00:00You are the world, you're my number one.
00:03Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're turning back the clock to the turn of the millennium,
00:08revisiting some of Eurovision's most iconic champions and checking in with where they are now.
00:13The Mirror Rangers, we got hot, rock the hallelujah,
00:18that's the essence of the natural high.
00:232000, the Olsen Brothers, Denmark.
00:25Jörn and Nils Nöller Olsen soared into Eurovision legend with their victory.
00:30Fly on the wings of love, fly baby, fly, fly.
00:38Their rock pop ballad Fly on the Wings of Love secured 195 points,
00:42bringing the contest to Denmark for the first time in 37 years.
00:46This win proved that seasoned musicians could still dominate with heartfelt melodies.
00:51In the warmest sand, smiling hand in hand.
00:55Love is all around me
00:58The track became a massive international hit, selling millions of copies.
01:03Following their triumph, they released successful albums like Wings of Love and toured extensively.
01:08I'm on my back, I'm on my way
01:12Whenever you need me, I'd like to stay
01:15Despite Nöller's later health challenges, his recovery allowed for continued performances.
01:20Even now, their music still pops up across Europe.
01:23The less active today, they still reunite for special events,
01:26celebrating over five decades of an enduring, beloved musical legacy.
01:30We don't feel legends.
01:32We are still working hard, and we really still love playing music and writing new songs and so on.
01:392001, Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL, Estonia
01:44This was Estonia's very first win, and an historic one at that.
01:48Come on everybody, sing along and feel the power of a song
01:52Come on everybody, stay the spot and always let's wait in our hearts
01:56Dave Benton became the first black winner, and the oldest at that time.
02:00Scoring 198 points, the track proved a small Baltic nation could dominate the European stage.
02:06They didn't stay together for long, but each took that win and ran with it in their own way.
02:18Padar fronted the hit band The Sun before launching a successful solo career.
02:22Benton remained a popular personality, even appearing on TV shows like Dancing with the Stars.
02:27The backing group 2XL changed their name to Soul Militia and continued to shape the local music scene.
02:33Still, together, they remain linked by Estonia's only Eurovision triumph so far.
02:452002, Marien, Latvia
02:48The Baltic winning streak kept rolling when Latvia stepped up to the winner's circle with Marija Naumova,
02:53a.k.a. Marien, and her vivacious performance of I Wanna.
02:56I wanna be the sunshine in your house
02:59I wanna be the light from shooting stars
03:03Her victory was a masterclass in staging.
03:05She famously shed layers of clothing to reveal a vibrant outfit,
03:09earning 176 points and bringing the 2003 contest to Riga.
03:14Since her win, Marien has grown into a versatile performer.
03:23Rather than sticking strictly to pop,
03:26she pivoted toward musical theater and released albums in Latvian, French, English, and Russian.
03:31Marien is still on the Latvian art scene,
03:33her career a testament to the lasting impact of a charismatic theatrical performance.
03:37Cher Amir, Cher Amir, Cher Amir
03:432003, Sertab Erenas, Turkey
03:46Continuing the streak of first-time winners
03:49In 2003, Sertab Erenas served up some Turkish delight with her evocative performance of Every Way That I Can.
04:02Her groundbreaking fusion of modern pop and traditional motifs featured belly dance choreography that earned 167 points.
04:09This narrow victory over Belgium became a massive point of national pride.
04:13Her triumph served as a significant step in bringing Turkish pop to the global stage.
04:17Meanwhile, her Eurovision glory offered a hearty career boost,
04:21firmly establishing her among Turkey's most celebrated pop divas.
04:32She enjoyed this international exposure through extensive touring and the release of successful albums.
04:38Sertab has stayed active, performing at festivals and advocating for causes close to her heart.
04:492004, Ruslana, Ukraine
04:51In 2004, Ruslana unleashed a force of nature with wild dances, putting her own stamp on the song contest.
05:05Her explosive energy, blending traditional Ukrainian hutsal rhythms with a warrior-like presence,
05:11created an unforgettable spectacle.
05:13This became a bold cultural statement, earning Ukraine its first victory,
05:18yes, another first-timer, with 280 points, then a record-breaking score.
05:23Beyond the stage, Ruslana became a powerhouse of activism.
05:26She's been singing a different tune, standing alongside the peaceful protesters in Kiev from the very start,
05:33singing the national anthem, night after night, on a stage in Independence Square.
05:37Serving in parliament and supporting the Orange Revolution.
05:40Even amid ongoing conflict, she is a vocal advocate for peace and sovereignty.
