Today at 14:00 CET, Moldova‘s broadcaster will begin its live auditions, as 35 acts will hope to impress the judges enough to be selected as Moldova’s act for Eurovision 2020. Among the hopefuls is Natalia Gordienko who has today dropped the revamped version of her entry “Prison”, complete with a dramatic music video.

Natalia previously represented Moldova at Eurovision 2006, performing the fun track “Loca” with Arsenium and Connect-R. This time, however, she has a more sophisticated number, a song which documents a woman torn between conflicting emotions.

“Prison” is written and produced by the so-called “Dream Team”, who were also behind Sergey Lazarev’s “Scream” in Tel Aviv. Team member Philipp Kikorov previously produced Moldova’s Eurovision 2018 entry by DoReDos.

The “Prison” music was written by Russian maestro Kirkorov and his Greek counterpart Dimitris Kontopoulos, while the lyrics were co-written by Kontopoulos and the American-born, Sweden-based songwriter Sharon Vaughn. Kontopoulos also produced and arranged the track.

Inside Natalia Gordienko’s “Prison”

“Prison” explores a woman tormented by the different emotions she feels towards a complicated lover. Natalia opens the song with the killer line “I don’t wanna feel you / I don’t wanna feel you this close”. It’s attraction and repulsion in equal quantities, being drawn to a person but knowing he’s just no good for her.

The song uses the symbolism of a prison as a metaphor for how Natalia feel imprisoned by her emotions. But this ain’t no jailhouse rock. It’s a prison inside her mind.

Natalia’s entry creates a sophisticated feeling, starting off like a stripped-back ballad with hints of traditional Moldovan sounds. As the song builds, it brings a contemporary electronic sound along with a greater sense of urgency. Those emotions aren’t letting up!

In the music video, Natalia serves high glamour. In one scene, she is photographed by a handsome man in a suit, but it creates a sense of claustrophobia, more intrusive paparazzi than a glam photoshoot.

A lot of the video is shot outside, either at sunrise or sunset. It’s impossible to say which, but that also serves as a metaphor for the song. Is the relationship ending or is it a new beginning?

Natalia will perform “Prison” at the live auditions today. Her performance — and those of the other auditioning acts — will be assessed by a jury. The jury will either internally select one act as Moldova’s entry for Eurovision 2020 or — if the quality of the auditions is high enough — the jury also has the option of selecting a number of acts for a national final.

Natalia Gordienko – “Prison” music video

“Prison” lyrics – Natalie Gordienko

I don’t wanna feel you
I don’t wanna feel you this close
I don’t wanna hold you
Do I wanna hold or let go
I don’t wanna fight the night
Inside with you

I am surrounded by walls
Covered with all your memories
Wish this were solitary no
Walking with me in the halls
So there is no forgetting
I know you’ll never let me

I don’t wanna be with you
I don’t wanna be without you
I don’t wanna to be with you
I don’t wanna to be without you

Prison
I can’t escape from this
Prison
Love is a fool’s prison

I don’t wanna need you
I don’t wanna seem so desperate
I don’t wanna tell you
I don’t wanna hear it’s useless
I don’t wanna fight the night
Inside with you

I am surrounded by walls
Covered with all your memories
Wish this were solitary

I don’t wanna be with you
I don’t wanna be without you
I don’t wanna be with you
I don’t wanna be without you

Prison
I can’t escape from this
Prison
Love is a fool’s prison

Ohhh……

Prison
I can’t escape from this
Prison
Love is a fool’s prison

Read more Moldova Eurovision news here

38 Comments
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Mr X
Mr X
4 years ago

Forgettable song with a horrible pronouncation. I don´t need typical Ki & Ko compositions for ESC anymore.

Cereds95
Cereds95
4 years ago

Mediocre song! It sounds like a mix of Mecano – Hijo de Luna ft. Hours of the Wolf. Another copy/paste from Moldova? Dissappointed. #StopDREAMing

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

Just in – Moldova IS doing a national final on 29th of February (REALLY, do we really need 10 selections at that time?! Couldn’t it be 1st of March, for example?)
20 songs have qualified, so I assume there will be 2 semis as well. Watching those instead could probably get a closer idea on how each will be performed in the finals.
No idea on whether the televoting will be included too, or is it still 100% jury?

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Songs which qualified:
– Cine te-a facut s? plîngi
– Die for You
– Like a Champion
– Dale dale
– Do It Slow
– R?spunde!
– Chain Reaction
– Tears
– Hi Five
– Touch
– Love Me Now
– Our Home
– Take Control
– Prison
– My Wine
– We Will Be Legends
– Summer of Love
– Moldovi?a
– It’s Time
– Remedy

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Of course all the returning artists qualified. Our Home was actually not so bad, she’s got a nice voice. But yeah, much as I hate to give credit to the Dream Team, Prison is probably the way to go. I’m expecting some classic over-the-top Moldovan staging from that one. I’d also love to see Pasha make a comeback – My Wine is very enjoyable.

