Moldova MOLDOVA 2021 - Natalia Gordienko - Sugar

[escYOUnited]

​

I can't explain it but there's something going on
A crazy energy inside of me
First just a tingle, then it turned into a burn
Like fire in my blood

And now I hear my body talk, talk, talk
A taste is all, all I need
And I'm about to climb the walls
No way I'll be alone tonight

Come over, come over
I'm over doing without you
Come over, come over
Hey lover, give me some sugar

Got me addicted, so you can't take it away
Get me all satisfied

And now I hear my body talk, talk, talk
A taste is all, all I need
And I'm about to climb the walls
No way I'll be alone tonight

Come over, come over
I'm over doing without you
Come over, come over
Hey lover, give me some sugar

Just took a little kiss to show how I was missing out
Compared to you no other [?] thing to brag about
Your lips are hot and sweet, I feel it to my knees
Now I want only one sugar, sugar on my tongue
I need your kisses baby, gotta keep 'em coming
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

Sugar​

 

[FilipFromSweden]

I honestly don't think there is anything fishy here, in several countries just a couple of thousand votes could've been the difference between 1st and 11th place because I know not a lot of people actually pick up their phone and vote in certain countries.

In 2009 Sweden went from 105 televote points in SF1 to 59 televote points in the final so I'm not sure why this case is fishy when there are several similar ones.

 

[Ianp16]

One thing I think we can ALL agree on is that Moldova 2021 has given us all plenty of entertainment factor from the start to finish. I have definitely been entertained by the ridiculous drawn out reveal, the unashamed lip syncing and the drama of the weird points. This Karkaroff guy knows what he’s doing to create attention! Thank god he’s just not good enough to back a winner... Yet.

 

[Nicholas123]

I just got this notification.

I'm so touched.

 

[A-lister]

I just got this notification.

I'm so touched.

I got two of those Moldova trophies

 

[Leydan]

I just got this notification.

I'm so touched.

Congratulations, you'll get a personalised signed card and greatest hits CD from Kirkorov coming in the post. What a blessing.

 

[Gera11]

I got two of those Moldova trophies

OG fans

 

[A-lister]

OG fans

Not to brag but... I feel like Kirkorov should pay ME for all the lobbying I did !

 

[hijirio]

Israel falls from 93 televoting points in the semi to 20 in the final, but noone argues about that. It's time to accept that some people really enjoyed with Sugar.

Also Australia 2018 dropped from 82 points in the semi to a miserable 9 in the final, even some countries that gave it 8 in the semi blanked it in the final.

 

[pyryniemi]

What makes this case suspicious isn't a drop in total points/placing from semi to final, but placings in different countries.
Here's how each SF2 televoting country ranked Moldova in the semi, and then in the final:

1st -> 1st
1st -> 3rd
1st -> 4th
1st -> 5th
1st -> 11th
1st -> 19th
1st -> 21st
1st -> 22nd
4th -> 21st
5th -> 23rd
5th -> 24th
6th -> 9th
8th -> 19th
11th -> 20th
11th -> 23rd
13th -> 24th
16th -> 4th
16th -> 9th
16th -> 15th

 

[Jopi]

Wasn't the fan of the song in the first place, but damn everything was really bad. Both her semi final and final performance. The poor singing, the clumsy mic drop, the 'note'... The performance overall was underwhelming, nothing to grabs you. And then the voting part is just disgusting, and the way it was so obvious. No words literally. Shame on you Kirkorov!!! Yikes.

 

[Esc_Vinyero]

Perfect for studying

 

[empo21]

It was a joke at first, but few days ago I forgot the 10 minute version was playing in the background and didn't even notice. It was actually quite nice and ambient.

