It all started with just 40 acts competing for O melodie pentru Europa 2017. They were cut down to 14 after the live auditions. Three acts withdrew their bids and were replaced. At the semi-final, eight artists were left standing. And tonight, Sunstroke Project won Moldova’s ticket to Kyiv with “Hey Mamma“. Let’s break it down!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rGSzikbBy0

Ahead of tonight’s final, the Wiwi Jury – our in-house panel of music unprofessionals – gave “Hey Mamma” a 7.67 rating. William said about it,

“Mamma mamma don’t be so down” is one of the best phrases of this year’s selection season. Probing the most complicated of relationships, the lead singer seeks approval from his disapproving mother-in-law, who seems to cast a very long shadow over his love life. Thankfully his mom can be proud he’s brought one of the few remotely current songs to Moldova’s selection.

Meanwhile, they also ranked first in our poll — just like with the Wiwi Jury. They were also in top position in our flash poll earlier today. So Epic Sax Guy & Co. have gone and won it all!

However, it wasn’t that easy. At first, it seemed that Ethno Republic & Surorile Osoianu had the edge, when they won the jury — by two points.

O melodie pentru Europa 2017 – Jury scores

Sunstroke Project got the upper hand with the televote — and please note how few votes were being cast. That is because only one vote was allowed per telephone number.

O melodie pentru Europa 2017 – Televote

Then, the combined results chart highlighted Ethno Republic & Surorile Osoianu as the winners. But wait! Sunstroke Project were in second place, with the same amount of points. WHAT.

O melodie pentru Europa 2017 – Combined results

Despite the tie, which at first made the fans of “Discover Moldova” think that Ethno Republic & Surorile Osoianu had won, because Sunstroke Project had gotten more scores of 12 from the jury, the latter were crowned the winners of the national selection O melodie pentru Europa 2017.

So Sunstroke Project will fly the flag for Moldova at Eurovision in Kyiv, performing “Hey Mamma” in the second half of the first semi-final. No word yet on whether they’ll bring the brides with them to Ukraine.

This marks the second returning act of this NF season so far, after Omar Naber won in Slovenia last night.

Next stop: Kyiv. What do you think about tonight’s winners? Do they stand a chance to advance to the Grand Final from the difficult Semi-final 1? Sound off below!

FOLLOW ALL OUR MOLDOVA NEWS HERE

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Mario C
Mario C
7 years ago

The saxophone guy is back!!!! Yayyyyy! But this song is so uninspiring! A non-qualifier
Mario’s Eurovision 2017
https://eurovision2017blog.wordpress.com/

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago

Thank God, the first up-beat song in the 1st semi!
I absolutely love this song! From all song, I think it was the best choice for Moldova!
Difficult to go through the 1st semi, but I believe they can qualify!

Suzy samoueil
Suzy samoueil
7 years ago

Funny song

Kris
Kris
7 years ago

What’s with nearly all my favourites finishing second?? Here they supposedly won even…..d’oh!! No they didn’t?? What happened of the youngest jury member tiebreak?

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

Great news!
Moldova can finally get back to the final.

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

Thank god at least one country chose my favorite tonight.
Go Moldova!

Bastian
Bastian
7 years ago

I love the performance, song is catchy. The best thing about this and about Ukraine: the desperate fanboys will stop crying now, because they finally have their uptempo songs lol

Paul D.
Paul D.
7 years ago

I withdraw what I said before about the brides, I love them now, specially that leg move lmao

chicken kyiv???
chicken kyiv???
7 years ago

Charles pretends to be English but can’t even spell McDonalds 😀

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

So fans are finally getting their antidote against ballads this year … the uptempo-distractive-number-with-no-need-for-musical-quality is here … enjoy it while it lasts cause like all cheeseburgers at MacDonalds … they enter our mouths and get out through our …

Antenglo
Antenglo
7 years ago

Yep, this entry will stand out among this flood of ballads. Nevertheless, please dispense with those brides -that’s SO 2000’s and quite cheap.

eurovision6
eurovision6
7 years ago

Moldova decided they want to be top 10 this year, clever choice! 🙂

Good choice Moldova
Good choice Moldova
7 years ago

Why don’t you like the brides? They are ok, they don’t have big dresses. Moldova had a bride in 2006 too. But a desperate bride was Finland 2013.

brunowskii
brunowskii
7 years ago

epic hehe

chicken kyiv???
chicken kyiv???
7 years ago

Finally something a little uptempo <3
We can always count on Moldova, in this sea of ballads I am sure they will stand out and head Direkt til Final!

