2004 Eurovision Song Contest:

Breaking records with 36 countries for the 49th edition ..

A record 36 countries have participated in the 49th Eurovision Song Contest that took place in Istanbul, on 12 and 15 May 2004.

The event hosted by Turkish Television (TRT), has featured a brand new format comprising two live televised contests in one week – a Qualifying Round and a Grand Final – which broadcasted live from Istanbul over the EBU's digital Eurovision network.

The countries registered to compete in the Qualifying Round were: Albania (RTVSH), Andorra (RTVA), Belarus (BTRC), Bosnia & Herzegovina (RTVBH), Cyprus (CBC), Croatia (HRT), Denmark (DR), Estonia (ETV), Finland (YLE), FYR Macedonia (MKRTV), Greece (ERT), Israel (IBA), Latvia (LT), Lithuania (LRT), Malta (PBS), Monte Carlo (TMC), Netherlands (NOS), Portugal (RTP), Serbia & Montenegro (RTS/RTCG), Slovenia (RTVSLO), Switzerland (SFDRS), Ukraine (NTU).

The top 10 countries from the qualifying round have gone forward to the Final. Ruslana from Ukraine was the winner with her song " Wild Dances" (280 points). Athena from Turkey with "For Real" got the 4th place (195 points).  

2003 Eurovision Song Contest:

Turkey's streetwise song 'Every way that I can' gave Turkey its first ever victory and managed to steal the top spot from controversial pop duo tatu and Belgium's inventive Urban Trad.

Sertab Erener, born in Istanbul, Turkey, is one of the most popular and most acclaimed female vocalists in her country. Her recordings have reached a sale of 4 million. Her first album was released in 1992, then Lal in 1994, and Sertab Gibi in 1996.

Her special duet with Jose Carreras has also demonstrated her versatility as a singer of different kinds of music. A duet with Ricky Martin called Private Emotion on the Turkish and Middle Eastern versions of Martin's 99 English language album carried Sertab into different phase of her stardom. Her 1994 recording Lal was picked by Sony Music as one of the biggest hits of this century and included into the "Soundtrack For A Century" boxset.

Related Reading (RR) - www.doteurovision.com