 2003, and a maximum duration of three minutes, beyond which disqualification was possible.[18] [19] Songs were required to include vocals and could not be purely instrumental or a cappella without lyrics, though broadcasters had full discretion over language choice.[18] Content deemed to discredit the contest could lead to rejection.[18] Performing artists were limited to a maximum of six individuals on stage and had to be at least 16 years old by the date of the qualifying round (12 May 2004).[18] Each artist could represent only one country per edition, with performances featuring live vocals backed by pre-recorded tracks excluding any vocal elements.[18] [19] No live orchestra was permitted; however, decorative instruments such as a drum kit or grand piano could be approved if requested during the Heads of Delegation meeting on 22-23 March 2004.[18] [19] Broadcasters faced financial penalties for withdrawals after 1 December 2003 or for non-compliance leading to disqualification.[18]Participants
Number of Entries and Debuts
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 saw participation from 36 countries, the highest number in the competition's history up to that point.[1] This included 22 countries competing in the newly introduced semi-final on 12 May 2004, from which the top 10 advanced to the final, joining 14 automatic qualifiers to make a 24-country grand final on 15 May 2004.[21][2] Four countries made their debuts in the contest: Albania, Andorra, Belarus, and Serbia and Montenegro.[17] Albania was represented by Anjeza Shahini with "The Image", competing in the semi-final.[22] Andorra debuted with Marta Roure and "Jugarem a estimar-nos", also in the semi-final.[22] Belarus entered with Aleksandra and Konstantin performing "My Galileo", failing to qualify from the semi-final.[22] Serbia and Montenegro, participating under its new constitutional name as the State Union following prior entries as FR Yugoslavia, was represented by Željko Joksimović with "Lane moje", which placed second in the final.[23]Withdrawals and Returns
Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Monaco, and Switzerland returned to the Eurovision Song Contest after missing the 2003 edition.[17] These returns were enabled by the introduction of a semi-final format, which expanded the total number of participants to 36 and alleviated the constraints that had limited entries to 26 the previous year.[22] Monaco's participation ended a 25-year hiatus, as the country had last entered in 1979 with "Notre planète" by Laurent Vaguet.[17] No formal withdrawals occurred in the preparations for the 2004 contest. However, several countries that had competed in 2003—Belgium, Estonia, Poland, and Portugal—did not enter, primarily due to broadcaster decisions amid the transition to the semi-final system, which required non-automatic qualifiers to compete for final spots.[24] These absences reflected strategic choices by public broadcasters facing potential non-qualification risks and resource allocation priorities, rather than disqualifications or geopolitical factors.National Selection Processes
Most participating countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 conducted televised national finals to select their artists and songs, typically involving live performances by multiple entrants followed by voting from juries, televoters, or a combination thereof, while others relied on internal selections by their public broadcasters.[18][25] The exact format was left to each broadcaster's discretion under EBU guidelines, reflecting national preferences for public involvement versus curatorial choice.[18] Debuting nations emphasized competitive processes to identify representative entries. Albania chose Anjeza Shahini with "Dua të jem imazhi yt" via the 42nd edition of Festivali i Këngës, a long-standing annual song contest held in December 2003. Andorra's inaugural participation was determined through 12 Punts, a public vote selecting Marta Roure and "Jugarem a estimar-nos". Belarus organized a dedicated national selection in early 2004, won by Aleksandra and Konstantin with "Moy Galiley". Serbia and Montenegro, competing as a union for the first time, used Evropesma, a multi-stage contest culminating in a February final where Željko Joksimović prevailed with "Lane moje".[25] Other countries with established finals included Austria's Song.Null.Vier, which in March selected Tie Break and "Du bist" via jury and televote; Belgium's Eurosong '04, crowning Xandee with "1 Life" in February; and similar events like Denmark's Dansk Melodi Prix (won by Tomas Thordarson, "Shame on You"), Estonia's Eurolaul (Neiokõsõ, "Tii"), Finland's Euroviisut (Jari Sillanpää, "Takes 2 to Tango"), Iceland's Söngvakeppnin (Jónsi, "Heaven"), Ireland's Late Late Show-Eurovision Song Contest Selection (Chris Doran, "If My World Stopped Turning"), Latvia's Eirodziesma (Fomins & Kleins, "Dziesma manā sirdī"), Lithuania's Nacionalinis finalas (Linas ir Simona, "What For?"), Malta's Malta Song for Europe (Julie and Ludwig, "On Again, Off Again"), the Netherlands' Nationaal Songfestival (Re-Union, "Without You"), Norway's Melodi Grand Prix (Knut Anders Sørum, "Heaven Can Wait"), Poland's Piosenka dla Europy (Blue Café, "Love Song"), Portugal's Festival da Canção (Harpa, "Como Um Rio"), Romania's Selecția Națională (Sanda, "I Admit"), Russia's National Selection (Julia Savicheva, "Believe Me"), Slovenia's EMA (Platin, "Stay Forever"), and Sweden's Melodifestivalen (Lena Philipsson, "It Hurts").[25] Internal selections, bypassing public competitions, were adopted by the host broadcaster TRT in Turkey (Athena, "For Real"), the "Big Four" automatic qualifiers—France (Jonathan Cerrada, "À chaque pas"), Germany (Max, "Can't Wait Until Tonight"), Spain (Ramo Stott and Toñi Prieto, "Para Llenarme De Ti"), and the United Kingdom (James Fox, "Hold On to Our Love")—as well as Cyprus (Lisa Andreas, "Stronger Every Minute"), Greece (Sakis Rouvas, "Shake It"), Hungary (Nógrádi Zsuzsa, "Ködös emlék"), Israel (David D'Or, "To Believe"), Monaco (Maryon, "Notre planète"), Switzerland (Piero Esteriore and Chiara Dunlap, "Celebrate"), and Ukraine (Ruslana, "Wild Dances").[25] These choices often prioritized experienced artists or strategic picks aligned with broadcaster goals, contributing to Ukraine's ultimate victory.[18]Venue and Production