05:45These days, her legacy endures as she balances artistic passion with humanitarian outreach.
05:50Ruslana is still one of Ukraine's strongest voices, both in music and beyond.
06:022005, Elena Paparizou
06:04Grease was enjoying a golden era of triumphs in 2005,
06:09including Elena Paparizou bringing home the country's first Eurovision victory.
06:20After her My Number One performance, Elena went from Eurovision winner to a lasting pop star.
06:26Over the last two decades, she has dominated charts,
06:29releasing numerous platinum albums that solidified her legendary status.
06:39Beyond the recording studio, Paparizou became a beloved television personality,
06:43most notably as a long-standing coach on The Voice of Grease.
06:47She continues to headline massive tours, proving her stage presence is as electric as ever.
06:52Two decades after becoming Europe's number one, Elena is still celebrating success,
06:57and has continued to be a cherished household name.
07:10The Finnish monster rock band, Lordi, obliterated the Eurovision stage with hard rock hallelujah.
07:24Shattering every preconceived notion of the contest,
07:27they secured Finland's first-ever victory with a then-record-breaking 292 points.
07:32This cultural phenomenon proved that Eurovision could embrace extreme genres,
07:36turning the band into global sensations overnight.
07:39Two decades later, Lordi still has a stronghold on the heavy metal scene.
07:42Won't you lift your spell?
07:46Hell is a man!
07:50In 2024, the band set out on tour and released their 19th studio album, Limited Deadition.
07:56Beyond the stage, Lordi has also appeared in Vogue Scandinavia
08:00and partnered with Swedish recycling campaigns.
08:02They've built a monster of a career,
08:05unleashing their signature shock rock spectacle on devoted fans everywhere.
08:09Don't you love a masterman, good to understand the beauty of the beast?
08:162007, Maria Sharifovic, Serbia
08:19Serbia's independent debut culminated in a stunning victory with Maria Sharifovic's Molitva.
08:27Molitva, kaoša da molimu samaje?
08:31Rejecting flashy spectacles, her stunning, emotionally-charged ballad prioritized vocal mastery and authenticity,
08:38earning a decisive 268 points.
08:41Since then, Sharifovic has solidified her status as one of the Balkan's highly respected vocalists.
08:51Her career flourished with several successful albums,
08:55while her charismatic presence led her to become a long-standing judge on the popular talent show Zvezda Granda.
09:01Beyond music, Maria is a vital figure for the regional LGBTQIA plus community
09:06after openly sharing her personal journey.
09:08She continues to perform and recently embraced motherhood.
09:11As a powerful, outspoken personality,
09:14Sharifovic is still deeply admired for her integrity and that unmistakable, incredible voice.
09:292008, Dima Bilan, Russia
09:31Dima Bilan finally clinched the Eurovision trophy with his heartfelt ballad, Believe.
09:36Yes, I get something to believe, as long as I grieve it.
09:43After narrowly missing out in 2006,
09:45he returned with a polished performance featuring Olympic skater Evgeny Plushenko and palpable determination.
09:51His powerful vocals and emotional connection earned a commanding 272 points,
09:56securing Russia's first-ever win.
10:04This triumph marked Bilan's career coronation,
10:07establishing him as one of Russia's most celebrated musicians.
10:10He released numerous chart-topping albums and served as a coach on The Voice for years.
10:14Today, he remains a prominent, albeit polarizing figure due to his support for the invasion of Ukraine.
10:20Most recently, he was named an official ambassador for InterVision 2025
10:25and even experimented with AI-generated music in 2026.
10:47Before we continue, check out this single from Sound Mojo's album, Balance.
10:51Classical music reimagined as rock, hard rock and metal.
10:55Check out the full track and album below.
11:15Closing our 2000s retrospective,
11:18Alexander Rybak is one of Eurovision's most iconic figures.
11:30Fairytale earned a record-breaking 387 points
11:33with its enchanting blend of folk pop and virtuosic violin,
11:37marking Norway's third victory.
11:39Since that global sensation, Rybak has released five albums
11:42and expanded into writing children's books and voice acting.
11:51Recently, he even earned an MFA in film music composition from Columbia College, Chicago.
11:57As of 2026, he is still part of the Eurovision family,
12:01captivating fans with his new single Rise during Norway's Melodie Grand Prix.
12:05Though he narrowly missed another chance to represent his country,
12:08Rybak remains a vibrant force, proving his musical fairy tale is far from over.
12:22Who is your ultimate Eurovision champion of the 2000s?
12:26Let us know in the comments.
Comments