Pasha Parfeni was our readers’ favourite to represent Moldova at Eurovision this year. And y’all got your wish, as he claimed victory at Etapa Națională with his song “Soarele şi Luna”. Singing about the sun and moon, he was accompanied at the national final by a flute player and backing vocalists with antlers. In an interview with Pasha Parfeni, wiwiblogger Ruxandra discussed the folk elements present in the Moldovan star’s song and the story behind it all.

Pasha also delves into his childhood and how he started his music career, his favourite Eurovision songs, and his past participation at the contest in 2012.

Interview: Pasha Parfeni – Moldova Eurovision 2023

The song’s lyrics are composed by Parfeni’s wife, Yuliana.

“We composed this song with my lovely wife, Yuliana —  this time Yuliana was the first one who wrote the lyrics and after that I came up with the music, with the melody, with the idea… The song is about love, for sure, but not only the human one but the cosmic one as well.”

The Moldovan singer notes that the story of the song is similar to a folk fairy-tale.

“Sometimes the universe aligns with everything when you make a right decision. The sun and the moon will bring you a crown, for you and for your fiancée. My hero, for example, he talks to Mother Nature, to the river, and to the woods and he’s talking about how he is inspired and about such an important event that will happen, I mean the wedding.” 

Pasha sees the folk inspirations not only as something that brings authenticity to the song, but also as something that connects people, as all cultures have some common symbols and elements:

“Reading the comments… I mean the comments not from our country (Moldova) and not from Romania, we’ve noticed that every country and the citizens from other countries find themselves in our lyrics. Somehow, the mythology, what we are talking about (in our song) is very popular in Europe. Not only in Moldova and Romania and Ukraine, on the Balkans… So, such cosmic symbols like the sun and the moon are important for everyone.”

He also explained the visual elements from his music video and his live performance:

“My backing vocalists, with horns… Everyone asked what does it mean. In our culture we have a symbol, ‘Muma Pădurii’, protector of the woods, we can say it like that… a spiritual security of the woods. In our song they symbolize the protectors of our love and our hope for the future.

“And the guy with pan flute… In our traditional culture we have a character ‘Statu-Palmă-Barbă-Cot’. It’s about the magic character, he helps me with his flute to protect the love and to make everything alight, to win my lover’s heart. So everyone is very positive with no negative characters on the stage.”

Did you learn something from our interview with Pasha Parfeni about the story behind his song? Do you think that Moldova will qualify to the grand final in May? Let us know in the comments below.

6 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
claudee
claudee
11 months ago

This is so cool!! The lyrics are beautiful, Pasha and his wife are so talented. It’s such a bop and I love how authentic it all is. Moldovan folklore is so interesting and I’m just obsessed with all of the concepts explored in this song. So excited to see it on the Eurovision stage!

Anonymous91
Anonymous91
11 months ago

Great song, but certainly the second amazing most complete experience of a performance behind Serbia in this super tough semi 1 for me personally

Very hypnotic ?

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
11 months ago

I feel like it’s been slept on a little bit by the fandom now that it’s been placed in semi final 1! Hope it gets through!

Giorgio
Giorgio
11 months ago

Moldova is always slept on, they will definitely get through

Nikki
Nikki
11 months ago

As someone who likes Celtic history, custom and myth, I’ve found this explanation really interesting. The Flute Player characters reminds me a bit of the Egyptian God Bes, a figure of happiness, party and good times.

Zuzu
Zuzu
11 months ago

It’s very unique, live vocals are perfect and staging-wise Moldova does not disappoint.
Hope it ends in top 10 :))