Location and Arena Details
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 was hosted in Istanbul, Turkey, at the Abdi İpekçi Arena in the Zeytinburnu district.[1] Istanbul was chosen as the host city after Turkey's win in the 2003 contest with Sertab Erener's "Everyway That I Can," marking the country's first time hosting the event.[6] The Abdi İpekçi Arena, a multi-purpose indoor sports complex, accommodated the semi-final on 12 May 2004 and the grand final on 15 May 2004.[1] With a seating capacity of approximately 12,270, the venue was selected over the initially considered Mydonose Showland due to its larger size and better suitability for the expanded format introducing a semi-final.[6] The arena, named after Turkish sports journalist Abdi İpekçi, featured facilities for basketball, volleyball, concerts, and large-scale events, providing the necessary infrastructure for the contest's production under the theme "Under the Same Sky."[26]Hosts and Presentation
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 semi-final and final were hosted by Turkish actress and model Meltem Cumbul and actor Korhan Abay, who presented the events in both English and Turkish to accommodate international and domestic audiences.[27][28] Cumbul, known for her roles in Turkish cinema and television, and Abay, a veteran performer in theater and media, handled introductions, transitions between performances, and interactions with the audience and spokespersons during voting segments.[27] Their bilingual approach marked a standard practice for host broadcasters in non-English-speaking countries, ensuring accessibility while highlighting Turkish cultural elements through occasional phrases and on-screen graphics.[29] The previous year's winner, Sertab Erener, served as the green room host, conducting interviews with participants and providing backstage commentary broadcast to viewers.[30] This role allowed Erener to engage directly with contestants in a more informal setting, contrasting the main stage's formality. The overall presentation was directed by Swedish producer Sven Stojanovic, who oversaw the visual flow, camera work, and integration of live elements at the Abdi İpekçi Arena.[31] Opening the grand final, Erener reprised her 2003 victory performance of "Everyway That I Can" followed by "Leave," setting a celebratory tone with orchestral backing and choreography emphasizing Turkish motifs.[32] The semi-final featured an interval screening of ABBA: The Last Video, while the final's interval act showcased the Fire of Anatolia dance troupe, performing high-energy routines rooted in Anatolian folk traditions to represent the host nation's heritage.[33] These segments underscored the contest's blend of contemporary pop with cultural showcases, directed to maintain pacing across the multi-hour broadcasts.[34]Visual and Technical Design
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 introduced the European Broadcasting Union's new generic logo, featuring a stylized heart shape incorporating the host country's flag, marking the first use of this enduring visual identity across future editions.[6] The host broadcaster TRT complemented this with custom theme art aligned to the contest's slogan "Under the Same Sky," emphasizing unity and Istanbul's position bridging continents.[6] The stage design adopted Turkish-inspired shapes and colors, prioritizing versatility over scale to accommodate diverse performances effectively.[35] Directed by Sven Stojanovic, the production utilized separate teams for the semi-final and final to maintain high technical standards, with Swedish broadcaster SVT contributing to overall execution.[35] Postcards introducing entrants were created by external marketing agencies without participant involvement, featuring distinct concepts for the qualifying round and grand final.[35] Graphics elements, including the logo, were developed by the Swiss agency T.E.A.M., while the official website was handled by Germany's Pixelpark.[35] Technical implementation at Abdi İpekçi Arena focused on reliable multicamera setups and basic lighting rigs typical of the era, without notable innovations in LED screens or advanced pyrotechnics reported.[1]Contest Proceedings
Semi-Final Event
The semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 took place on 12 May 2004 at the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, introducing the format for the first time to expand participation beyond the traditional final by selecting ten additional entrants from twenty-two competing nations.[21] This round excluded the host country Turkey and the automatic qualifiers—France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom—allowing debutants such as Albania, Andorra, Belarus, and Serbia and Montenegro to vie for advancement alongside returning participants.[21] Hosted by Meltem Cumbul and Korhan Abay under the contest slogan "Under the Same Sky," the event featured live performances broadcast internationally, with countries performing in a pre-determined running order determined by draw.