🇲🇩 Road to Malmö: Moldova

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Moldova.

Natalia Barbu

Natalia Barbu, born on August 22, 1979, in Bălți, then part of the Moldavian SSR, USSR, has firmly established herself as a versatile artist in the Moldovan music scene. Daughter of esteemed musician Ana Barbu, Natalia has blended rock and pop genres with her heritage of folk and stage music. Her early collaborations with Trigon on jazz-folk projects set a creative foundation, which evolved as she penned the lyrics for most of her songs. A pivotal moment came in 2006 with a contract from Cat Music Records (Sony Music) in Romania, marking her entry into a wider European market.

Her single “Îngerul meu” soared to No. 1 in the Romanian Top 100, cementing her popularity. In 2007, her Eurovision entry “Fight” achieved a commendable 10th place finish. Embracing change, her 2012 single “I Said It’s Sad” showcased a major style evolution, topping Moldova’s Airplay charts. Esquire’s “sexiest woman alive” title in 2015 further celebrated her appeal. Returning to Eurovision in 2024 with “In the Middle,” Natalia Barbu continues to be a prominent figure in Moldova’s cultural tapestry.

Etapa națională

The national final in Moldova is called Etapa națională. Usually, the contest starts with an audition round, broadcast live on Moldovan television. 32 songs were submitted this year. However, two (a.o. Aliona Moon) withdrew before the contest and one was disqualified. Eleven songs headed to the final, which was won by Natalia Barbu. It was not an easy match: Natalia received the most votes of the jury, while Valeria Pasha won the televote. The rule in Etapa națională is that, in case of a tie, the jury winner goes to Eurovision.

Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest

The first Moldovan entry for the Eurovision Song Contest was “Boonika bate doba” by Zdob şi Zdub in 2005. It was the first of 3 entries by this band in total, and reached a 6th place. The best scoring entry so far for the country was “Hey mamma” by Sunstroke Project in 2017. They were 3rd. Also Sunstroke Project took part before, in 2010. With “Run away” they became famous: the sax player and his solo became the ‘epic sax guy’.

The Bookmakers

Currently the betting odds for Moldova are not too positive: a 36th place for Natalia Barbu. But we all know that  everything still can change until the very moment of the voting.

The song

And this is the song:

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Weekly update

Here is your weekly update! The last few songs have been published by the broadcasters. Revamps and official videos have been made. Blablablabla The new songs are: Switzerland: Zoë Më – “Voyage”Cyprus: Theo Evan – “Shh”Georgia: Mariam Shengelia – “Freedom”France: Louane – “Maman” Pre-Party Season Gears Up Here is your weekly update for the Pre-Party season: Nordic Eurovision Party – The Pre-Party Season Begins:Oslo kicks off the pre-party season with the Nordic Eurovision Party on March 22. This exciting event features Norway’s 2025 representative Kyle Alessandro, alongside beloved acts like Sandra Kim (Belgium 1986) and Klara Hammarström (Melodifestivalen 2025). Fans will enjoy a lively evening as many artists debut their Eurovision entries live for the first time ahead of the big contest. Eurovision In Concert (Amsterdam) – New Artists Confirmed:Amsterdam’s eagerly awaited Eurovision In Concert (April 5) continues to thrill fans by adding several Eurovision 2025 participants. Lithuania’s Katarsis, Ukraine’s Ziferblat, Australia’s Go-Jo, Melody from Spain, Marko Bošnjak from Croatia, and San Marino’s Gabry Ponte have all joined the lineup this week. Visitors can expect an incredible night. It will be filled with live performances of this year’s entries alongside special surprise appearances from past Eurovision stars. Together they make this an essential event for Eurovision enthusiasts. London Eurovision Party – Exciting New Acts Announced:The London Eurovision Party on April 13 expands its impressive lineup this week. Czechia’s Adonxs, performing the catchy “Kiss Kiss Goodbye,” will join Electro Velvet, the UK’s memorable 2015 Eurovision duo. Additional performers include Katarsis (Lithuania), Emmy (Norway), and Australia’s Go-Jo. London-based fans can look forward to an unforgettable evening mixing fresh 2025 acts with nostalgic performances. Madrid Pre-Party (PrePartyES) – Lineup Grows Further:Madrid’s prominent Eurovision PrePartyES (April 17–19) just announced nine new artists. Joining the spectacular lineup are Montenegro’s Nina Žižić, Norway’s Kyle Alessandro, Austria’s JJ, and Denmark’s Sissal. Special guest will be Marina Satti (Greece 2024). Fans attending the three-night celebration will experience a vibrant mix of Eurovision 2025 performances and memorable appearances by popular Eurovision alumni, cementing Madrid’s pre-party as a highlight of the Eurovision calendar. New video’s No less than 17 countries published the official video of their songs. Here’s your weekly update upon that. We will not mention them all individually, but you can find them all in our database. We mention just a few: Montenegro’s Revamp – Nina Žižić’s Fresh Sound Montenegro has unveiled a revamped version of Nina Žižić’s Eurovision 2025 entry. The song now features updated production elements and enhanced vocal arrangements, giving it a fresh, contemporary appeal. Žižić expressed excitement about the improvements, aiming to captivate both jury members and Eurovision fans alike in Basel. Italy’s video – a special one We didn’t add Italy’s video to the database, as the song is interrupted several times. It contains a beautiful story, so we still recommend watching it. It is worth it, the full 5 minutes!! Spain’s Song Revamp  Spain isn’t resting after their national final. Melody has unveiled a revamped version of “Esa Diva,” the song with which she won Benidorm Fest. The new version comes with a more international pop sound and a brand-new music video, giving the song a fresh polish ahead of Eurovision​. Spanish broadcaster RTVE explained that the revamp aimed to boost the song’s appeal while keeping its original essence. Melody believes the updates have made her entry even stronger. Malta’s Eurovision Entry: From ‘Kant’ to ‘Serving’ Malta’s Eurovision 2025 journey experienced a significant twist with Miriana Conte’s entry, originally titled “Kant.” The Maltese word “kant” translates to “singing,” but its pronunciation closely resembles a vulgar English term, leading to potential misunderstandings. This linguistic overlap prompted the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to request changes to the song’s title and lyrics to ensure suitability for the international audience. ​ In response, Conte and her team retitled the song to “Serving,” aligning with the original theme of confidence and self-expression. The revamped version maintains the song’s essence while adhering to the EBU’s guidelines. The updated music video, released on March 14, 2025, showcases Conte’s adaptability and commitment to her artistic vision. ​   Share

