Earlier today, Moldovan broadcaster TRM invited Ovidiu Anton to accompany Lidia Isac on the Eurovision stage, with the intent of singing “Falling Stars” together as a duet. The Romanian rocker, who was abruptly removed from the contest earlier this week when Romania was kicked out of the EBU, politely declined the invitation.

In an official press release, TRM expressed its solidarity with the artist and the Romanian broadcaster following the unprecedented decision to expel Romania from the contest.

We stand with the entire team of TVR and we regret that we will no longer share the same experience and support each other, on account of our common cultural background and values. […] We invite Ovidiu Anton to perform alongside Moldova’s representative Lidia Isac. We are convinced that together the two can make an exceptional duet for the song “Falling Stars” at Semifinal 1 of Eurovision on 10 May. Obviously, at this advanced stage, the show would need to be changed and the organiser of the contest would have to approve. We hope that, if they work together, they will manage to overcome this crisis situation. 

We also would like invite Ovidiu Anton in Chisinau on 14 May. The Moldovan capital will host an open air Eurovision concert, followed by the broadcast of the ESC 2016 final. The event will be covered live by our national TV channel Moldova 1.

Ovidiu Anton took to Facebook to respond to the neighbours’ invite:

I bow in front of our Moldovan brethren. It is an extraordinary, unique, and noble gesture. Because I know how much work goes into preparing such a moment and because I know how important Eurovision is for an artist’s career, I would not want to affect Lidia’s performance, in which she invested so much energy. The song matches her beautifully and, however much I want to be on the stage that I have dreamed of, I cannot accept to do it by risking another artist’s chance. I would like to perform “Moment Of Silence” for Romanians and Eurovision fans everywhere. Good luck, Lidia! It is your moment and you are going to shine! Thank you all once again for this special gesture. I will never forget.

What do you think about TRM reaching out to Ovidiu Anton? Would you have liked to see him perform “Falling Stars” with Lidia or do you agree that the song does not match his style?

Watch our video coverage of Ovidiu Anton

Lidia Isac performs “Falling Stars” in Tel Aviv

Lidia Isac talks “Falling Stars” in Tel Aviv

READ MORE ROMANIA EUROVISION NEWS HERE

READ MORE MOLDOVA EUROVISION NEWS HERE

45 Comments
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Sparkle
Sparkle
7 years ago

Very nice gesture from Moldova! However, the song isn’t really Ovidiu’s style.

NL
NL
7 years ago

He had his chanche to join Moldova (thats sweet of them), so he should stop crying. With Moldova or not in the contest, he has the choice.

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

This has got to be a joke … a supposed heavy rock artist performing alongside a cheesy europop dance average singer … Nobody wants to see Fred Durst performing alongside Christina Aguilera against his will all over again LOL What’s next? Will Cyprus invite the Greek group to perform with them onstage in case Greece fails to quality? LOL Aren’t those exchanged 12 enough already?

LEO ESC AUT
LEO ESC AUT
7 years ago

MORE SUPPORT FOR ROMANIAN ROCKER OVIDIU ANTON There’s’ nothing much I can disagree with all of your Wiwi posts. It must be devastating for Ovidiu Anton & I feel for him, he is a genuine innocent in this. By the way did you know that Ovidiu Anton invested his own money in recording his song for ESC 2016 ? All Copyrights belong to Ovidiu, therefore how would you react by yourself ? No records company paid the fees of Ovidiu, no sponsors at all. I can feel too for the Romanian fans as well. All that said let’s hope that… Read more »

Random.sage2.6
Random.sage2.6
7 years ago

“We invite Ovidiu Anton to perform alongside Moldova’s representative Lidia Isac. We are convinced that together the two can make an exceptional duet for the song “Falling Stars” at Semifinal 1 of Eurovisionon 10 May…

Sounds like Moldova has accepted that they’re not going to the final.

Digital Style
Digital Style
7 years ago

Lovely of Moldova to offer him another opportunity, but inviting Ovidiu to sing Falling Stars would be like inviting Douwe Bob to sing Icebreaker. It just wouldn’t work.

fikri
fikri
7 years ago

this brought me tears. lidia is so great. 🙂 i think the duet idea could work but idk.