[21] Performances commenced with Finland's Jari Sillanpää singing "Takes 2 to Tango," followed by Belarus ("My Galileo" by Aleksandra & Konstantin), Switzerland ("Celebrate" by Piero Esteriore & the MusicStars), Latvia ("Dziesma Par Laimi" by Fomins & Kleins), Israel ("To Believe" by David D'Or), Andorra ("Jugarem a Estimar-nos" by Marta Roure), Portugal ("Foi Magia" by Sofia Vitória), Malta ("On Again... Off Again" by Julie & Ludwig), Monaco ("Notre Planète" by Maryon), Greece ("Shake It" by Sakis Rouvas), Ukraine ("Wild Dances" by Ruslana), Lithuania ("What's Happened to Your Love?" by Linas ir Simona), Albania ("The Image of You" by Anjeza Shahini), Cyprus ("Stronger Every Minute" by Lisa Andreas), North Macedonia ("Life" by Toše Proeski), Slovenia ("Stay Forever" by Platin), Estonia ("Tii" by Neiokõsõ), Croatia ("You Are the Only One" by Ivan Mikulić), Denmark ("Shame on You" by Tomas Thordarson), Serbia and Montenegro ("Lane Moje" by Željko Joksimović), Bosnia and Herzegovina ("In the Disco" by Deen), and concluded with the Netherlands ("Without You" by Re-Union).[21] Voting relied exclusively on televotes from the thirty-six participating broadcasters, though France, Poland, and Russia declined to submit votes despite eligibility.[21] The top ten qualifiers advanced to the final on 15 May, determined by aggregate televote points, with Serbia and Montenegro leading via strong regional and diaspora support for Željko Joksimović's ballad "Lane Moje." Ukraine's energetic "Wild Dances" by Ruslana secured second place, propelled by its dance-pop appeal and broad appeal across voting blocs. Greece's upbeat "Shake It" by Sakis Rouvas rounded out the podium, benefiting from home-region enthusiasm and production quality.[21]| Position | Country | Artist(s) | Song | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serbia and Montenegro | Željko Joksimović | Lane Moje | 263 |
| 2 | Ukraine | Ruslana | Wild Dances | 256 |
| 3 | Greece | Sakis Rouvas | Shake It | 238 |
| 4 | Albania | Anjeza Shahini | The Image of You | 167 |
| 5 | Cyprus | Lisa Andreas | Stronger Every Minute | 149 |
| 6 | Netherlands | Re-Union | Without You | 146 |
| 7 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Deen | In the Disco | 133 |
| 8 | Malta | Julie & Ludwig | On Again... Off Again | 74 |
| 9 | Croatia | Ivan Mikulić | You Are the Only One | 72 |
| 10 | North Macedonia | Toše Proeski | Life | 71 |
Final Event
The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 occurred on 15 May 2004 at 21:00 CEST at the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey.[1] The event was hosted by Turkish television personalities Korhan Abay and Meltem Cumbul, who conducted the proceedings in English and Turkish.[36] The show opened with the traditional "Te Deum" anthem, followed by introductions from the hosts and the presentation of the 24 finalists, comprising the ten qualifiers from the semi-final and fourteen automatic entrants.[37] Performances proceeded in a draw-determined order, with each act delivering a three-minute song on stage amid elaborate staging and lighting directed by Sven Stojanovic.[31]| Draw | Country | Artist(s) | Song |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | Ramón | "Para llenarme de ti" |
| 2 | Austria | Tie Break | "Du bist" |
| 3 | Norway | Knut Anders Sørum | "High" |
| 4 | France | Jonatan Cerrada | "À chaque pas" |
| 5 | Serbia and Montenegro | Željko Joksimović | "Lane moje" |
| 6 | Malta | Giorgio Borg Olivier | "7th Wonder" |
| 7 | Netherlands | Re-Union | "Without You" |
| 8 | Germany | Max | "Can't Wait Until Tonight" |
| 9 | Albania | Anjeza Shahini | "The Image of You" |
| 10 | Ukraine | Ruslana | "Wild Dances" |
| 11 | Croatia | Ivan Mikulić | "You Are the Only One" |
| 12 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Deen | "In the Disco" |
| 13 | Belgium | Xandee | "1 Life" |
| 14 | Russia | Julia Savicheva | "Believe Me" |
| 15 | North Macedonia | Toše Proeski | "Life" |
| 16 | Greece | Sakis Rouvas | "Shake It" |
| 17 | Iceland | Jónsi | "Heaven" |
| 18 | Ireland | Chris Doran | "If My World Stopped Turning" |
| 19 | Poland | Blue Café | "Love Song" |
| 20 | United Kingdom | James Fox | "Hold On to Our Love" |
| 21 | Cyprus | Lisa Andreas | "Stronger Every Minute" |
| 22 | Turkey | Athena | "For Real" |
| 23 | Romania | Sanda | "I Admit" |
| 24 | Sweden | Lena Philipsson | "It Hurts" |
Results and Voting
Semi-Final Outcomes
The semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 was held on 12 May 2004 at the Abdi İpekçi Sports Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, with 22 countries competing for ten spots in the grand final. Voting relied exclusively on televotes from viewers in the 36 participating nations, though France, Poland, and Russia—automatic qualifiers—did not broadcast the event and thus did not contribute votes. Each participating broadcaster awarded points from 1 to 8, 10, and 12 to their top ten songs, aggregated to determine advancement based on total points received.[21][38] Serbia and Montenegro topped the semi-final with 263 points for "Lane moje", performed by Željko Joksimović, marking a strong debut entry. Ukraine placed second with 256 points for "Wild Dances" by Ruslana, while Greece secured third with 252 points for "Shake It" by Sakis Rouvas; these three entries dominated due to widespread televote support, including significant diaspora and regional voting blocs. The qualifiers were announced in randomized order during the broadcast to build suspense, but official post-event rankings confirmed the televote hierarchy.[39][38] The ten countries advancing from the semi-final were: Albania ("The Image" by Anjeza Shahini), Bosnia and Herzegovina ("In the Disco" by Deen), Croatia ("You Are the Only One" by Ivan Mikulić), Cyprus ("Stronger Every Minute" by Lisa Andreas), Greece, Malta ("On Again... Off Again" by Julie and Ludwig), Netherlands ("Without You" by Re-Union), Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia ("Stay Forever" by Platin), and Ukraine. Notable non-qualifiers included debuts from Andorra, Belarus, and Monaco, as well as established entrants like Denmark, Finland, and Switzerland. Minor discrepancies emerged between on-screen scores for non-qualifiers and official tallies, attributed to post-broadcast verification of televote data, though qualifier rankings remained unchanged.[1][39]Final Outcomes