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Eurovision 2025
Martijn

Weekly update

Here is your weekly update! The last few songs have been published by the broadcasters. Revamps and official videos have been made. Blablablabla The new songs are: Switzerland: Zoë Më – “Voyage”Cyprus: Theo Evan – “Shh”Georgia: Mariam Shengelia – “Freedom”France: Louane – “Maman” Pre-Party Season Gears Up Here is your weekly update for the Pre-Party season: Nordic Eurovision Party – The Pre-Party Season Begins:Oslo kicks off the pre-party season with the Nordic Eurovision Party on March 22. This exciting event features Norway’s 2025 representative Kyle Alessandro, alongside beloved acts like Sandra Kim (Belgium 1986) and Klara Hammarström (Melodifestivalen 2025). Fans will enjoy a lively evening as many artists debut their Eurovision entries live for the first time ahead of the big contest. Eurovision In Concert (Amsterdam) – New Artists Confirmed:Amsterdam’s eagerly awaited Eurovision In Concert (April 5) continues to thrill fans by adding several Eurovision 2025 participants. Lithuania’s Katarsis, Ukraine’s Ziferblat, Australia’s Go-Jo, Melody from Spain, Marko Bošnjak from Croatia, and San Marino’s Gabry Ponte have all joined the lineup this week. Visitors can expect an incredible night. It will be filled with live performances of this year’s entries alongside special surprise appearances from past Eurovision stars. Together they make this an essential event for Eurovision enthusiasts. London Eurovision Party – Exciting New Acts Announced:The London Eurovision Party on April 13 expands its impressive lineup this week. Czechia’s Adonxs, performing the catchy “Kiss Kiss Goodbye,” will join Electro Velvet, the UK’s memorable 2015 Eurovision duo. Additional performers include Katarsis (Lithuania), Emmy (Norway), and Australia’s Go-Jo. London-based fans can look forward to an unforgettable evening mixing fresh 2025 acts with nostalgic performances. Madrid Pre-Party (PrePartyES) – Lineup Grows Further:Madrid’s prominent Eurovision PrePartyES (April 17–19) just announced nine new artists. Joining the spectacular lineup are Montenegro’s Nina Žižić, Norway’s Kyle Alessandro, Austria’s JJ, and Denmark’s Sissal. Special guest will be Marina Satti (Greece 2024). Fans attending the three-night celebration will experience a vibrant mix of Eurovision 2025 performances and memorable appearances by popular Eurovision alumni, cementing Madrid’s pre-party as a highlight of the Eurovision calendar. New video’s No less than 17 countries published the official video of their songs. Here’s your weekly update upon that. We will not mention them all individually, but you can find them all in our database. We mention just a few: Montenegro’s Revamp – Nina Žižić’s Fresh Sound Montenegro has unveiled a revamped version of Nina Žižić’s Eurovision 2025 entry. The song now features updated production elements and enhanced vocal arrangements, giving it a fresh, contemporary appeal. Žižić expressed excitement about the improvements, aiming to captivate both jury members and Eurovision fans alike in Basel. Italy’s video – a special one We didn’t add Italy’s video to the database, as the song is interrupted several times. It contains a beautiful story, so we still recommend watching it. It is worth it, the full 5 minutes!! Spain’s Song Revamp  Spain isn’t resting after their national final. Melody has unveiled a revamped version of “Esa Diva,” the song with which she won Benidorm Fest. The new version comes with a more international pop sound and a brand-new music video, giving the song a fresh polish ahead of Eurovision​. Spanish broadcaster RTVE explained that the revamp aimed to boost the song’s appeal while keeping its original essence. Melody believes the updates have made her entry even stronger. Malta’s Eurovision Entry: From ‘Kant’ to ‘Serving’ Malta’s Eurovision 2025 journey experienced a significant twist with Miriana Conte’s entry, originally titled “Kant.” The Maltese word “kant” translates to “singing,” but its pronunciation closely resembles a vulgar English term, leading to potential misunderstandings. This linguistic overlap prompted the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to request changes to the song’s title and lyrics to ensure suitability for the international audience. ​ In response, Conte and her team retitled the song to “Serving,” aligning with the original theme of confidence and self-expression. The revamped version maintains the song’s essence while adhering to the EBU’s guidelines. The updated music video, released on March 14, 2025, showcases Conte’s adaptability and commitment to her artistic vision. ​   Share

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Read More »