Laburnum
Laburnum
7 years ago

Aww. That was lovely 🙂

Azaad
Azaad
7 years ago

The diaspora who would have voted for Romania only because it’s Romania will actually benefit Moldova in the televote.

Mark
Mark
7 years ago

This just tells me that Moldova is not confident in their song

Anfrers
7 years ago

@Mark Bartlett, FYI Romania can’t even vote this year.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

A gesture that is in-keeping with the spirit of Eurovision. Moldova, I applaud you!

Thiefo
7 years ago

1. So nice from Moldova and I’m pretty sure it was well intended, but it feels like either a pity gesture or a tactic to gain votes. But giving them the benefit of the doubt, it was a nice gesture nonetheless. 2. Ovidiu singing “Falling Stars”? I’m not sure how that would work, it sounds like inviting Ivan to sing Say Yay or something like that. Like… how? 3. I’m not sure they would’ve been allowed to do it anyway. Probably not. 4. Good decision from Ovidiu and for the right reasons. My respects for him for that. What’s done… Read more »

Tomás
Tomás
7 years ago

Really awesome gesture from Moldova – truly in the spirit of the contest.

All those who suggest this is a stunt to get more votes – keep in mind that not everyone is as selfish and cynical as you

Colin
Colin
7 years ago

Aww… really nice from Lidia and Moldova. I respect Ovidiu’s comment, he is a gentleman. Somehow I hope Lidia makes a killer performance and actually makes it through. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see Moldova qualifying instead of Azerbaijan, for instance?

Sandra
Sandra
7 years ago

Lovely gesture from Moldova!

Some people said they have done it to get more votes! That’s not true! Moldova and Romania are like sister-countries. Look at their history!

Mark Bartlett
Mark Bartlett
7 years ago

An interesting tactical move from Moldova. Ovidiu accepts, Moldova score the Romanian vote plus the votes of their diaspora. Ovidiu declines, Moldova score the Romanian vote plus the votes of their diaspora!

Lilo
Lilo
7 years ago

It’s a very nice gesture! Well done, Moldova! Plus, Lidia shared on her official Twitter account the petition link that was made up hours after Romania was disqualified, so I really am very pleasantly surprised about the strong bond between this years contestants.

oliverisamazing
oliverisamazing
7 years ago

That would’ve been an awesome mashup!

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
7 years ago

@bb, EBU rules can change from day to day. EBU rules disqualified an entry in 3 days, 1 month and a half after they accepted it. They can do what they want, I don’t see certain rules from EBU. Let’s not talk about the jurors rules, they have none of them, they just vote their preferences, they don’t judge songs.

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
7 years ago

Really nice of Moldova, but Moldova currently stand as a borderline non-qualifier. The duet would possibly put them last – 1 week until rehearsals and their voices are so different. Bravo Moldova though.

niko
niko
7 years ago

Bravo Moldova!

georgekirkas
georgekirkas
7 years ago

I’m so glad that he declined the invitation! Of course he deserves to sing at Eurovision someday, but ”Falling Stars” wouldn’t suit him at all and I don’t want to see such a wonderful song turning into a nightmare!

@Pollaski

I agree with you. Jamie-Lee slays!

bb
bb
7 years ago

EBU wili not give permision for duet because EBU rules of deadline for song, only he can be backing vocal for Moldova

Porgand
Porgand
7 years ago

This is so sweet of Moldova and the way Obidiu responded to it was polite as well. Romania and Moldova are country friendship goals

MirkoJoshua
MirkoJoshua
7 years ago

I still think SVT should let Ovidiu perform his sing as a guest, maybe on the interval act

Pollaski
Pollaski
7 years ago

@oooops

Apparently you don’t know the rules too well. Songs were set back in March. You can’t change anything now.

Also hilarious you advocate the solution to unfairly kicking Ovidiu out of the competition is to unfairly kick Jamie-Lee out instead.

Hypocrite. You disgust me.

