Why everyone wants to ‘Do A Moldova’ at Eurovision 2018

Leicester City, Donald Trump, Moldova. When it comes to outsiders, Donald Trump’s rise to become the US Presidency and Leicester City’s famous 5000/1 Premier League triumph might be heralded as the biggest upsets in recent years, but in Eurovision Song Contest terms, everyone wants to do a Moldova.

Last year, Moldova’s 500/1 entry by Sunstroke Project wasn’t given a chance by anyone (except, of course, by Metro.co.uk) but stormed into the Eurovision final and finished up in third place.

Now the question many people are asking, is who will ‘do a Moldova’ at Eurovision 2018?

Magical things can happen to a Eurovision entry when their delegation get the staging right. Whether it’s a simply fantastic performance, a gimmick, good use of the stage or a combination of all the above, Eurovision wouldn’t be Eurovision without some surprises in the voting.

Conchita Wurst won after entering the two-week Eurovision rehearsal period as an 80/1 outsider. The Netherlands came second after odds came in from 66/1. Being ahead in the betting from the start doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to cross the finish line in first place at Eurovision. The favourite at the end of the song selection process has only won 6 times in the last 10 years.

This year, there are a few songs that aren’t attracting much interest in the betting just yet but have the potential to surprise when the Eurovision Song Contest goes live in Lisbon this May. We’ve picked six entries that we think could do a Moldova with a touch of stardust and a big stage surprise to boost their chances.

1. Greece 33/1 Yianna Terzi, Oneiro Mou

Greece have had a relatively good run at the Eurovision Song Contest in the last 20 years but recently, the wheels have come off, the national broadcaster was shut down and fortunes haven’t favoured one of Europe’s oldest nations. This year, that could chance back. Greece has gone back to basics, Yianna Terzi sings in her native tongue and the music is ethnically pure Greek.

The song has a haunting vibe and the promo video has passion and drama. If Greece can find a way to bring that to the Eurovision stage, this could challenge for the top 10.

2. Finland 50/1 Saara Aalto, Monsters

Finland’s Saara Aalto (yes, she is theirs, no matter how much we want to claim her as one of our own) was the early favourite in the betting, but after she performed Monsters live, she’s slipped away from the top of the bookies’ charts. She’s promised a whole new stage concept for performing Monsters in Lisbon and this could bounce right back into contention.

Last year Belgium slumped from 8/1 to 80/1 after less than perfect performances in the rehearsals but Blanche nailed it in the live shows and Belgium came back to finish in fourth place. We know Saara Aalto can work a stage. Don’t rule Finland out just yet.

3. Ireland 200/1, Ryan O’Shaughnessy, Together

Ireland won the Eurovision Song Contest four times in five years in the 1990s, but haven’t come within a sniff since. These days, qualifying for the final is seen as a victory in itself but Ryan O’Shaughnessy’s entry Together could do a lot better than the bookies think.

After taking a pop at Russia’s anti-LGTB laws in a couple of tweets, Ireland’s entrant has endeared himself to the Eurovision masses and is bound to get a big cheer in the arena. It’s a simple but sweet song with melancholy undertones and some creative staging could see this one come through the pack.

4. Azerbaijan 70/1, Aisel, X My Heart

Azerbaijan, the country that made winning Eurovision a Government objective – and then succeeded – in 2011, has slipped away from the top of the scoreboard recently but when it comes to crazy lyrics, this year’s entry is the one to beat.

‘Misty moon I’m your loon, let’s rock the nation…’ ‘I cross my heart, I’m stronger than cannonballs’ (it’s definitely not ‘stronger than cannibals’, we checked the lyric video) and ‘Luna moon me up to the top’ are three to remember.

The song is catchy, mid tempo and has a good beat. If Team Azerbaijan can come up with a Eurovision stage performance that gives the song a boost, this could do better than many expect.

Iceland 500/1 Ari Olafsson, Our Choice

Iceland’s Eurovision hopes seemed to have been dashed as soon as the song was announced. Ari Olafsson’s entry Our Choice doesn’t immediately jump out as a potential Eurovision winner, but the 19 year old emerging Icelandic star and his charming smile has the potential to over-perform.

Iceland’s 2009 entry Is It True was a quiet ballad that came out of nowhere to take second place behind runaway winner Alexander Rybak from Norway. Rybak’s back this year and Iceland have the basics in place to surprise the competition once again. Again, it’ll need staging that lifts the song to a new level, much as Johanna’s staging did back in 2009, but if they get it right, this will do better than expected.

Moldova, 200/1 DoReDos – My Lucky Day

Could Moldova do a Moldova and become the new Bulgaria, coming from Eurovision obscurity to claim a second top five finish in a row? DoReDos might fancy their chances. The song has some traditional Moldovan sounds again, and they’re bringing some gymnastic moves, mixed in with a little Chicago-style arm dancing and a touch of Strictly before heading back to some local dance moves.

I think this one is going to be polished up and wouldn’t be surprised if we’re talking about Moldova storming into the final again this year if they can add a bit of stage sparkle to the this.

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