Ukraine emerged as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 grand final with Ruslana's performance of "Wild Dances", accumulating 280 points from televotes across 36 participating countries.[36] This marked Ukraine's first victory in the contest on its second participation, following a third-place finish in its debut the previous year.[2] The final, held on 15 May 2004, included 24 entries: the host nation Turkey, the automatic qualifiers (France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and the top 10 from the semi-final.[36] Serbia and Montenegro placed second with Željko Joksimović's "Lane Moje", receiving 263 points, while Greece secured third position with Sakis Rouvas's "Shake It" earning 252 points, creating a tight race at the top.[2] Cyprus finished fourth with 123 points via Lisa Andreas's "Stronger Every Minute", and Turkey ranked fifth with Athena's "For Real" on 195 points.[2] The bottom three consisted of the United Kingdom (last with 0 points for James Fox's "Hold On to Our Love"), Belgium (23rd with 37 points for Xandee's "1 Life"), and Albania (debuting 24th with 11 points for Anjeza Shahini's "The Image").[2] The complete final rankings and points are summarized below:| Place | Country | Artist(s) | Song | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | Ruslana | "Wild Dances" | 280 |
| 2 | Serbia and Montenegro | Željko Joksimović | "Lane Moje" | 263 |
| 3 | Greece | Sakis Rouvas | "Shake It" | 252 |
| 4 | Cyprus | Lisa Andreas | "Stronger Every Minute" | 123 |
| 5 | Turkey | Athena | "For Real" | 195 |
| 6 | Sweden | Lena Philipsson | "It Hurts" | 107 |
| 7 | Malta | Julie & Ludwig | "On Again, Off Again" | 106 |
| 8 | Russia | Julia Savicheva | "Believe Me" | 67 |
| 9 | Belarus | Aleksandra & Konstantin | "My Galileo" | 109 |
| 10 | Spain | Ramón | "Para Llenarme de Ti" | 87 |
| 11 | Croatia | Ivan Mikulić | "You Are the Only One" | 133 |
| 12 | Latvia | Fomins & Kleins | "Dziesma Par Laimi" | 23 |
| 13 | Israel | David D'Or | "To Give" | 57 |
| 14 | Albania | Anjeza Shahini | "The Image" | 11 |
| 15 | Germany | Max | "Can't Wait Until Tonight" | 4 |
| 16 | Estonia | Neiokõsõmõ | "Tii" | 31 |
| 17 | Macedonia | Toše Proeski | "Life" | 71 |
| 18 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Deen & Jalena | "In the Disco" | 90 |
| 19 | Denmark | Tomas Thordarson | "Shame on You" | 21 |
| 20 | Netherlands | Re-Union | "Without You" | 11 |
| 21 | Austria | Tie Break | "Du Bist" | 9 |
| 22 | Poland | Blue Café | "Love Song" | 61 |
| 23 | Belgium | Xandee | "1 Life" | 37 |
| 24 | United Kingdom | James Fox | "Hold On to Our Love" | 0 |
Detailed Voting Breakdown
In the grand final held on 15 May 2004, each of the 36 participating countries submitted votes derived exclusively from national televotes via telephone and SMS, with no instances requiring fallback to jury votes due to technical failures. Each country ranked its top ten performances, awarding 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point accordingly, for a maximum possible score of 432 points. Votes were revealed sequentially by spokesperson from each country during the broadcast, building suspense in a tight race among the top contenders. No entry received zero points.[36][2] The aggregated results produced the following standings:| Rank | Country | Artist | Song | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | Ruslana | Wild Dances | 280 |
| 2 | Serbia and Montenegro | Željko Joksimović | Lane Moje | 263 |
| 3 | Greece | Sakis Rouvas | Shake It | 252 |
| 4 | Turkey | Athena | For Real | 195 |
| 5= | Cyprus | Lisa Andreas | Stronger Every Minute | 170 |
| 5= | Sweden | Lena Philipsson | It Hurts | 170 |
| 7 | Albania | Anjeza Shahini | The Image of You | 106 |
| 8 | Germany | Max | Can't Wait Until Tonight | 93 |
| 9 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Deen | In the Disco | 91 |
| 10 | Spain | Ramón | Para Llenarme de Ti | 87 |
| 11 | Russia | Julia Savicheva | Believe Me | 67 |
| 12= | Malta | Julie and Ludwig | On Again... Off Again | 50 |
| 12= | Croatia | Ivan Mikulić | You Are the Only One | 50 |
| 14 | North Macedonia | Toše Proeski | Life | 47 |
| 15 | France | Jonatan Cerrada | À Chaque Pas | 40 |
| 16 | United Kingdom | James Fox | Hold On to Our Love | 29 |
| 17 | Poland | Blue Café | Love Song | 27 |
| 18 | Romania | Sanda Ladoși | I Admit | 18 |
| 19 | Iceland | Jónsi | Heaven | 16 |
| 20 | Netherlands | Re-Union | Without You | 11 |
| 21 | Austria | Tie Break | Du Bist | 9 |
| 22= | Belgium | Xandee | 1 Life | 7 |
| 22= | Ireland | Chris Doran | If My World Stopped Turning | 7 |
| 24 | Norway | Knut Anders Sørum | High | 3 |
Analysis of Voting Patterns
