Everyway That I Can

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“Everyway That I Can”
Single by Sertab Erener from the album No Boundaries
Released	April 23, 2003 (CD-single)
Format	Digital download, CD-single
Genre	Pop, Dance
Length	2:38
Label	Sony
Writer(s)	Demir Demirkan
Producer	Demir Demirkan
Sertab Erener singles chronology
Yeni (2001) Everyway That I Can (2003) Here I Am (2003)
"Everyway That I Can"
Eurovision Song Contest 2003 entry
Country	Turkey
Artist(s)	Sertab Erener
Language	English
Composer(s)	Demir Demirkan, Sertab Erener
Lyricist(s)	Demir Demirkan
Finals performance
Final result	1st
Final points	167
Appearance chronology
◄ Leylaklar Soldu Kalbinde (2002)
For Real (2004) ►

"Everyway That I Can" is the winning song of the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest, by Sertab Erener.

[edit] Everyway That I Can

"Everyway That I Can" was written by Sertab Erener and Demir Demirkan in early 2003 and produced and arranged by Ozan Çolakoğlu^[1], famous for his works with pop idol Tarkan. Having previously selected Erener to represent the nation, Turkish broadcaster TRT chose her song to represent Turkey in the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest in Riga. Initially "Everyway That I Can" caused controversy with the Turkish public, considered too racy by some and too pop oriented by others. Criticism also arose by Sertab's decision to perform the song in English instead of in Turkish. The song, which combines up-tempo strings with Turkish traditional instruments, was not considered a favourite to win - in fact Russian duet t.A.T.u. were the hottest favourites since Cliff Richard's entrant in 1968, and Spain was second.

Turkey performed fourth on the night in May and received an explosive reception afterwards. The song had been re-written slightly to include some high notes and a belly dancing routine was added. Erener sang counter to the rhythm in places and the backing vocals were synthesised with Turkish stringed instruments. The voting on the night saw Russia, Turkey and Belgium switch places at the top a number of times before Slovenia eventually gave Turkey the victory by just two points.

[edit] Eurovision Victory and Worldwide Success

Sertab Erener at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 in Riga.

The track was released all over Europe after the win, shooting to the top of the charts in Turkey, Greece and Eastern Europe, holding the #1 position in Sweden for three weeks, breaking the top ten in Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain and Austria and charting in the top twenty in Germany and Switzerland. The song climbed to a high of #17 on the Airplay World Official Top 100 - and to date it is one of the most successful Eurovision winners of the 21st century commercially.

The video of the release sees Erener in an Ottoman style castle, its rose gardens, imperial harem (living quarters) and Turkish Bath (hamam). Roses carry a major symbolism throughout the video. Erener is dressed in traditional Turkish styles, and Turkish female dancers are also present.

Remixes of the song were also released, including a Turkish version, a club remix, and a European dance remix. A live version was brought out and also included on the original single CD, along with two Galleon club remixes. The track was included on the official Eurovision 2003 CD as the original version, however.

[edit] After the Eurovision

Erener performed the single as a medley at the 2004 final in Istanbul using male dancers but the same choreography, and included it in her first English album No Boundaries. It was also entered at the 50th Anniversary Congratulations (Eurovision) as one of the fourteen best ever Eurovision entrants, and finished ninth, beating popular artists such as Celine Dion's "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi", Johnny Logan and Dana International in the process. Erener herself appeared onstage to perform the final verse of the song on the night.

In 2006 it was entered in Best of Eurovision, a German version of the above, and beat off stiff competition from ABBA's Waterloo and eleven others to finish second. Ruslana's Wild Dances, the Ukrainian 2004 winning entry, was first.

The song was also included in a compilation of Sertab Erener's national and international hits released in 2007.

[edit] Charts

[edit] References

1. ^ Everyway That I Can - info
2. ^ "Hungarian Airplay Chart". Mahasz.hu. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.