Adam
Adam
7 years ago

That’s so sweet of Moldova to do that. But I also understand his decision to decline. With just about 7 days before the first rehearsal, this sudden change can actually be a disaster for both. Plus I cant imagine Ovidiu singing a mid-00s eurodance type of song, even though his voice might go well with Lidia lol.

MMs
MMs
7 years ago

This is the most beautiful gesture ever wow ! It was so nice from the Moldovian side !! 😀

David
7 years ago

Very sad for Ovidiu..Hope he will be internally selected for 2017…

oxyk
oxyk
7 years ago

Moldova and Romania is the same thing – let’s not forget their past. before soviet communists came to grab land from European countries, the land of Moldova has been divided between Romania and Ukraine, most of the current Moldovan land has been Romanian. They still feel connected and many people in Moldova want to unite their country with Romania. Knowing their background it is understandable why Moldova is willing to help Romanian singer – they are a family. Good it or bad, can it add value to Moldovan song or on the contrary will spoil it? Dunno. But they have… Read more »

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
7 years ago

@ooops, yeah, your idea would work, bring ‘Moment of Silence’ for Modlova. However, as we can understand in what moments is Ovidiu going right now, I guess it would mean that he would change the role with Lidia. It’s not fair for her, she was chosen to represent Moldova. Even if they would both perform ‘Moment of Silence’, it is still not fair for Lidia, who would be eclipsed by Ovidiu. I think that Moldova would like the idea, Ovidiu’s song is way much better than ‘Falling Stars’. Anyway, Ovidiu is refusing to sing along her, with her song, so… Read more »

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

But the very best thing to do is to exchange Germany’s song from “Ghost” to “Mystery of a Blood red rose” and let Mr. Anton sing it

Tedi
Tedi
7 years ago

That was wise move. Moldova (Lidia) knows that she won’t qualify for the Grand Final this year, so they came up with this – invite a person who could do us great publicity. Well everyone feels pitty for the guy because he is kicked outta ESC and there is many angry fans because of that decidion, and that DUO could get her, and to Moldova few extra votes and possibly gualify for the Final. They did not invated him because they feel sorry, they invated him because of them, because of thequalification. Let’s be real.

Hanner McSinny/Calvin
Hanner McSinny/Calvin
7 years ago

Awww, that’s…that’s really sweet on the part of both Ovidiu and the Moldovan delegation.

sufle
sufle
7 years ago

A very nice gesture from Moldova, however I don’t think Ovidiu would’ve fitted the song in any genre. I really hope the EBU allow him to perform as a guest/interval act

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

With a revamp it could be a good idea, Ovidiu is a better artist than Lidia. But they don’t have enough time, so the best thing to do, is to negotiate with both Lidia and Ovidiu, and see if Moldova and Romania should unite for 1 year and choose if “Moment of Silence” or “Falling stars” should represent the union

Pollaski
Pollaski
7 years ago

Its a nice gesture, but it wouldn’t fit the song at all, so I’m glad Ovidiu said no.

Ron Kavaler
Editor
7 years ago

That’s very nice from Moldova and Lidia, but he doesn’t really fit in that song.
Anyway, i really hope we will get to see him on stage somehow. he deserves it.

mad-professor
mad-professor
7 years ago

They invite him to perform with her, then invite him to their party on the day of the final. They’re practically saying they know they’re not qualifying.

Cutie
Cutie
7 years ago

How sweet of them <3. I still think that if the EBU have a heart, they should let Ovidiu just perform as an artist, they have an extra three minutes to spare, why not?

Mr.D
Mr.D
7 years ago

So many female acts, only one duet. If Moldova changes it in duet, it would be perfect.

adriana
adriana
7 years ago

Nice move from them to invite.Actually very moving,fairplay to Ovidiu Anton .

Robbo
Robbo
7 years ago

A very noble gesture from Moldova. But can’t help but think they’re after some votes ????

Julen
Julen
7 years ago

Beautiful gesture from the Moldovan delegation. Some people will say “well, maybe that is because they want to attract some votes in order to pass”, but in fact, it is a really nice move from them to invite him