Ukraine's victory with 280 points, the highest tally in contest history at the time, was supported by 12 points from 18 countries, demonstrating broad appeal that extended beyond regional lines. These included Eastern European nations such as Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia, as well as Balkan and Mediterranean entries like Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and Malta, and Western European microstates including Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino.[2] This distribution indicates that Ruslana's high-energy performance and catchy melody garnered genuine enthusiasm across cultural divides, countering claims of purely bloc-driven success.[42] Serbia and Montenegro's third-place finish with 125 points highlighted pronounced Balkan bloc dynamics, as the entry received its 12 points almost exclusively from former Yugoslav republics and regional neighbors: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro (as part of the union), and North Macedonia.[2] Croatia's allocation of 12 points to Serbia and Montenegro, despite historical tensions, underscored reciprocal voting among culturally and linguistically linked states, a pattern consistent with ethnic solidarity rather than isolated musical evaluation.[43] Similar clustering appeared in other groups, such as Nordic countries favoring Denmark and Finland mutually, and Mediterranean nations like Albania awarding 12 points to Greece while receiving reciprocal high scores.[44] Empirical studies analyzing 2004 data alongside broader Eurovision trends attribute these patterns to causal factors like geographical proximity, shared history, and diaspora influences, which predict vote shares more reliably than song quality metrics such as lyrical complexity or production values.[45][46] For example, regression models reveal that Balkan cliques formed stable alliances, elevating regional entries like Serbia and Montenegro's above entrants with stronger pan-European polling, while host nation Turkey benefited from diffuse sympathy votes totaling 195 points, including 12s from diverse sources like Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ireland.[47] The shift to full televoting in 2004, excluding juries, intensified such biases by empowering national audiences to prioritize familiarity and identity over objective assessment.[48] The European Broadcasting Union investigated post-contest complaints but found no procedural violations, interpreting patterns as reflections of authentic viewer preferences influenced by real-world affinities rather than collusion.[49] Nonetheless, quantitative simulations comparing actual outcomes to randomized models confirm non-random deviations, with 2004 marking an acceleration of bloc effects following the semi-final's debut, which encouraged smaller nations to consolidate support for qualification and final placements.[50] Ukraine's outlier success illustrates that compelling entries can disrupt these tendencies, yet the persistence of regional favoritism raises questions about the contest's capacity to measure universal musical appeal.Broadcasts and Reception
International Broadcast Details
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 was distributed live via satellite by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to public service broadcasters in all 36 participating countries, enabling simultaneous transmission of the semi-final on 12 May and the final on 15 May from Istanbul's Abdi İpekçi Arena.[1] Each participating nation's broadcaster, typically an EBU active member, provided localized commentary and vote announcements, ensuring accessibility across Europe while adhering to EBU technical standards for audio and video feeds.[51] Beyond participating nations, the event reached select non-European and non-participating territories, reflecting growing global interest coordinated through EBU associates and independent deals. In Australia, SBS TV aired the semi-finals on a deferred basis on 14 May and the final on 16 May at 19:30 AEST, with commentary by Des Mangan, marking an early instance of consistent Down Under coverage for the contest.[51] Armenia's AMPTV transmitted unspecified portions, while Kosovo's RTK and Puerto Rico's MSN carried coverage with unknown commentators; in the United States, the Israeli Network broadcast to niche audiences, likely focused on expatriate communities rather than mainstream outlets.[51] The final drew an estimated 100 million viewers worldwide, underscoring the contest's expanding international footprint amid the debut of its semi-final format, which accommodated record participation without displacing established broadcasters.[52] Transmission details varied by region, with some markets opting for delayed feeds to align with local time zones or programming schedules, though core EBU feeds remained standardized for quality and simultaneity in Europe.[51]Viewership and Media Coverage
The final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, broadcast on 15 May from Istanbul, drew an estimated 100 million viewers worldwide. In the United Kingdom, the event on BBC One achieved 8.3 million viewers, marking it as the top-rated program that Saturday evening. The preceding semi-final on 12 May, shown on BBC Three, reached 208,000 viewers.[54] National viewership varied by market size and broadcast slot. In Norway, the contest aligned with high domestic interest following strong national selection ratings of 1.228 million viewers and a 75% share earlier in the year. Germany's preliminary events had similarly drawn 5.71 million viewers with an 18% share, indicating sustained public engagement leading into the international final. Media coverage emphasized the contest's expanded format, including the debut semi-final and participation from 36 countries, surpassing prior records.[55] Outlets like BBC News reported extensively on Ukraine's unexpected victory by Ruslana with "Wild Dances," framing it as a morale boost for the nation amid ongoing political challenges.[56] Coverage also noted merchandising tie-ins and live radio accompaniment on BBC Radio 2, underscoring the event's commercial and multimedia reach.[55]Critical and Public Reception
