O melodie pentru Europa 2015 was the national final format developed by TRM in order to select Moldova’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. The event included two semi-finals and a final to be held on 24, 26 and 28 February 2015, respectively. All shows in the competition were broadcast on Moldova 1, Radio Moldova Actualități, Radio Moldova Tineret and Radio Moldova Muzical as well as online via the broadcaster’s official website trm.md. The final was broadcast online at the official Eurovision Song Contest website eurovision.tv.
Format
The selection of the competing entries for the national final and ultimately the Moldovan Eurovision entry took place over three rounds. The first round occurred on 17 December 2014 where a jury panel shortlisted fifty entries from the received submissions based on criteria such as the quality of the melody and composition, vocals and manner of the performance and the originality of the song. The second round was a live audition of the 50 entries in front of a jury panel that took place on 17 January 2015. Entries were assessed on criteria such as voice quality, stage presence and strength of the composition. The panel selected 24 semi-finalists to proceed to the third round, the televised national final. 12 semi-finalists competed in each semi-final on 24 and 26 February 2015. Eight songs qualified to the final from each semi-final; seven of the qualifiers qualified based on the combined votes from an expert jury and public televoting results, while the eighth qualifier in each semi-final was the entry that achieved the highest televote score from the remaining entries after a second round of public televoting took place during an after-show. The sixteen qualifying entries competed in the final on 28 February 2015 where the winner was selected by the 50/50 combination of an expert jury vote and a public televote. In the event of a tie, the entry that receives the highest score from the expert jury vote was declared the winner.
Competing entries
Artists and composers had the opportunity to submit their entries between 15 October 2014 and 15 December 2014. Both artists and songwriters could hold any nationality. Artists could submit more than one song, however, if they were chosen as a semi-finalist with more than one song, the artist would have to choose one entry to continue with in the competition. At the conclusion of the submission deadline, 47 valid entries were received by the broadcaster. At the conclusion of the submission deadline, 68 valid entries were received by the broadcaster, 19 of them which came from foreign artists from ten countries: seven from the United Kingdom, two each from Russia and Spain, one each from Belarus, Canada, Cyprus, Ireland, Norway, Romania and Ukraine. A jury consisting of Zinaida Brînzilă-Coșleț (lecturer at the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts), Adrian Beldiman (composer, Radio Moldova chief music editor), Iurie Badicu (producer), Aurel Chirtoacă (singer) and Vlad Costandoi (producer) selected 50 out of the 68 received entries to proceed to the audition round.
The live audition round took place on 19 December 2015 at TRM Studio 2 in Chișinău where 24 semi-finalists were selected to advance. The auditions were broadcast via radio on Radio Moldova Muzical as well as online via trm.md. The jury panel that evaluated the songs during the live auditions and selected the 24 semi-finalists consisted of Adrian Beldiman (composer, Radio Moldova chief producer), Iurie Badicu (producer), Aurel Chirtoacă (singer), Aliona Triboi (singer), Andrei Sava (composer), Victor Buruiană (songwriter) and Vlad Costandoi (producer). The 24 semi-finalists were allocated to one of the two semi-finals, each containing 12 entries, in a draw that was held on 29 January 2015 at TRM Headquarters in Chișinău. On 7 February 2015, „Our Star“ performed by Edict was withdrawn from the competition and replaced with the song „Vocea inimii“ performed by Anișoara Volînschi.
| Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Anișoara Volînschi | „Vocea inimii“ | Marcel Roșca |
| Carolina Gorun | „Sublime“ | Ylva Persson, Linda Persson, Natasha Turner, Mats Tärnfors |
| Cezara | „Am devenit străini“ | Andrei Iorga, Ene Gelu Sergiu, Sandel Balan, Alin Radu |
| Dana Markitan | „Love Me“ | Patrik Öhlund, Madelene Hamberg |
| Diana Brescan | „Up and Down“ | Eugen Doibani |
| Doinița Gherman | „Inimă fierbinte“ | Doinița Gherman, Ricu Vodă, Cătălin Gondiu |
| Domenico Protino | „Let Me Fly“ | Domenico Protino, Nardi Sandro |
| DoReDoS | „Maricica“ | Pasha Parfeny, Mihai Teodor |
| Eduard Romanyuta | „I Want Your Love“ | Erik Lewander, Hayley Aitken, Tom Andrews |
| Glam Girls | „Magia“ | Alexandru Gorgos, Alina Dabija |
| Irina Kitoroagă | „I’m Gonna Get You“ | Gicu Cimbir, Keith Almgren, Madelene Hamberg, Patrik Öhlund, Erik Anjou |
| Julia Sandu | „Fire“ | Calle Kindbom, David Wilhelmson, Philip E. Morris Åkerblad |
| Kitty Brucknell | „Remix“ | Charlie Mason, Kitty Brucknell, The Elements |
| Lidia Isac | „I Can’t Breathe“ | Anton Ragoza, Serghei Stepanov, Mihai Teodor |
| Marcel Roșca | „Feelings Will Never Leave“ | Marcel Roșca |
| Mihaela Andrei | „About Love“ | Vitalie Catană, Gloria Gorceag |
| Miss M | „Lonely Stranger“ | Anastasia Ursu |
| Raby | „Hero“ | Ilie Gorincioi, Elena Buga |
| Serj Kuzenkoff | „Danu năzdrăvanu“ | Veaceslav Daniliuc, Sergiu Cuzencov, Diana Enachii |
| Stela Boțan | „Save Me“ | Stela Boțan, Constantin Dușcu |
| SunStroke Project and Michael Ra | „Day After Day“ | Elena Buga, Michael Ra |
| Valeria Pașa | „I Can Change All My Life“ | Valeriu Pașa |
| Vera and Diana Popa | „Faith“ | Vera Țurcanu |
| Vitalie Todirașcu | „Tu singura“ | Valy Boghean, Anton Bacalbașa |
Shows
Semi-finals
The two semi-finals took place on 24 and 25 February 2015 at TRM Studio 2 in Chișinău, hosted by Sergiu Beznițchi who was joined by Evelina Vîrlan in the first semi-final and Gloria Gorceag in the second semi-final. Daniela Babici and Sandu Scobioală reported from the green room during both shows. In each semi-final twelve acts competed and seven songs qualified to the final based on the combination of votes from a public televote and the votes of an expert jury, while an eighth qualifier was selected by an additional televote between the remaining non-qualifiers and was revealed during a post semi-final discussion show. The jury that voted in the semi-finals included Vlad Costandoi (producer), Andrei Sava (composer), Serge Kino (DJ and promoter), Zinuţa Julea (lecturer at the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts), Dumitru Miller (conductor of State Philharmonic Orchestra from Ashdod, Israel), Iurie Badicu (producer and lyricist), Victoria Tcacenco (Associate Professor, Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts. Doctor in arts), Adrian Beldiman (composer, Radio Moldova chief music editor) and Victor Buruiană (songwriter).
In addition to the performances of the competing entries, 2006 Moldovan Eurovision entrant Natalia Gordienko, 2008 Moldovan Eurovision entrant Geta Burlacu, 2010 Moldovan Eurovision entrant Olia Tira, 2012 Moldovan Eurovision entrant Pasha Parfeny, 2013 Moldovan Eurovision entrant Aliona Moon, 2014 Moldovan Eurovision entrant Cristina Scarlat, and singers Boris Covali, Cristina Croitoru, Aurel Chirtoacă, Natan performed as guests in the first semi-final, while Aliona Moon and the Tharmis Orchestra performed as guests in the second semi-final.
Semi-final 1 – 24 February 2015
| Draw | Artist | Song | Jury | Televote | Total | Place | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | Points | Votes | Points | |||||
| 1 | Eduard Romanyuta | „I Want Your Love“ | 63 | 7 | 2,955 | 12 | 19 | 1 |
| 2 | Marcel Roșca | „Feelings Will Never Leave“ | 55 | 5 | 172 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
| 3 | Kitty Brucknell | „Remix“ | 17 | 1 | 88 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| 4 | Mihaela Andrei | „About Love“ | 22 | 2 | 183 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| 5 | Raby | „Hero“ | 13 | 0 | 306 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| 6 | Glam Girls | „Magia“ | 35 | 3 | 400 | 10 | 13 | 5 |
| 7 | Diana Brescan | „Up and Down“ | 74 | 12 | 200 | 5 | 17 | 2 |
| 8 | Serj Kuzenkoff | „Danu năzdrăvanu“ | 63 | 6 | 371 | 8 | 14 | 4 |
| 9 | Domenico Protino | „Let Me Fly“ | 36 | 4 | 66 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 10 | SunStroke Project and Michael Ra | „Day After Day“ | 71 | 10 | 369 | 7 | 17 | 3 |
| 11 | Irina Kitoroagă | „I’m Gonna Get You“ | 63 | 8 | 155 | 2 | 10 | 6 |
| 12 | Anișoara Volînschi | „Vocea inimii“ | 10 | 0 | 146 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
Semi-final 2 – 26 February 2015
| Draw | Artist | Song | Jury | Televote | Total | Place | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | Points | Votes | Points | |||||
