On February 17 the decision will be made in the chilly capital of Moldova, Chisinau. Rafael Artesero, a Basque-born composer long settled in Santa Eulària, will see whether the song he wrote, Bravo, earns a place in Eurovision. The selection process gathers eleven candidates who will vie for Moldova’s slot in the annual televised event, with the final choices resting in the hands of a dedicated jury and the Moldovan television team, alongside the singer who champions Artesero’s piece. The final staging is scheduled to take place in Malmö, Sweden, from May 7 to May 11. All outcomes depend on the jury and the singer who performs the entry in the national competition for a chance to represent Moldova at Eurovision. Nicoleta Sava is the vocal advocate underwriting the performance.
The composer feels a surge of excitement. A jury member in the semi-final described the song as big, magnificent, and deeply crafted, noting it was written by a skilled composer. Artesero and Sava are longtime collaborators, and this is not the first time Sava has supported a song in a high-profile talent show. In 2018 she performed The Essence of the South for Moldova, a year when the national winner was DoReDos. The combination of Sava and Artesero generated significant enthusiasm in Spain, where the pre Eurovision party scene in Madrid amplified the buzz around Moldova’s entry.
Bravo diverges from The Essence of the South, Artesero explains. While that earlier piece possessed a hymn-like, flamenco-driven energy, Bravo carried a different mood. Artesero recalls composing it during a period marked by personal sadness for a friend who battled illness, a memory that adds emotional depth to the piece. Nicoleta Sava later saved the song by agreeing to participate in Eurovision once more, asking for a new musical direction that would separate Bravo from the previous anthem.
A “bittersweet” hymn
In the end, the plan was to revive Bravo and submit it for the Moldova selection. Artesero notes that the song carries a poignant backstory some listeners might not fully grasp. He believes the track is powerful and uplifting, a blend that lingers with the listener even as tears well up. The composition is described as emotionally rich with a soul that resonates long after the final chord, leaving a lingering sense of sweetness.
The Ibiza-based Basque composer has followed Eurovision since his youth. Growing up near Bilbao, the family tradition of music shaped his ambitions, and he often thought about representing his country on the Eurovision stage. His dream briefly crystalized in 2011 when Lucia Perez represented Spain with Que me quiten lo bailao, marking Artesero’s first direct experience with the contest. Since then he has watched Spain submit entries to varying degrees of success, and his hopes now rest with Moldova. The country is in the process of selecting its 2014 entry, and Moldova looks to join the roster of nations chasing a coveted spot in the contest.
With the final gala approaching, Artesero is already planning the journey to the Moldovan capital. He intends to attend the final ceremony where a refreshed panel and television team will cast the decisive vote on Moldova’s Eurovision entry. He also looks forward to meeting Nicoleta Sava in person, a collaboration that has borne fruit in the past and continues to attract attention. Sava is widely regarded as a strong vocalist who brings a distinctive presence to any song she selects. Artesero, preparing for Moldova’s cold climate and the emotional weight of the moment, faces a practical challenge that he has already seen solved through steady, careful preparation and professional teamwork. [citation: Eurovision News Bureau]