Everyway That I Can

"Everyway That I Can" is the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 sung in English by Sertab Erener for Turkey. The song was written by Demir Demirkan in early 2003 and produced and arranged by Ozan Çolakoğlu,[1] famous for his works with pop idol Tarkan. Initially, it sparked controversy in Turkey for its subject matter and English-language lyrics, and was not considered a favorite to win the contest.

"Everyway That I Can"
Single by Sertab Erener
from the album No Boundaries
Released23 April 2003
Genre
Length2:34
Label
Songwriter(s)Demir Demirkan
Producer(s)Demir Demirkan
Sertab Erener singles chronology
"Yeni"
(2001)		 "Everyway That I Can"
(2003)		 "Here I Am"
(2003)
Eurovision Song Contest 2003 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Language
English
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
Demir Demirkan
Finals performance
Final result
1st
Final points
167
Entry chronology
◄ "Leylaklar Soldu Kalbinde" (2002)
"For Real" (2004) ►

The song ultimately won Eurovision Song Contest 2003 by a two-point margin, and went on to achieve commercial success throughout Europe, peaking at number 1 on singles charts in Greece, Sweden, and Turkey, as well as attaining top 10 peaks in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain. It continues to be ranked among the best Eurovision entries of all time.

Eurovision Song Contest 2003

Background

Having previously selected Erener to represent the nation, Turkish broadcaster TRT chose her song to represent Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 in Riga, Latvia. 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 it in English instead of Turkish.[2]

With its selection of singer and song, Turkey was regarded as having "set out to win" the 2003 contest, but Sertab was not widely regarded as a front-runner in the lead-up to the event; Russia's t.A.T.u. was regarded as a favorite to win.[2][3][4]

Performance

Turkey performed fourth on the night in May, earning critical acclaim and becoming the first and only country whose song received a standing ovation that year.[5] 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.

Voting

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 two points; the song received the maximum 12 points from four countries, the second-highest number (following Russia).[6][7]

Commercial performance

Following its victory, "Everyway That I Can" was released throughout Europe and sold well.[2] It reached the top of the charts in Turkey, Greece, and Eastern Europe, holding the number-one position in Sweden for three weeks, breaking the top ten in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and Austria and charting within the top twenty in Germany and Switzerland. It received a platinum certification in Greece and a gold certification in Sweden.[8][9]

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.

After Eurovision

Erener was hailed as a national hero by the public and the press and was congratulated by the President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[10] She was awarded the State Medal of Distinguished Service, among others.[11][12] Additionally, this success was celebrated as a step forward in the Turkey–European Union relations.[5]

Erener performed the single as a medley at the 2004 final in Istanbul with male dancers and the same choreography.[13] The single was also included in her first English album No Boundaries.[14]

The song continues to perform well in rankings of the all-time best Eurovision entries.[2] In 2005, the song competed in Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest 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 Die Grand Prix Hitliste, 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.[15]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Greece (IFPI Greece)[8] Platinum 20,000^
Sweden (GLF)[9] Gold 15,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

In 2010, Elhaida Dani performed the song live on E diela Shqiptare, an Albanian variety show. Dani would later go on to represent Albania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.[39]

References
  1. Everyway That I Can - info
  2. West, Chris (2017). Eurovision! A History of Modern Europe Through the World's Greatest Song Contest. London: Melville House UK. pp. 222–223. ISBN 9781911545002.
  3. Straumanis, Andris (20 May 2003). "Predictions give Eurovision victory to Russia". Latvians Online. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. "UK act hits Eurovision low". BBC News. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. Tobin, Robertdeam (5 July 2017). A Song for Europe: Popular Music and Politics in the Eurovision Song Contest. ISBN 9781351577991.
  6. "Results of the Final of Riga 2003". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  7. "Eurovision Song Contest 2003 – Scoreboard". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  8. "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 30/11–06/12" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on 9 December 2003. Retrieved 29 June 2020. See Best Position column.
  9. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2003" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  10. "Sertab, devletle tanıştı". Milliyet. Ankara. 28 May 2003. p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2003.
  11. Tezel, Mevlüt (20 May 2014). "Soma'nın isimsiz kahramanları". Sabah. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  12. "Müyap Ödülleri dağıtıldı". Hürriyet. 23 June 2003. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  13. Tezel, Cenker (17 May 2004). "10 numara". Hürriyet. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  14. "CD". Milliyet Cumartesi. 5 June 2004. p. 13.
  15. The Best of Sertab Erener - En İyiler (album booklet). Sertab Erener. Columbia Records. 2007. 88697089492.
  16. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 248.
  17. "Sertab – Every Way That I Can" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. "Sertab – Every Way That I Can" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. "Sertab – Every Way That I Can" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 28. 5 July 2003. p. 12. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  21. "Sertab – Every Way That I Can" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  22. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Sertab". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  23. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  24. "Sertab – Every Way That I Can" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  25. "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 37, saptamina 29.09–05-10, 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 10 January 2005. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  26. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  27. "Sertab – Every Way That I Can" Canciones Top 50.
  28. "Sertab – Every Way That I Can". Singles Top 100.
  29. "Sertab – Every Way That I Can". Swiss Singles Chart.
  30. Turkish Top 20 Chart Archived 5 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  31. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  32. "Jaaroverzichten 2003" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  33. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2003" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  34. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2003". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  35. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2003" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  36. "Topul anului 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 22 January 2005. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  37. "Årslista Singlar, 2003" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  38. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2003" (in German). Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  39. "Elhaida Dani - Everyway That I Can - Live at E Diela Shqiptare". YouTube.com. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
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