Mr X
Mr X
4 years ago

Mi favorita en Moldova es “Dale dale”, aunque los palabras en español en el estribillo sean pronunciados muy mal.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago

Bravo. 12 points for almost everything. (The repeating lyrics are the only small issue.)

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago

Great sound, great video. Plus, she’s gorgeous. The lyrics are the problem here, too repetitive I think. Still a great effort tho.

Apple
Apple
4 years ago

This is good. I still like Die For You and Dale Dale more, but the fact that Moldova has 3 solid songs to choose from this year is awesome. Can’t usually say that.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

THAT was something.

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
4 years ago

I don’t rly like this. Still rooting for Dima Jelezoglo, Carolina Racovita, Catarina Sandu, Angel Kiss, Olea Rosu, and Diana Rotaru.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

I’m actually hoping we get a national final out of this.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

I know, right! I actually root for Bumbac and Untila to qualify. It would be a hoot! This is actually why forming my top 36 is much harder than I thought. How to rate songs of objectevely really low quality, but so bad they provide an actual entertainment? IDK whether to start or finish my Moldovan list with “Call Me Please”, lol. I will try to finish that list today before Melfest. 🙂

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

oh WOW this is very interesting sonically, if we forget bout the dodgy lyrics it doesn’t even sound like your typical cliché’d nightmare team song! when she says “prison” in the chorus it sounds like ariana grande’s “greedy”

NickC
NickC
4 years ago

Except the lyrics, this is not bad at all. And i can already imagine her in a cage dancing in Rotterdam stage.

Simon
Simon
4 years ago

This is actually good! very intriguing

Kris
Kris
4 years ago

Catarina sandu has a better song

Also Natalia must fire the lyricist

Esc1234
Esc1234
4 years ago

Watch her representing Moldova and getting their second top 5 result

Tyuk
Tyuk
4 years ago
Reply to  Esc1234

Lol won’t even qualify…

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

Natalia really tries, but we all know this is Tudor Bumbac’s to lose. 😉

Fys
Fys
4 years ago

Why it still called “Dream team”?

VlaD
VlaD
4 years ago
Reply to  Fys

because they only have top 10 results

tbww
tbww
4 years ago
Reply to  VlaD

Greece 2017,Azerbaijan 2018,Estonia 2019(national final),Russia 2005(national final),Greece 2007(national final)

VlaD
VlaD
4 years ago
Reply to  tbww

Kirkorov was not involved in Greece 2017 and Azerbaijan 2018.
When ever they all go together they have a 100% success.

Porsteinn
Porsteinn
4 years ago

Kirkorov & Kontopolous, does this mean automatic win in the preselection?

Scream 2.0.

Johan
Johan
4 years ago
Reply to  Porsteinn

the only thing that is similar between scream and prison is that they have as a title one word with 6 letters 😉

Porsteinn
Porsteinn
4 years ago
Reply to  Johan

Both have undoubtedly K&K-Style, are rather dark/dramatic, lush produced and would fit in a musical very well. And of course as you said they both emphasize a prominent 6-letter word. 😉

Johan
Johan
4 years ago
Reply to  Porsteinn

Scream was clearly a cinematic song, Prison is much more contemporary with a great mixture of electronic and ethnic elements.

Porsteinn
Porsteinn
4 years ago
Reply to  Johan

I have not said that it is not contemporary or hasn’t a great musical mixture. But for me it’s cinematic too.

coca_cola
coca_cola
4 years ago

are you sure this masterpiece comes from Moldova & Kirkorov?

Azaad
Azaad
4 years ago
Reply to  coca_cola

Kirkorov seems to make good songs for Moldova if not other countries.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

See, when I saw Kirkorov had composed a song for Moldova in 2018, I knew they’d send it. I feel like that might be the case again, seeing as he would totally foot the bill and make everything look impressive. It would certainly give Moldova a leg up in a semi that looks a bit stacked against them at the moment.

Jean-Paul
4 years ago

Euhhh. Moldova.

Jean-Paul
4 years ago

Ohhh. I really loveeee this song and videoclip. Go for it Mokdova. ?

EmilyG
EmilyG
4 years ago

When I read that she is participating with a song from the dream team. I thought she will have another dated song. I could never imagine such a modern, avant garde song. In case it wins in Moldova,this can do VERY well.

Tektek
Tektek
4 years ago
Reply to  EmilyG

Björk sweetie i’m so sorry. Y’all should stop using “avant-garde” into every songs that has electro and ethnic elements

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago

Well this wouldn’t probably qualify, but it would still be better than last year.

Julia
Julia
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

“wouldn’t qualify” LOL what are you talking about? I don’t think Moldova will go for this but in case they will she will in top 10 of the final.