On Saturday night, Moldova made the decision on who should represent them at Eurovision 2023. Ten acts competed in Etapa Națională 2023, but it was Pasha Parfeni who secured the ticket to Liverpool.
Pasha will take the song “Soarele şi luna” to Eurovision 2023.
He’s a Eurovision returnee, having last participated in 2012.
Etapa Națională 2023
Reaults
The final decision on who won was determined by both a jury and the public. The votes from each side counted for 50% of the result.
Jury vote
- Pasha Parfeni – 53 points – 12
- Aliona Moon – 52 points – 10
- Sunstroke Project – 36 points – 8
- Surorile Osoiani – 35 points – 7
- OL – 29 points – 6
- Donia – 24 points – 5
- Corina Ivanov – 24 points – 4
- Victor Gulick – 17 points – 3
- Cosmina – 10 points – 2
- NÖRDIKA – 10 points – 1
Public vote
- Pasha Parfeni – 5428 votes – 12 points
- Sunstroke Project – 2276 votes – 10 points
- Surorile Osolanu – 1525 votes – 8 points
- Aliona Moon – 1133 votes – 7 points
- Donia – 196 votes – 6 points
- Cosmina – 113 votes – 5 points
- NÖRDIKA – 100 votes – 4 points
- Corina Ivanov – 81 votes – 3 points
- Victor Gulick – 72 votes – 2 points
- OL – 56 votes – 1 point
Final result
- Pasha Parfeni – 24 points
- Sunstroke Project – 18 points
- Aliona Moon – 17 points
- Surorile Osoianu – 15 points
- Donia – 11 points
- OL – 7 points
- Corina Ivanov – 7 points
- Cosmina – 7 points
- Victor Gulick – 5 points
- NÖRDIKA – 5 points
Running order
- Donia – “Red Zone”
- OL – “Why You Play It Cool”
- Victor Gulick – “Let’s Dance”
- Surorile Osoianu – “Bade, bădişor, bădiţă”
- Cosmina – “Indestructible”
- NÖRDIKA – “Damn and Down”
- Aliona Moon – “Du-mă”
- Sunstroke Project – “Yummy Mommy”
- Pasha Parfeni – “Soarele şi luna”
- Corina Ivanov – “When Love’s Real”
Will Moldova’s selection stand them in good stead for Eurovision 2023? Who would you have chosen as the winner? Let us know in the comments below.
This. Is. Awesome.
The flute playing dwarf is a new ESC low. Is there nothing performers will not do for attention?
So people with Dwarfism are not allowed to perform at Eurovision? How Ableist of you, you are disgusting.
Listen to the snowflake. You haven’t a clue! that dwarf is being objectified and used to get more attention. Disgusting ineed!
I’m all for the normalisation of anyone with a disability but not like this, it’s no better than court dwarves in 16th century Europe, they’re not there for our amusement and you have the nerve to call me disgusting?
I got the ick so bad with this. lol From them women with antlers on their heads to Tyrion Lannister playing a recorder. This is beyond.
Potato in your name is right, as in the IQ of.
You know what I just realized? I think this is the first Eurovision where Moldova and Romania both send something in Romanian at the same time (okay, Romania’s entry is bilingual in both Romanian and English but still).
I’m only drawn and get captivated into this when the 2 ladies are joining to sing 2gether with Pasha. Than Im feeling some energy.
It is horrible
So far the first semi final has very strong contenders: Finland, Serbia, Moldova and some fan favourites just like Norway and Czech Republic. It could be quite interesting !
Not my cup of tea, but it can get a good result, we’ll see
I have to say that I am surprised, maybe even shocked to see this good reaction to Moldova’s entry. I love Moldova in general, and their songs are usually fun and different, I think this song is the best from their NF (which was pretty poor this year tho), and I am grateful we won’t see another Sunstroke Project, but… really? 🙂 The idea behind this is fine, I have no doubt it will look better on the Eurovision stage, but it doesn’t fulfill any requirements to do well on ES. Not quite radio-friendly, and the performance is not bad,… Read more »
I don’t know how I feel about this. The song is top tier (though they need to increase his mic) and the pagan imagery is so visually arresting. My issue is that historically dwarves have had a “pan player” trope (in this case flute) in folkloric movies etc. As a person with a disability I’m not offended and I want to see more representation, but is there a better way to do it than tropes?
Love that pagan vibe and the song concept, but I almost don’t hear him, that needs to be worked on, but I do think this will pass to final. Then all will depend what improvements will be done. Goodluck !
Moldova 11/12
I both like this and don’t. I like the flute and some staging ideas are cool. But the song is quite repetitive and monotonous. I wish the vocal melody was a bit more interesting.
