Tele Radio Moldova (TRM) conducted Moldova’s national selection for its Eurovision entrant for Malmo 2024.
51 song submissions, then 31 Live auditions - that were broadcast live in Moldova for the first time- and a grand final with 11 entrants resulted in a victory for Natalia Barbu (composer, lyricist, performer) with her ethno pop/folk song “ In the Middle”.
On a positive note, there were record viewer numbers on all platforms in 2024 with 82,200 live viewers, 97,00 views on the Eurovisions official YouTube channel, TRM Company collected 42,000 views, TV Moldova 1 got 21,000 and there were a further 164,00 views on YouTube alone. The final seemed to have better production values than in previous years and there was an enthusiastic live audience this year.
The summary, the top 5 entrants all presented different music genres and styles but the common denominator was that they were all female ensembles on stage dressed in black. I did wonder at some point, if there were just 5 women back stage and they were changing costumes, wigs and props. It was a strange coincidence.
First place - 5 women in black with violins. Natalia Barbu has reworked the black cutout pants she wore for her 2007 Eurovision appearance ( she placed 10th in the final) and added her favourite instrument, the violin. It was performed expertly although it was static and lacked any climax or highpoint. The vocals could not be faulted. Natalia is a professional.
Also First place - YES THERE WAS A TIE- were another 5 women in black and pink with boxes. Valeria Pasha ( on her 5th try at National selection) presented an energetic pop song titled “Anti- Princess”. You get the vibe.
Babu won the jury vote and Pasha won the public vote, but when TRM cited voting irregularities in Pasha’s telephone votes, it gave Barbu the victory.
The winning song “In the Middle” was my choice, but I do hope it gets a rework before Malmo. The 5 women appeared clone like on stage and there was very little joy and none of the usual exuberance or quirkiness that many viewers have come to expect from Moldova. Perhaps the song has darker undertones, about “ being in the middle” but let’s not get political.
I think the performance could be quite bewitching if staged effectively. However, Moldova is Europe’s poorest country and in the past few years, the entrants have needed to fund their own trip, accomodation and wardrobe when they competed at Eurovision. Doesn’t seem like a level playing field at all, does it?
Moldova is set to perform in the second half of the first semi final. Will they make the cut? Barbu has a long history of success with her contemporary pop and traditional Moldovan genres in Romania and other Baltic countries so I’m hoping that her friends get her through.
Good luck Moldova.