The Turkish organization of the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest was widely commended for its professionalism and spectacle, transforming the event into a showcase of vibrant Eastern influences. A BBC review highlighted how the hosts "made the show their own with a riot of colour and an exotic dash of eastern promise," emphasizing the seamless execution and cultural flair that elevated the production beyond typical expectations.[57] This marked Turkey's successful debut as host following Sertab Erener's 2003 victory, with logistical elements like the Abdi İpekçi Arena's capacity to accommodate over 7,000 spectators contributing to an atmosphere of high energy.[1] Critical reception focused on the performances' diversity and intensity, particularly Ukraine's "Wild Dances" by Ruslana, which secured victory with 280 points—Ukraine's debut win and one of the contest's most energetic entries. Professional observers noted the song's fusion of world music elements and Ruslana's commanding stage presence, including her unassisted vocals amid vigorous choreography, as factors in its broad appeal.[17] Serbia and Montenegro's "Lane Moje" by Željko Joksimović also drew acclaim for its emotive ballad style, finishing second with 263 points and influencing subsequent Balkan entries. However, some critiques pointed to uneven song quality overall, with the introduction of the semi-final format praised for filtering stronger acts but criticized for sidelining promising debuts like Estonia's. Public reception, gauged through viewer feedback and audience responses, was enthusiastic regarding the live atmosphere and crowd engagement, with reports of spectators actively singing along to amplify the communal feel. BBC viewer comments reflected this divide: while some dismissed elements as "naff," others described the show as "superbly arranged" with a "good standard of performances," specifically praising the UK's James Fox despite his fifth-place finish.[4] The contest's expansion to 36 participating countries via the semi-final on May 12 generated buzz for broadening representation, though fan discussions later noted frustrations over eliminated acts like Belarus, underscoring a perception of variable field strength.[4] Overall, the event's hosting in Istanbul fostered positive sentiment toward Turkey's role, setting a benchmark for future non-Western European venues.Incidents and Irregularities
Technical and Procedural Issues
During the semi-final on May 12, 2004, a technical fault in vote aggregation from Monaco and Croatia led to miscalculated public televoting results for multiple countries.[58] The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) identified the issue approximately one hour after the broadcast concluded, attributing it to errors in processing incoming votes from those nations' broadcasters.[6] Although nine participating countries experienced minor score adjustments, the overall qualification outcomes remained unchanged, with the top ten entrants advancing to the final as originally announced.[58] In the same semi-final, Turkish broadcaster TRT inadvertently inserted an unscheduled commercial break immediately before Slovenia's performance, preventing domestic viewers from hearing the entry "Stay Forever" by Platin.[6] This broadcast error stemmed from a cueing mistake by the host broadcaster and did not impact the international feed or competition results, though it highlighted coordination challenges in live transmission scheduling.[6] The final on May 15, 2004, encountered broadcast disruptions during a planned mid-show hiatus for international advertising slots, where technical glitches caused delays in resuming the program.[59] Host broadcaster TRT also reported issues with video cueing, including miscues during interval acts and the introduction of 2003 winner Sertab Erener, which affected the smoothness of transitions but not the core performances or voting process.[59] These incidents reflected broader logistical strains from the event's expanded format, including the debut semi-final, but organizers confirmed no procedural violations or alterations to final rankings resulted.[59]On-Site Events
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004 semi-final and final took place at the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul on 12 May and 15 May, respectively, without documented major disruptions or irregularities at the venue itself.[6] The production featured elaborate staging, including the opening of the final with 2003 winner Sertab Erener descending in a simulated helicopter accompanied by the Fire of Anatolia dance ensemble, which performed traditional Turkish routines integrated into the interval acts.[6] Hosts Korhan Abay and Meltem Cumbul managed the proceedings, with all 22 final participants delivering their live performances as scheduled, drawing on the arena's capacity for over 12,000 spectators.[57] Security measures were in place amid Turkey's hosting of an international event, but no protests, evacuations, or backstage altercations involving participants were reported in contemporary accounts.[8] This contrasted with off-site voting discrepancies later identified by organizers.[6]Controversies and Criticisms
Allegations of Political Bloc Voting
