In the spotlight: Natalia Gordienko

15 April 2020 at 10:10 CEST

In the spotlight: Natalia Gordienko NG

With her song, 'Prison', Natalia was chosen to represent Moldova in 2020. In light of the unfortunate cancellation of the 65th Eurovision Song Contest, we wish to highlight the impressive acts that were set to appear. This is 'In the spotlight', our feature honouring the artists that would have made up this year's edition of the world's largest live music event.

This time, Natalia goes solo for Moldova! Natalia competed against 19 other acts to win the final of O Melodie Pentry Europa, Moldova's national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. This is not the first time Natalia has participated in the contest, but it will be the first time for her as a solo artist.

In 2006, she competed alongside Arsenium with the song Loca and placed 20th in the Grand Final. The year prior, she performed as lead singer in the band Millenium, which placed third in the Moldovan national selection.

Who is Natalia?

Chisinau-born Natalia boasts a long history of winning. In 2006, she won the Slavianski Bazaar and went on to become the most famous singer in Moldova. In 2007, she was awarded the Grand Prix at the New Wave Competition in Jurmala and went on to win the gold medal in the Voice Category at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles. The highly-esteemed artist also received the title Honored Artist of the Republic of Moldova.

Natalia Gordienko, representative of Moldova 2020 Natalia Gordienko

Perhaps her winning talents are the result of performing on stage since the age of 15, or perhaps the fact that she studied Canto Pop Jazz at the Academia de Muzica Teatry si Arte Plastice (AMTAP). Maybe it is also due to her huge popularity. Natalia hosts the most highest-rated TV show in Moldova and her YouTube videos have over a million views.

Her Spotify account lists over 36,000 monthly listeners and her song Prison - which unanimously won the most votes by both the jury and the viewers at the Moldova national selection - has over 238,000 streams and counting.

READ MORE: Natalia's participant profile

Moldova's Eurovision 2020 representative Natalia Gordienko NG

According to her Instagram page, Natalia describes herself as a singer, TV host, model and mum of a beautiful boy. It is also where you will find her singing home karaoke using a hairdryer for a microphone. To this photo, Natalia adds that singing is how she loves to entertain herself: "So let's sing, it doesn’t matter if instead of a microphone you use a hairdryer! The main thing is that it brings joy!"

You can follow Natalia on the following social media platforms:

LISTEN: Stream Prison and other Eurovision 2020 songs on Spotify

Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest

Moldova has appeared in a total of 9 Eurovision Song Contest Grand Finals since its debut back in 2005. It’s most successful act came in 2017 when Sunstroke Project finished in the top 3 in the Grand Final - the first time ever for the country.

Sunstroke Project & Olia Tira represented Moldova at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010 EBU

Sergey Stepanov, from the same band, became known as the ‘Epic Sax Guy’ after his solo saxophone performance became an internet viral sensation.

READ MORE: Moldova's country page

Last year, Moldova was represented by Anna Odobescu at the Eurovision Song Contest - Tel Aviv. Her song, Stay, reached 12th place in the Second Semi-Final.