Moldovan Magic: Top 5 times Moldovan Eurovision entries outperformed expectations

Today, August 27, is Independence Day for Moldova and serves as the country's national day. On this day in 1991 the Moldovan parliament voted to declare independence from the Soviet Union.

Moldova went from one of the smallest socialist republics in the Soviet Union to one of the smallest countries in Europe. Sandwiched between larger, more recognisable neighbours Romania and Ukraine, and in the shadow of its former overseer Russia, Moldova is often overlooked.

This is certainly true in a Eurovision context. There have been many instances where entries from this eastern European country barely seem to register amongst the western-centric bookmakers and fan media.

However when it comes to the actual contest, Moldova often out-performs expectations. 2025 marks 20 years since Moldova debuted at Eurovision. They have come in the top three once, in the top 10 five times, and in the top 15 ten times.

Not bad for a country with a population of just over two million and the lowest gross domestic product per capita in Europe.

There are therefore many instances where Moldova has gone into Eurovision as the underdog, only to emerge triumphant at the Saturday night final. We count down the top 5 times Moldovan Eurovision entries out-performed expectations.

5. Zdob și Zdub - Boonika bate doba (2005)

Moldova's debut entry at Eurovision initially appeared to go rather unnoticed.

Zdob și Zdub, a Moldovan folk punk band from the capital Chișinău, was selected in a national final to be the country's first ever Eurovision entry.

Boonika bate doba stands for Grandmamma beats the drum in English. The song describes a Moldova grandma's enthusiasm with playing her drum and includes lyrics such as "She's a drum machine ... she's flying into a trance like an Indian shaman. Who's the Beatles?"

Despite an intriguing song subject the bookmakers did not think Zdob și Zdub would trouble the top end of the score.

It was expected to be a challenge for Moldova to escape the semi-final - remembering that in 2004 to 2007 there was only one semi-final that featured 22 to 28 countries fighting out for 10 places.

However during the contest Zdob și Zdub delievered an energetic and exciting performance, complete with a grandma banging the drum!

The band finished sixth, giving Moldova one of the best ever debut results in the contest. Even more remarkably, after the contest was finished, it was revealed Moldova finished second in the semi-final out of 25 entries.

In retrospect it should have been obvious this sort of entry would do well in the ethno-pop dominant era of 2000s Eurovision. However it marked the first time this eastern European country would be underestimated in a Eurovision context.

4. Sunstroke Project and Olia Tira - Run Away (2010)

In 2010 Sunstroke Project and Olia Tira collectively delivered a competent performance of Run Away, placing 10th in the first semi-final and scrapping into the final where they finished 22nd.

With their mediocre Eurovision result, no one could have predicted the global phenomenon that would emerge from their Eurovision performance.

Bandmember Sergey Stepanov went viral for his two fourteen-second saxophone interludes during the performance.

Sergey's saxophone playing, cool look from his sunglasses and sleeveless top, vigorous hip thrusting and dance moves turned him into an internet meme.

Sunstroke Project's Run Away Grand Final performance now has over 40 million views on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

Sergey was awarded the title "Epic Sax Guy" by internet fans.

So whilst this is an example of where Moldova perhaps achieved an expected Eurovision result, the viral success of the performance was definitely a pleasant surprise.

3. Natalia Barbu - Fight (2007)

Going into Eurovision 2007 Natalia Barbu probably wouldn't have fancied her chances making it out of the semi-final.

The 2007 semi-final saw 28 countries battling for 10 spots in the Grand Final. Just over a third of the acts would get through. Contrast this to the first semi-final this year where TWO-thirds of the acts qualified for the final.

Moldova had a poor semi-final draw at number 9 - seemingly not early or late enough to be remembered.

To make matters worse bookies' favourite Switzerland, represented by DJ Bobo with Vampires Are Alive, was performing directly before Natalia.

Moldova was simply not expected to qualify from this cut-throat semi-final. Even microstate Andorra was predicted to make it through ahead of the eastern European country.

With an appropriately titled song Natalia would have to Fight her way past vampires and an attractive Andorran boyband if she wanted a spot in the Grand Final.

After the first nine qualifiers were read out shouts of "Switzerland" and "Andorra" punctuated the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki as host Mikko Leppilampi tore open the final envelope.

However instead of one of the two big favourites being called out, it was Moldova!

As boos rang out in the Hartwall Areena, Natalia celebrated. An added bonus of being announced last was that Moldova also got the last spot in the Grand Final running order - a highly advantageous position.

Natalia's pop rock entry finished in the Top 10 in the Saturday night final. When the semi-final results were published it was revealed Moldova just squeaked into the Grand Final, coming in tenth.

Whilst many retrospectively have attributed eastern European bloc voting in aiding Moldova's qualifying chances, this was simply another instance where the Moldovan under-dog had been underestimated.

2. Zdob și Zdub and Advahov Brothers - Trenulețul (2022)

Zdob și Zdub made their Eurovision return in 2022, this time with the Advahov Brothers.

Their colourful song Trenulețul describes a boisterous, happy train ride from the capital of Romania Bucharest to the Moldovan capital Chișinău.

Moldova was expected to comfortably qualify from the first-semi final and finish around mid-table in the Grand Final.

However Zdob și Zdub and Advahov Brothers defied expectations by finished 7th, a result that remains Moldova's third best Eurovision placing.

What was even more remarkable was that Moldova finished second in the tele-vote, meaning if the result had been determined solely by that as it had from 1998 to 2008 Moldova could have achieved its best placing ever.

Of course it is worth noting that Ukraine absolutely dominated the tele-vote in 2022, 439 points to Moldova's 239 points.

Still second in the tele-vote is a remarkable achievement for a country which definitely does not have a diaspora as sizeable as its eastern European neighbours.

A factor which may have aided Moldova was the songs around it in the second half. In 2022 finalists randomly drew which half of the Grand Final they would perform in, with the producers deciding the exact order.

Most of the songs which drew second half in 2022 were ballads or mellower in nature, which made radiant Trenulețul stand out. The only other entry in that half that could perhaps match Moldova in terms of energy and happiness was the United Kingdom's Space Man by Sam Ryder which finished runners-up.

Another Zdob și Zdub entry with a unique and happy song subject matter, would deliver another surprise result for Moldova.

1. Sunstroke Project - Hey Mamma (2017)

Given Epic Sax Guy and Sunstroke Project were viral sensations when they returned to Eurovision 2017 with Hey Mamma, their third place may have been expected.

However on the eve of the Grand Final, Sunstroke Project were predicted by the bookies to just scrap into the top 10 and no further. Sunstroke Project's star power was being seriously overlooked.

In a year where ballads by Bulgaria and Portugal dominated, an up-tempo song where a man tries to allay the fears of his love interest's mother complete with dance routines and a costume change was always going to do well.

The fact that Hey Mamma delivered Moldova its best ever result to date, is why it also tops our countdown of Moldova Eurovision entries that outperformed expectations.

If there are two take-aways from this article it should be never believe the bookmakers and never underestimate Moldova at Eurovision.

The eastern European country unexpectedly withdrew from Eurovision at the last minute this year due to the perceived poor quality of their national final entries, so they clearly want to put their best foot forward when it comes to Eurovision.

No announcements have been made about Moldova's participation at the contest next year, however we do hope they will return and bring back the marvelous Moldovan magic we see from them on the Eurovision stage.

We wish all our Moldovan readers and followers a happy Independence Day!

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