Leaf
Leaf
7 years ago

I dislike the performance.
The song is OK-ish …. Anyways, good luck Moldova.

Music is the key
Music is the key
7 years ago

Some fresh, modern, feelgood uptempo pop! JUST what we needed in ESC 2017. NICE choice indeed 🙂 I think the saxophone sounds great! Will do well for the I suppose

Austrian Ari
Austrian Ari
7 years ago

I’m glad this group is back. I liked them already in 2010 and still dig their style.

Erasmus
Erasmus
7 years ago

Yes! Moldova did the right choice. After Slovenia, Spain, Hungary and Malta… these countries all had potential to be even in top 15. But what’s done it’s done. Maybe a spot in the final for Moldova this year. But it all comes down to Eurovision performence and staging. A lot of the songs that we think won’t qualify can still qualify.

olvresc
olvresc
7 years ago

I could actually see them qualifying with this. I like it, but I find the “mamma-mamma” kind of annoying. But, good choice altogether. Good luck for Moldova!

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

Will stand out among all the ballads! Not the best song in the world but a breath of fresh air that harkens back to the time when Moldova brought us crazy fun entries. I think it might qualify..

Marco
Marco
7 years ago

…what the bloody hell? This stands no chance, sorry Moldova 🙁 they usually send great songs, but this was old already in the 90s

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

I think Moldova is back in the final. Not one of my favorites, but catchy song and will probably stand out among the ballads.

Ethno Republic & Surorile Osoianu were awful! Thank God they didn’t win.

WTF
WTF
7 years ago

Voting was really close but they managed to avoid screwing it up, thankfully. About time Moldova made it back to the final.

Leo M
Leo M
7 years ago

It is good to finally have an upbeat song in semi-final 1 With all the ballads in the first semi, it should stand out and could get Moldova back to the final even if it is not the best song in the world

Emil Svensk
Emil Svensk
7 years ago

;(((( tears
I love stories and Ethno Republic gave me a story.
The other composition leaves me feeling empty.
I am a broken man now. No way to cheer me up today anymore.

Milkyy
Milkyy
7 years ago

Yeeeeeeees, Epic Sax Guy is back <3

MTD
MTD
7 years ago

Italy, move your overrated jury-saved ass, we have a new CLUB BANGER and something REALLY fresh in a sea of mediocre songs this year.

BRING IT ON MOLDOVA!!! 🙂

Senegal
Senegal
7 years ago

Yay! Lidia Isac was my fav last year, but this time there just have to make the final!
Go Moldova!

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

Nice to see Sunstroke finally getting their ticket, after what happened in 2015.

Thomasfan22
Thomasfan22
7 years ago

FINALLY something i can vote for in my semi. Great choice Moldova, you are definately getting points from Slovenia!

Stephanie
7 years ago

YES! Can’t wait to see Epic Sax Guy again on that big stage, Moldova chose the right act!

DenizNL
DenizNL
7 years ago

Just what I needed. This will stand out and just makes this season so much better already. It was a tie, but this time the televote made the decision and that’s how it supposed to be (uhum Spain and Slovenia)

Lisa
Lisa
7 years ago

Yes!!!! This will definetly bring Moldova back to the final. Love it :-))

Matthew Esc
Matthew Esc
7 years ago

🙁 For once i agree with juries, discover Moldova should of gone to kiev

#CELEBRATEDIVERSITY

Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
7 years ago

Epic Sax Guy is back!!

Xepher
Xepher
7 years ago

No big surprise that they won, it was the obvious choice. I can see Hey Mama closing the first semi in May. Possible qualifier due to being upbeat in a sea full of ballads?

Mimimi
Mimimi
7 years ago

Omg yes!! Although Discover Moldova was my winner, I’m happy for them. Sunstroke Project… Ft. LIDIA ISAC? ;).

EscPotato
EscPotato
7 years ago

Thankfully the tie was in their favour, they were Moldovas only hope of getting back into the final 🙂

Lianne
Lianne
7 years ago

YAY, SOOO happy for the result! the song is very fresh, absolutely love it 🙂