Allegations of political bloc voting in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 centered on the voting patterns favoring Ukraine's entry "Wild Dances" by Ruslana, which secured victory with 280 points, including 12 points from eight countries: Estonia, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Turkey. Critics, including media commentators, argued that the disproportionate support from former Soviet republics and Eastern European nations—such as Russia (12 points), Belarus (10 points), Latvia (12 points), Lithuania (12 points), Estonia (12 points), and Poland (12 points)—reflected coordinated regional alliances rather than objective assessments of song quality, potentially disadvantaging Western entrants like those from Denmark or Austria. These claims gained traction in post-contest discussions, with outlets attributing the outcome to emerging "Eastern bloc" dynamics amid the contest's expansion to include more post-communist states since the 1990s.[4][41][2] Statistical analyses of voting data supported observations of clustered preferences but challenged purely political interpretations. Derek Gatherer's 2004 study, using Monte Carlo simulations on historical voting matrices, identified a "Warsaw Pact" bloc involving Eastern European countries that exhibited statistically significant mutual high-point exchanges, consistent with patterns in the 2004 final where former Soviet and Slavic states prioritized each other over non-regional competitors. Similar findings in subsequent research, such as a Duke University analysis of political bias, highlighted Balkan and Eastern blocs but noted that correlations often aligned more closely with cultural, linguistic, or diaspora ties—such as shared Slavic languages or post-Soviet familiarity—than explicit geopolitical strategy, as Ukraine also received top scores from non-Eastern nations like Iceland and Israel. Gatherer's work further indicated that such patterns intensified between 1999 and 2005, coinciding with the influx of new participants, though causality remained tied to viewer familiarity rather than proven collusion.[60][45][61] The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the contest, did not conduct a specific investigation into 2004's voting but addressed broader bloc voting complaints in a 2007 review, concluding no evidence of systematic irregularities or manipulation across contests, emphasizing televoting's reflection of public tastes. Proponents of the allegations countered that self-reported viewer motivations, often invoking national solidarity, underscored causal influences from regional identities, though empirical models like Gatherer's showed these as emergent from bilateral "friendship" networks rather than top-down political directives. No formal sanctions or rule changes directly stemmed from 2004 claims, but they contributed to ongoing debates leading to later reforms like jury-televote splits in 2009 to counter perceived biases.[49][62]Nationalistic Influences and Bias Claims
Claims of nationalistic influences in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 centered on the transition to telephone voting, which organizers hoped would mitigate jury-led biases but instead amplified patterns of diaspora support and regional favoritism. Turkish expatriates in Germany, for example, were reported to have mobilized votes for Turkey's entry, contributing to its strong performance despite mid-tier jury rankings in prior years. Similarly, entrenched alliances like Greece consistently awarding top points to Cyprus exemplified ongoing ethnic and historical ties overriding broader appeal.[63] Ukraine's upset victory with Ruslana's "Wild Dances" fueled specific bias allegations, as the entry surged past favorites from Greece and Serbia and Montenegro through concentrated support from Eastern European and Balkan nations. Voting data revealed Serbia and Montenegro receiving 12 points from Croatia, indicative of sub-regional solidarity amid post-Yugoslav tensions. Critics attributed this to coordinated bloc tactics rather than universal song quality, with Ukraine garnering 12 points from nine countries, many sharing linguistic or Soviet-era affinities.[4][43] Empirical analyses of 2004 voting matrices confirm geographical proximity and cultural similarity as predictors of high scores, with Balkan and former Eastern Bloc countries exchanging disproportionate points independent of performance metrics like national pre-selections. One study quantified neighborly voting effects, showing positive correlations for adjacent or linguistically linked entrants, potentially diluting merit-based outcomes. Patriotic self-voting and diaspora effects further skewed results, as expatriate communities in host nations like Germany influenced tallies beyond domestic listener preferences.[45][48] Such patterns reinforced perceptions of Eurovision as a platform for identity assertion, with Turkey leveraging the host role to project national pride via themed postcards emphasizing Anatolian heritage, drawing criticism from Kurdish groups for exclusionary narratives. While some dismiss bloc claims as overstated—arguing votes reflect stylistic familiarity from shared folk influences—data consistently indicate non-musical factors like historical alliances exerted causal weight, challenging the contest's apolitical ethos.[8][43][64]Responses from Organizers and Participants
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), responsible for overseeing the contest, defended the full implementation of public televoting in 2004 as a means to reflect genuine viewer preferences, attributing apparent regional voting clusters to shared cultural and linguistic ties among audiences rather than deliberate political manipulation. Executive Supervisor Svante Stockselius emphasized that such patterns arose from natural affinities, a stance consistent with EBU analyses of voting data showing no evidence of systemic fraud or government-directed blocs.[65][6] Turkish organizers, including host broadcaster TRT, highlighted the contest's smooth execution and high viewership as validation of the event's fairness, with presenter Korhan Abay explicitly rejecting political voting claims by noting, "The voting is by the people, not the governments," in response to on-site queries about Balkan and Eastern European point exchanges.[63] No formal investigations into bloc voting were launched by the EBU post-contest, as preliminary reviews confirmed the robustness of the Digame voting partner system's aggregation from over 36 countries.[6] Among participants, responses were subdued, with top finishers like Ukraine's Ruslana focusing on the energetic, folk-inspired appeal of "Wild Dances" to explain her record 280-point win, without engaging bloc allegations in immediate interviews. Second-place entrant Željko Joksimović from Serbia and Montenegro similarly attributed strong regional support to the ballad "Lane Moje"'s emotional resonance across ex-Yugoslav and Balkan audiences. Western entrants, such as the United Kingdom's James Fox (18th place), expressed private frustration over low points from Eastern jurors but offered no public statements challenging the results, aligning with the EBU's view that televoting captured diaspora influences legitimately.[57]Post-Contest Recognition