This will look EPIC on the ESC stage.
Italy 2021 was way better than this one ofcourse it was winner but this sorry not my cup of tea. But good luck
Congrats and Goodluck (Felicit?ri ?i mult noroc), Pasha! This year we will have 2 songs with Romanian language. Happy to hear my mother language on such a big stage where diversity is accepted all the way.
its nothing special
I’m always up for a good pagan vibe but I think I like the idea of this more than the execution. The song is decent though, and this could be really great with better staging (and maybe a revamp)!
I love Pasha 2012. But this, Nja. When Sweden let artist coming back to ESC people screaming, it’s not the same in from a nother contry
Song needs a revamp to add base and dance ability – keep all the ethnic elements.
He’s hot, the song is okay
Really low budget version of the Shum/Fulenn recent ESC trend?
This has nothing to do with Fulenn, are you deaf or what?
If you really need explaining on why it could draw some comparisons with that type of entry, then I’m not even going to bother.
I’d rather see more of these than the same power ballad 20 times which we’ve had some years.
I just realized Pasha is the third returning artist for Moldova in a row. We haven’t had a new Moldovan artist for eurovision since 2019. Just an observation.
My number 2 at this moment:)
Pasha gets a spot in my top 15 so far. Though I see him as what Joci Papai was in 2019.
That’s an OK song, nothing more to me. It’s a decent entry for Moldova but I cannot see it anywhere in my Top-10 or 15. I feel it lacks something, it’s a bit overwhelming with all the drums, visuals, Pasha with that costume, the ladies with those things on their head, the midget (I wonder why they chose him, I don’t like people from minority groups being used as a “hook” for songs). In any case, Good Luck, Moldova!
Plus, Pasha’s voice is barely hearable. Low mic for what reason?
Televoters love Moldova and Pasha is super charismatic.
The song is quite average, but so is this year’s edition so far, with a few exceptions.
Another top 10 is more than possible.
Average??? Finland??? Serbia??? Croatia??? Not sure the country’s are middle of the road!!! I think we are getting some diverse styles this year along with a few traditional Eurovision numbers (Norway, sweeden) and your candy pop too (Denmark…)
Diversity is good, I agree with you some songs are above average radio play, but putting Croatia at the top, mmm one must be tone deaf, it’s a dreadful song indeed, one of the worst ever at Eurovision.
I m not complaining about diversity. However, diversity does not equal quality necessarily. Finland, Norway and Serbia are among the few good exceptions I was talking about though
Serbia’s song is a mess, I don’t get the fuss about it. And Croatia is simply horrible, ae you serious?
This is a good choice for Moldova; it’s catchy, it’s ethnic, he sells it well. The antler look is a bit funny, but I think it’s likely that the staging will be way slicker in Liverpool. I don’t think it’s the kind of songs juries like, but there will be plenty of televoters charmed by this. And nice that Moldova is singing in Romanian again!
I see that people does not want to sound too “off guard” with Moldova and they want to get their predictions right this year but i am sorry but no, last year most of you totally ignored Moldova and this year your predictions are going to be Wrong again because televote Will have Norway, Finland and Loreen Sweden to vote for. This song IS not “quirky” enough to attract a massive and unpredicted televote.
pasha did well in televoting, surprised sunstroke didn’t do as good as I thought.
the performance of pasha is so bizarre which means it works for Eurovision
I think the flute guy is the highlight of the performance here and what it will sell the performance the audience. Having said that, it won’t be easy to qualify.
I don’t agree. I think he will qualify rather easily because among other entries this year he’s unique. A little bit of “Samo Shampioni” (BUL 2013) in the chorus, a little bit of “Nomiza” (CYP 2000) in the verses and overall atmosphere, flute break straight outta last year’s winner (and not unlike sax in “Hey Mamma”s composition). Very interesting mixture, nothing like it is in the line-up. Moldova almost always does someting memorable and this is no exception.
It is funny to read comments about this song. I think It is evident that after last year unpredicted and surprising second place for Moldova with the televote people dont want to sound too amateur(ish) as regards Eurovision and get their predictions wrong. This song IS just ok but It is funny that no one says anything about how low he sounds, specially compared to the female “back” singers
When the Spanish song was released there was a quite a few people comparing It with France last year and predicting a bad result and now that we have a song that might be easily compared to the French song last year no one seems to notice the resemblance.
It’s more low-key and less aggressive in a way.
I agree It is no France but as regards comparisons this song IS more “similar” to France than the Spanish entry.
Aliona, Sunstroke Project & Pasha all in the final. Love it.