| 1 | Vera and Diana Popa | „Faith“ | 40 | 3 | 228 | 1 | 4 | 11 |
| 2 | Valeria Pașa | „I Can Change All My Life“ | 72 | 10 | 274 | 2 | 12 | 5 |
| 3 | Carolina Gorun | „Sublime“ | 21 | 2 | 318 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 | Stela Boțan | „Save Me“ | 50 | 5 | 1,135 | 12 | 17 | 2 |
| 5 | Cezara | „Am devenit străini“ | 43 | 4 | 188 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 6 | Doinița Gherman | „Inimă fierbinte“ | 65 | 8 | 759 | 7 | 15 | 4 |
| 7 | Dana Markitan | „Love Me“ | 61 | 6 | 533 | 5 | 11 | 6 |
| 8 | DoReDoS | „Maricica“ | 64 | 7 | 807 | 10 | 17 | 1 |
| 9 | Vitalie Todirașcu | „Tu singura“ | 10 | 0 | 189 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 10 | Julia Sandu | „Fire“ | 5 | 0 | 594 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| 11 | Lidia Isac | „I Can’t Breathe“ | 18 | 1 | 803 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| 12 | Miss M | „Lonely Stranger“ | 73 | 12 | 402 | 4 | 16 | 3 |
Final
The final took place on 28 February 2015 at TRM Studio 2 in Chișinău, hosted by Sergiu Beznițchi and Olivia Furtună with Daniela Babici and Sandu Scobioală reporting from the green room. The sixteen songs that qualified from the preceding two semi-finals competed and the winner was selected based on the combination of a public televote and the votes of an expert jury. The jury that voted in the final included Vlad Costandoi (producer), Andrei Sava (composer), Serge Kino (DJ and promoter), Zinuţa Julea (lecturer at the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts), Dumitru Miller (conductor of State Philharmonic Orchestra from Ashdod, Israel), Iurie Badicu (producer and lyricist), Victoria Tcacenco (Associate Professor, Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts. Doctor in arts), Adrian Beldiman (composer, Radio Moldova chief music editor), Victor Buruiană (songwriter), Ștefan Petrache (singer) and Ghenadie Ciobanu (composer). In addition to the performances of the competing entries, 2007 Moldovan Eurovision entrant Natalia Barbu, 2014 Moldovan Eurovision entrant Cristina Scarlat, singers Igor Stribiţchi, Igor Sîrbu, Akord, Tania Cergă, DARA, and the dance troupe Black and White performed as guests. „I Want Your Love“ performed by Eduard Romanyuta was selected as the winner.
Final 2 – 28 February 2015
| Draw | Artist | Song | Jury | Televote | Total | Place | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | Points | Votes | Points | |||||
| 1 | Miss M | „Lonely Stranger“ | 67 | 8 | 561 | 3 | 11 | 5 |
| 2 | Irina Kitoroagă | „I’m Gonna Get You“ | 38 | 2 | 169 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| 3 | Eduard Romanyuta | „I Want Your Love“ | 84 | 10 | 13,500 | 12 | 22 | 1 |
| 4 | Dana Markitan | „Love Me“ | 44 | 4 | 473 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| 5 | Diana Brescan | „Up and Down“ | 61 | 7 | 394 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
| 6 | Doinița Gherman | „Inimă fierbinte“ | 26 | 0 | 1,198 | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| 7 | DoReDoS | „Maricica“ | 27 | 0 | 9,808 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
| 8 | Stela Boțan | „Save Me“ | 31 | 1 | 1,999 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | Mihaela Andrei | „About Love“ | 0 | 0 | 209 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 10 | Lidia Isac | „I Can’t Breathe“ | 4 | 0 | 242 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 11 | Glam Girls | „Magia“ | 9 | 0 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 12 | SunStroke Project and Michael Ra | „Day After Day“ | 61 | 6 | 4,875 | 8 | 14 | 3 |
| 13 | Julia Sandu | „Fire“ | 7 | 0 | 273 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 14 | Serj Kuzenkoff | „Danu năzdrăvanu“ | 46 | 5 | 1,406 | 6 | 11 | 4 |
| 15 | Marcel Roșca | „Feelings Will Never Leave“ | 43 | 3 | 470 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| 16 | Valeria Pașa | „I Can Change All My Life“ | 90 | 12 | 1,085 | 4 | 16 | 2 |
Controversy
Following the conclusion of the national final, several of the national final participants expressed their discontent with the results and questioned the fairness of the competition. Doiniţa Gherman, Serj Kuzenkoff and Valeria Paşa spoke to Moldovan media after the competition claiming that the number of televotes Eduard Romanyuta gained in the final was suspicious, while also expressing their disappointment that Romanyuta, an artist from Ukraine, would be representing Moldova on an international stage. Diana Brescan and Miss M commented through social media about the discrepancy between the jury voting in the semi-finals, where Romanyuta placed fourth, and the final. 2010 Moldovan Eurovision entrants SunStroke Project and 2012 Moldovan Eurovision entrant Pasha Parfeny accused Romanyuta of being corrupt.