Viktor Klimenko is a Finnish-Russian singer who has been active since the 1960s. He first came to international recognition when he represented his home country in the 1965 Contest in Naples with the song Aurinko laskee länteen, which finished in joint last place with Nul Points.
In 1970, Klimenko released the album Stenka Rasin across Europe. The album, containing Russian songs, went gold in the Finnish market—the first record to do so in Finland. Later, it was certified platinum. This success was followed by a decade of concerts around the world. Klimeno had nine more gold records and one more platinum record.
Klimenko rebranded himself as a Gospel singer in 1980, after having a personal religious revelation.
| Eurovision Song Contest 1965 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Conny Vandenbos •  Kathy Kirby •  Conchita Bautista •  Butch Moore •  Ulla Wiesner •  Udo Jürgens •  Kirsti Sparboe •  Lize Marke •  Marjorie Noël •  Ingvar Wixell •  Guy Mardel •  Simone de Oliveira •  Bobby Solo •  Birgit Brüel •  France Gall •  Viktor Klimenko •  Vice Vukov •  Yovanna Fassou Kalpaxi
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| Songs | |||
| 't Is genoeg • I Belong • ¡Qué bueno, qué bueno! • Walking the Streets in the Rain • Paradies, wo bist du? • Sag ihr, ich lass sie grüßen • Karusell • Als het weer lente is • Va dire à l'amour • Absent Friend • N'avoue jamais • Sol de inverno • Se piangi, se ridi • For din skyld • Poupée de cire, poupée de son • Aurinko laskee länteen • Čežnja • Non, à jamais sans toi
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