Kiev Goes 'Orange' For Eurovision

KIEV, Ukraine -- The song that became the anthem of Ukraine's "orange revolution" has been chosen to represent the country at this year's Eurovision song contest.

The hip-hop tune Together we are many! (Razom nas bahato!) by Greenjolly beat 18 other contestants in an interactive vote in a qualifying final in Kiev.

It became an instant hit with many Ukrainians who rallied against last November's rigged presidential poll.

Ukraine will host Eurovision 2005 in May as it won the contest last year.


Ruslana and Wild Dances
The country's winning entry at the show in Turkey was Wild Dances by Ruslana.

'Now or never!'

Razom nas bahato! is a remake of the famous revolutionary song Pueblo unido jamas sera vencido! (The people, united, will never be defeated!) from the 1960s.

It was written by the Greenjolly duo in the early days of the mass protests in Kiev that eventually brought West-leaning President Viktor Yushchenko to power.

"No to falsifications!... No to lies! Yushchenko - yes! Yushchenko - yes! This is our president - yes, yes!" the song says.

"We aren't cattle!... We are Ukraine's daughters and sons! Now or never! Enough with the wait! Together we are many! We cannot be defeated," it says.

Greenjolly won the right to represent Ukraine in a telephone and SMS vote during Sunday's final shown live on UT1 television channel.

However, some local music experts have criticised the viewers' choice, saying the Eurovision is not a contest for political songs.