 

[Sammy]

What makes this case suspicious isn't a drop in total points/placing from semi to final, but placings in different countries.
Here's how each SF2 televoting country ranked Moldova in the semi, and then in the final:

1st -> 1st
1st -> 3rd
1st -> 4th
1st -> 5th
1st -> 11th
1st -> 19th
1st -> 21st
1st -> 22nd
4th -> 21st
5th -> 23rd
5th -> 24th
6th -> 9th
8th -> 19th
11th -> 20th
11th -> 23rd
13th -> 24th
16th -> 4th
16th -> 9th
16th -> 15th

If you consider, that you have 16 countries in the final that are not in the semi (and among them a lot of strong ones) and take into account that the audience in each country may differ quite a lot between semi and final significant drops can be expected. Not saying that this is the only explanation, but still... People may also have changed their minds because of discussions about the acts inbetween, others may have shifted their votes more towards one or two of their favorites as the race was so tight in the final whereas the favorites qualified easily in the semi. Moldowa may have lost its appeal for others because the sugar was consumed in the semi leaving a shallow taste of it in the final (like a chewing gum does after a couple of minutes). And yes - maybe Kirkorow also bought votes.

 

[ESC94]

If you consider, that you have 16 countries in the final that are not in the semi (and among them a lot of strong ones) and take into account that the audience in each country may differ quite a lot between semi and final significant drops can be expected. Not saying that this is the only explanation, but still... People may also have changed their minds because of discussions about the acts inbetween, others may have shifted their votes more towards one or two of their favorites as the race was so tight in the final whereas the favorites qualified easily in the semi. Moldowa may have lost its appeal for others because the sugar was consumed in the semi leaving a shallow taste of it in the final (like a chewing gum does after a couple of minutes). And yes - maybe Kirkorow also bought votes.

Thanks for giving me a good laugh in the evening.

 

[musicfan]

I enjoyed the live on tape recording, though the staging was still minimal. As with the preparty performance she doesn't go for any gimmicks, she just presents it for the good song it is. The long note was never necessary, but in light of things such as the Israel whistle notes I suppose her team felt they needed extra stuff to make people talk. They were wrong though as good music can stand well enough on its own. Weaker songs like the Russian song need some gimmick.

 

[A-lister]

I enjoyed the live on tape recording, though the staging was still minimal. As with the preparty performance she doesn't go for any gimmicks, she just presents it for the good song it is. The long note was never necessary, but in light of things such as the Israel whistle notes I suppose her team felt they needed extra stuff to make people talk. They were wrong though as good music can stand well enough on its own. Weaker songs like the Russian song need some gimmick.

Russian song weaker than Moldovan?

 

[musicfan]

Russian song weaker than Moldovan?

I know the struggles she had with people, and no doubt there's a good message to the song. But it's in two parts that don't even fit that well. One part rap which doesn't sound great (the Finns rapped better), and then a folk melody which while catchy is repeated a lot and does sound like other Russian tunes. She depended on the gimmick of that dress like Toy had with that Kimono stuff. And having faces on the screen was unoriginal too. Maybe the message took over so much the music became secondary.

 

[A-lister]

I know the struggles she had with people, and no doubt there's a good message to the song. But it's in two parts that don't even fit that well. One part rap which doesn't sound great (the Finns rapped better), and then a folk melody which while catchy is repeated a lot and does sound like other Russian tunes. She depended on the gimmick of that dress like Toy had with that Kimono stuff. And having faces on the screen was unoriginal too. Maybe the message took over so much the music became secondary.

I can't speak for others, but for me the Russian song was the best in 2021, message and stage gimmicks aside.

I mean taste differs, but I don't see how a bland Kirkorov reductive blend of "Shady Lady" and "Siren Song" (but much much weaker than both) can be considered a higher quality song, but again taste differs of course so no shade just curiousity.

 

[NikolaiMoller]

Natalia's dress in the live on tape

 

[NeoTen]

Well, her live-on-tape was vocally way better. Still, for a choir girl, a TV, and Eurovision veteran, it's quite telling she chose to not sing her long note at the end. That ending pose still gets me though. The guys easily could be nightclub bouncers or hitmen the way they look at you in sunglasses. It's just very in your face. Can somebody pass me Kirkorov's number? The guy must be doing good. Kirkorov could even get the UK top 5 I reckon.