Moldova's national final for Eurovision 2023 named Etapa nationala 2023 this time around will have its final on March 4. Ten songs made it to the grand final out of 33 valid submissions, two of them later found unvalid and disqualified plus one artist not showing up to the auditions, Among the finalists three Euroviison veterans: Aliona Moon (2013), Pasha Parfeni (2012) and Sunstroke Project (2010, 2017) who also held the record of best placing at Eurovision, 3rd in 2017.
In the final there will be televote/expert jury.
The audition round ranking is public so below I review the songs in that ranking from first to tenth. I decided consider only the audition videos as not everyone seems to have yet the studio version out. I'm sure some of these will sound and look quite different come final night.
Sunstroke Project - Yummy mommy **
After Hey mamma it's Yummy mommy and sadly their third entry is their weakest, all heard before. Lacking energy despite the original The Epic Sax Guy. I mean nothing happens, it's nearly three minutes the same without any climax or change of mood. They must have won because of old merits.
Pasha Parfeny - Soarele şi luna ***
His entry in 2012 was such fun, and he has tried many times since and this time he's more ethnic that ever I suppose, maybe a bit inspired by Go_A? Also this lacks a bit energy and imagination but could turn into something great once properly staged . I hope so!
Donia - Red zone **
What an earth is she doing up here with that dead static performance and those vocals? The song has nice arrrangement details but that's about it. (I'd like to listen to the studio version but for fairness I won't)
Aliona Moon - Du-mă ***
I loved her entry in 2013 and also here she's the best so far. Nice voice, nice beats, enough ethnic elements to make a difference. But also this time she needs an outstanding staging. Very easy sing-a-long here even with the first hearing. Duiduiduiduidui....
OL - Why you play it cool *
Jazzy coolness for Eurovision? Why not but I doubt it will be a success. To do so it must be excellent and special, this is piano bar level. But a nice addition to this line up instead of something more generic plastic etno pop.
Surorile Osoianu - Bade, bădişor, bădiţă ***
The grannies worked once. Then with europop beat, this is more authentic. La la lai la la lai....
Give them a good staging, re-produce the track and this could be it!
Nördika - Damn and down *
So pretentious it hurts. No.
Victor Gulick - Let's dance *
I don't know what to say. I lost concentration and interest after 15 seconds...
Cosmina - Indestructible *
Standard Eurovision national selection song without nothing to write home about...
Corina Ivanov - When love's real ***
What? Is this written by Mia Nicolai, the Dutch entrant?! And Mika "Stronger every minute" Connaris?! And this sounds like a Whitney Houston reject circa 1987. And indeed, sung by someone that good this could be a classic and a hit. Now... less so. She better sing better in the final! All stars go to the song at this point.
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