Broadcaster TeleRadio Moldova (TRM) has announced that it received 68 songs for O melodie pentru Europa — Moldova’s national selection for Eurovision 2015. For the first time, 19 foreign artists from 10 countries submitted their bids for the selection alongside Moldovan nationals. Yes, Chisinau is hot, y’all. 

Despite the international interest, this is a lower turnout than expected. Compared to last year, when 60 songs were submitted, 68 is not exactly the record that the organizers had braced themselves for when they opened the doors to foreign performers.

The biggest number of foreign applicants come from the United Kingdom: seven Brits submitted at least one song. Russia and Spain have two candidates each. Belarus, Canada, Cyprus, Ireland, Norway, Romania and Ukraine have one participant each.

The next stage of the selection is scheduled for today, when the jury will listen to the 68 songs behind closed doors. Sixty songs will be selected for the live audition which will take place on the 17th of January 2015. The live audition had been scheduled for the 19th of December, but because not all foreign artists could come to Chisinau at such short notice, TRM has decided to re-schedule the live audition for one month from today.

Leonid Melnic, member of the O melodie pentru Europa organizing committee, said that the contest reflects broader shifts in Moldova’s international relations: “The doors have been opened to the foreign songwriters and singers as a thank you for the fact that Europe opened its doors to Moldovans, who can now travel without a visa.”

Speaking of Moldovan migrants, veteran Sasha Bognibov has announced that he submitted not one, but two songs this year. Apart from “Wounded Swan”, he also sent the Romanian language ballad “Emigrantului” (To the Emigrant). The lyrics, penned by Sasha’s mother, speak of the plague of the immigrant, who has to live far away from family and fatherland.

Following the live auditions, 24 songs will advance to the semi-finals on 24 and 26 February and 16 songs will battle it out in the final on 28 February, when the  winner will be selected by the equal combination of jury votes and a public televote.

10 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
LucyEAPercy
9 years ago

I actually would love Moldova to win though, or at least get a good result. I have no shame in saying i love their entries. Even Zdob si Zdub…in fact ESPECIALLY them. hahaha! Aliona Moon was so underrated.

plus…imagine Chisinau trying to host eurovision :/ That actually would be a a shame for the Moldovan people having to foot the bill for it, but if it was done sensibly, it would be great to see more of the country, and their culture.

LucyEAPercy
9 years ago

@Bogdan Kitty Brucknell was so annoying at the beginning of UK X Factor, but i think she’d put on a pretty good show, though I’m really not a fan of the song. But the bad press of both the UK and Switzerland rejecting it might not work in her favour haha! Having said that, i think us Brits would be pretty pissed off if she did better than whomever we send! Would be gutting if a British artist not representing the UK won! I think all countries should only allow songs performed by people from their own country. And maybe… Read more »

Pete
Pete
9 years ago

I agree it’s strange that foreigners can represent a country. Very bad !

Lena
Lena
9 years ago

No offence but your “ya’ll” expression is so annoying. Urgh!

ESCFan
ESCFan
9 years ago

Very strange if an foreign artist not an Moldovan artist win and will represent them in ESC !

Chris P
Chris P
9 years ago

This is totally weird! Why should other countries artist represent Moldova ?
A Big big shame for Moldova!!!

LEAPerce
LEAPerce
9 years ago

Wish it were possible to put a bet on that one of those British entries is ‘Yearning’. Maybe they’ve been well and truly rejected by the bbc. Can only hope Moldova choose a Moldovan artist, it sucks when they aren’t actually from the country they’re representing.