Moldova is very talented but very small. I reckon if you got into an elevator in Chisinau you’d likely share it with a former ESC representative.
This is awesome! Please do not translate song to English. Good luck Moldova! Greetings from Serbia
this English speaker agrees
He’s really handsome though isn’t he? And he gets better looking with each comeback lol
Just need Loreen now and we have a 2012 reunion
It’s not a great song but Moldova do know how to put on a performance. Really like the ethnic elements, he’s got great energy but the song is just ok
I was watching the video of the winner and It suddenly jumped to another song in Moldova’s NF (i Guess), 5 women and a Guy playing a pipe (lalalalalai), i absolutely LOVE this one.
The winner not bad but the leading singer sings so low in purpose or was a problem with the mic?
Definitely there should have been a problem with his micro bc in the video he does not Sing so lowly.
Looking back I think Pasha Parfeni was my first ever male crush back in 2012. Good to see him back!
In other news, Connolly released her revamped song midnight summer night
Such a wasted opportunity
I know it’s even better than I expected too. Ireland needs a wake up call.
I was thinking top 5 with good staging maybe might I say it top 3!
I was out tonight so I couldn’t watch either the beginning of PZE or Moldova’s NF so I went and watched Pasha’s live performance. Needless to say after that, I got a new 4th place.
I was so prepared to see sun stroke project take the ticket that I was genuinely shocked to see Pasha Parfeni I was the winner, and it was my favorite song of a selection to boot. It’s truly the best song for Moldova and the jury and televote agreed. Soarele ?i luna is definitely going in my top 10 for sure.
I’m a bit surprised the Transnistrian Sunstroke Project didn’t win, thought they would mostly because it’s them, not because of the song. But maybe I should have seen this coming with the political situation. I think Moldova made a good choice with Pasha Perfeni.
Or maybe because the song of Sunstroke Project was not as good as their previous songs? I was scared they would get the ticket only because of the name and not the song. I’m glad it wasn’t the case.
This I like- It’s almost like a more polished style of France ESC22- it’s going to grow on me I think – it’s unique, it’s creative and it is something different to the increasingly metalish, pop rock-ish styles coming through this year. Happy to put this on the shelf next to Spain and watch it grow and do very well. I think the two of them are in a fresh and successful category of their very own! Well done Moldova!
Definitely a top-10 placement! I’m excited to see what they do with the staging, the opportunities are endless with this song.
Very cute and powerful
Multumesc Moldova !
THANK YOU, MOLDOVA!!!
Straight to my #2
Easy qualifier imo
Absolutely agree !
Moldova is my top1 so far.
Is his microphone low or does he just not have any power in his vocals? The song is not bad though.
I think It is the micro because when the women start singing they are way too loud compared to him. I dont think this lack of volume balance IS on purpose.
Imagine being him, having to compete against Loreen twice!
Soarele si luna >>>>> Tattoo
The EBU should investigate the Moldovan jury for ranking Sunstroke project so low after placing them first in the preselection round. I would not be surprised if Pashas team bribed them. We all know he never stood a chance fairly against them.
The preselection was without the show. Do you think that Pasha bribe also the televote? :))
Sunstroke project should not depend on the televote. The jury surely know about Sunstroke’s popularity worldwide. And that should be enough to push them through.
EBU has no power over broadcasters’ selections; thus, EBU is ineligible to question TRM’s actions or rather blame them for placing someone in the opening position. It’s like you think the EBU can decide whether national selections are judicial or whether internal selections can be tolerated. Ridiculous dictatorial manners all over your head!
Tell that to the polish fans.
Wow, you should get some meds really. The juries were entirely different for the NF so it would make sense the ranking might look differently. Plus the difference in the televoting score suggests Pasha’s performance was way above the others, it would make sense the juries thought the same way. Certainly much more sense than the conspiracy theory you’re suggesting.
An ethnic song with rhythm and a melody. Spain 2023 take note please
There’s plenty of melody and rythm in Spain’s song and Blanca can actually sing
I’ve know doubt she can belt out a tune. Vocals are strong. The entry is just tuneless.
She can’t sing, she screeming
You just seem to hate Spain for whatever reason or lack of. And the sad thing is that you are Spanish yourself.
I don’t hate Spain. I don’t hate the singer i really do not like their entry this year. It’s overated and just noise.
You’ve got an extremely narrow-minded and obtuse view about music in general, well done.
No it’s just that i don’t require a hearing test
Take what? She will end up higher than him for sure
I really hope if Moldova qualify its placed in the running order back to back with Spain
I thought the performance was a bit OTT and the song is a bit hard on the ears also. At least it not another mummy sunstroke project song….how they thought they could go with pretty much the same thing again is baffling.