"Trenulețul": An analysis on national identity in Moldova's 2022 Eurovision performance
In 2005, Moldova stepped onto the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, represented by folk punk band Zdob și Zdub, based in Chișinău. The band’s electric energy placed Moldova in sixth place overall that year, a strong start for the nation. Seventeen years later, the band made yet another return into the spotlight alongside folk musician duo, the Advahov Brothers, performing the song “Trenulețul”. Their song starts off with the roaring punk sound of the guitar, then the rest of the band joins in with their high energy drums and vocals. As a general viewer, the performance is fun, vibrant, and eccentric. However, through an analytical lens, this performance reveals mainstream political ideas and helps construct an idea of what Moldovan national identity is, which as per my previous blog post, is defined through language, history, and ethnicity. As informed global citizens and Eurovision viewers, we can use these performances to better understa...
