Country Moldova Selected entrant Zdob şi Zdub | Selection date(s) 26 February 2011 Selected song "So Lucky" | |
Selection process O melodie pentru Europa 2011
50% Televoting
50% Jury Semi-final result Qualified (10th, 54 points) | ||
Moldova participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany and selected their entry through a televised national final, O melodie pentru Europa (A song for Europe), organised by Moldovan broadcaster TeleRadio-Moldova (TRM). The band Zdob şi Zdub won the selection with the song "So lucky".
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O melodie pentru Europa 2011
Like in 2010, the selection of the Moldovan entry for the Eurovision Song Contest was conducted in two steps: First, singers and songwriters were able to submit their entries online at the TRM website until 16 January 2011 and then an expert jury listened to all the songs and selected 60 for the second stage of the selection. Each of the 60 previously selected performers had three minutes to demonstrate their vocal abilities at a live audition held on 29 January. A total number of 25 acts qualified for the national final held on 26 February broadcast live on TV Moldova 1 and TV Moldova International.
The winner of the national final was chosen through a 50/50 combination of televoting and the verdict of a professional jury. On 17 January, TRM has published the 98 submitted songs in their national selection on their official website. Former Moldovan representatives Natalia Barbu and Zdob şi Zdub announced their comeback on the Eurovision stage. During the televised show, the televoting was won by a landslide 33,35% for Karizma, while eventual winners Zdob şi Zdub trailed in 2nd place with 13,15% of the vote. The jury awarded Natalia Barbu the top mark, while Zdob şi Zdub was placed 2nd. The combination of votes from public and jury saw Zdob şi Zdub win the national final.
At Eurovision
Moldova competed in the first half of the second semi-final of the contest, on 12 May 2011, with starting position 7. The song was well received by the audience, however narrowly making it into the grand final with 10th place and 54 points. It beat Belgium for the final spot by 1 point. Shortly after the second semi final, Moldova drew starting position 15 for the grand final on Saturday 16 May 2011. Moldova achieved 12th place after the voting had finished, with 97 points in total.