Marcel Bezençon Awards
The Marcel Bezençon Awards, named after the founder of the Eurovision Song Contest, were presented during the 2004 event in Istanbul to honor exceptional entries among the 24 finalists, as determined by specific voting groups rather than the general public televote.[66] Introduced in 2002, the awards comprised three categories in 2004: the Artistic Award, voted by a panel of previous Eurovision winners for the best overall artistic performance; the Press Award, selected by accredited international press members for the most outstanding song; and the newly introduced Composer Award, replacing the prior Fan Award and voted by the participating composers for the best and most original composition.[66] This shift to composer voting emphasized technical songwriting merit over fan popularity.[67] The Artistic Award went to Ukraine's Ruslana for "Wild Dances," recognizing her energetic fusion of traditional Hutsul folk elements with modern pop and dance rhythms, performed with dynamic staging that contributed to her overall contest victory with 280 points.[66] [2] The Press Award was awarded to Serbia and Montenegro's Željko Joksimović for "Lane moje," a sevdah-influenced ballad that placed second in the final with 263 points; journalists highlighted its emotional depth and vocal delivery as standout qualities.[68] [66] The inaugural Composer Award recognized Cyprus's entry "Stronger Every Minute," performed by Lisa Andreas and composed by Mike Connaris, praised by fellow composers for its melodic structure and lyrical resilience theme; Andreas finished fifth overall with 170 points.[66] [67]Other Honors and Achievements
Ruslana, representing Ukraine, was awarded a World Music Award in September 2004 for her performance and sales success with "Wild Dances".[69] She was also appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Ukraine, serving from 2004 to 2005 in recognition of her cultural influence and advocacy efforts.[70] The 2004 contest achieved several procedural milestones, including the debut of a semi-final round to accommodate broader participation and the involvement of a record 36 countries, the highest number up to that point.[71] Ukraine's winning tally of 280 points established a new benchmark for the highest score in a grand final, surpassing previous records and remaining unbeaten for over a decade.[72] This outcome highlighted the entry's strong appeal across diverse voting blocs, contributing to the event's expanded global reach.Official Album and Commercial Aspects
Album Release and Tracklist
The official compilation album for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, titled Eurovision Song Contest: Istanbul 2004, was released as a double CD on June 15, 2004, by CMC International in association with EMI.[73][74] It featured studio recordings of all 36 participating entries, divided across two discs in a copy-protected jewel case format with a 12-page booklet containing lyrics and artist information.[74] The tracklist followed a sequence grouping semifinal and final performers, with approximate durations for each song ranging from 2:48 to 3:10 minutes.[74]| Disc | Track | Artist | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Marta Roure | Jugarem A Estimar-Nos | 3:00 |
| 1 | 2 | Anjeza Shahini | The Image Of You | 3:00 |
| 1 | 3 | Tie Break | Du Bist | 3:10 |
| 1 | 4 | Deen | In The Disco | 2:55 |
| 1 | 5 | Xandee | 1 Life | 2:57 |
| 1 | 6 | Alexandra & Konstantin | My Galileo | 2:55 |
| 1 | 7 | Piero & The Music Stars | Celebrate! | 2:54 |
| 1 | 8 | Željko Joksimović & Ad Hoc Orchestra | Lane Moje | 3:01 |
| 1 | 9 | Lisa Andreas | Stronger Every Minute | 3:02 |
| 1 | 10 | Max | Can't Wait Until Tonight | 3:01 |
| 1 | 11 | Tomas Thordarson | Shame On You | 2:48 |
| 1 | 12 | Neiokõsõ | Tii | 3:01 |
| 1 | 13 | Ramón | Para Llenarme De Ti | 2:58 |
| 1 | 14 | Jonatan Cerrada | A Chaque Pas | 3:08 |
| 1 | 15 | Jari Sillanpää | Takes 2 To Tango | 2:59 |
| 1 | 16 | James Fox | Hold On To Our Love | 2:58 |
| 1 | 17 | Sakis Rouvas | Shake It | 3:02 |
| 1 | 18 | Ivan Mikulić | You Are The Only One | 3:01 |
| 2 | 1 | Chris Doran | If My World Stopped Turning | 3:01 |
| 2 | 2 | David D'Or | To Believe | 3:03 |
| 2 | 3 | Jónsi | Heaven | 3:06 |
| 2 | 4 | Linas & Simona | What Happened To Your Love | 3:02 |
| 2 | 5 | Fomins & Kleins | Dziesma Par Laimi | 3:03 |
| 2 | 6 | Maryon | Notre Planète | 3:04 |
| 2 | 7 | Julie & Ludwig | On Again... Off Again | 3:01 |
| 2 | 8 | Toše Proeski | Life | 3:02 |
| 2 | 9 | Re-Union | Without You | 3:00 |
| 2 | 10 | Knut Anders Sørum | High | 3:03 |
| 2 | 11 | Blue Café | Love Song | 2:49 |
| 2 | 12 | Sofia Vitória | Foi Magia | 3:01 |
| 2 | 13 | Sanda | I Admit | 2:58 |
| 2 | 14 | Julia Savicheva | Believe Me | 2:49 |
| 2 | 15 | Lena Philipsson | It Hurts | 3:03 |
| 2 | 16 | Platin | Stay Forever | 3:00 |
| 2 | 17 | Athena | For Real | 3:01 |
| 2 | 18 | Ruslana | Wild Dances | 3:02 |