All songs for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 have been selected. During the weeks between the national final season and the actual Eurovision Song Contest, we will introduce all 43 entries in random order. Part ten of the series is dedicated to the Moldovan entry.

Basic information

Performer:	Zdob �i Zdub
Song:	So lucky
Language:	English
Music:	Mihai Gincu, Marc Elsner
Lyrics:	Andy Schuman, Marc Elsner
Draw:	7th in the second semi final

The song

So lucky is an up-tempo ska punk rock song. Through the lyrics, the overly self-confident protagonist tells about a woman he hits on. However, she eventually turns him down because she doesn't fall for his act:

I’m the ruler of the world
A tug
She pulls me like a drug
I want her on the rug
But she’s not that kind of girl

I see you where the lights glow
You pull me in your private side show
And now I see your moves in slowmo
I try to kiss you, but you slip away

The performers and the songwriters

Zdob �i Zdub was founded in 1994. Known for her music style, which mixes traditional Moldovan music with various styles of rock, they became one of the most popular live acts in Moldova over the years. So far, nine albums and 17 music videos were released. Many of their songs are performed in Russian and they have performed at big festivals all over Eastern Europe but also in Germany and the Netherlands. They have also been a supportung act for bands such as Rage against the machine, The Garbage and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

In 2005, the competed in the Moldovan national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. They won the national final therefore becoming the country's first ever representatives in Kyiv. With Boonika bate doba they finished second in the semi final and sixth in the final, which is still Modlova's best result in the contest. In 2007, they tried again to represent their home country but they finished second in the internal selection behind Natalia Barbu. Later it turned out that their song Space cowboys would have not been allowed to compete in Helsinki as it was already performed live before October 2006. In 2011, they returned to the Moldovan national final winning a second time. With So lucky they finished second both in the jury voting and in the televoting giving them the highest number of points in total. The song was written by Zdob �i Zdub member Mihai Gincu along with the band's producers Andy Schuman and Marc Elsner.

The national selection

No less than 25 entries, which were chosen in an online selection, competed in the Moldovan national final. The winner was chosen by a mixture of jury voting and televoting. As the televoting favourite got only one point from the jury while the jury favourite got only seven points in the televoting, Zdob Å�i Zdub could win the ticket to Düsseldorf being seen in second place by both.

Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest

Moldova entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 and immediately finished second in the semi final and sixth in the final, which is still the country's best result. Another top ten placing followed in 2007, while in 2008 the country missed the final for the first and only time.

Statistics

This will be Moldova's seventh participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. It will be the fourth time that the country is represented by a group. It is also the first time that an act returns for Moldova. Furthermore, it will be the seventh year in a row that the Moldovan entry includes lyrics in English.

So lucky will be the seventh song to be performed in the second semi final. It follows after the mid-tempo pop song from Ukraine and it is followed by the dance pop song from Sweden. A clear advantage might be the fact that the song is performed in the middle of a streak of mainstream songs. Zdob �i Zdub might also not be scared of the early position in the draw as they managed to qualify from number four in the semi final 2005 later finishing sixth in the final after performing as number seven in the final.

Îi dorim Moldovei È�i lui Zdob Å�i Zdub Tira mult noroc Å�i un rezultat bun in Düsseldorf!

Videos

Live performance in the national final:

The preview video:

Zdob �i Zdub in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005:

Miorita, another song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHnsBuabEA0

Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Belgian entry.

Previous parts of the series:

1. Estonia
2. Italy
3. Croatia
4. Slovakia
5. Lithuania
6. Finland
7. Switzerland
   
8. Ukraine
9. Norway