Natalia Barbu

Natalia Barbu
Barbu in 2024
Barbu in 2024
Background information
Born (1979-08-22) 22 August 1979
GenresPop[1]
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • violin
Years active2001–present
Labels
Websitebarbunatalia.com

Natalia Barbu (Romanian pronunciation: [naˈtali.a ˈbarbu]; born 22 August 1979) is a Moldovan singer and songwriter. She is best-known for representing Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with the song "Fight".[2] Barbu represented the country again in 2024 with the song "In the Middle".

Music career

Singer Natalia Barbu performing in Madrid
Barbu performing in Madrid during PrePartyES 2024

Throughout her career, Barbu has worked with Moldovan band Trigon on an alternative jazz-folk experiment. She writes her own lyrics, composes the music for most of her songs, and collaborates on the arrangements with her crew. In 2006, Barbu signed a three-year contract with Cat Music Records under Sony Music office in Bucharest.

Barbu's main success has been the release of her single "Îngerul meu" (lit.'My Angel') in Romania. The song, ranked first, remained in the Romanian Top 100 for eleven weeks and was much featured on MTV Romania.[3]

Singer Natalia Barbu performing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Barbu performing at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

On 14 December 2006, Barbu was selected to represent Moldova at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with the song "Fight".[4] At the contest, she qualified from the semi-final on 10 May 2007 and ultimately placed 10th in the final on 12 May 2007, scoring 109 points.[5]

In 2012, Barbu began collaboration with musical producer Radu Sirbu and songwriter Ana Sirbu under the label Rassada Music. At the end of the summer Natalia premiered her new track, "I Said It's Sad", which she says is a major style change for her. The new song reached No. 1 position in Top 10 Airplay Moldova. Later in 2012, she released "Iubire Cu Aroma De Cafea" and "Confession", which participated at the Romanian national selection for Eurovision Song Contest 2013.[6]

Natalia Barbu at the ESC 2024 rehearsal

Barbu was selected to take part in Etapa națională 2024, the Moldovan national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, with the song "In the Middle".[7] She came first in the audition round on 13 January 2024 and qualified for the final.[8] There, she was selected as the Moldovan entrant for the contest. At the contest, the singer failed to qualify from the first semi-final on 7 May 2024, placing 13th out of 15 with 20 points.[9]

Personal life

In 2011, Barbu married a Romanian businessman and currently lives with him in Romania.[10] They have two children together.[11]

Discography

  • Între ieri și azi (lit.'Between Yesterday And Today') (2001)
  • Zbor de dor (2003)
  • Interpreta Natalia Barbu (2009)
  • La capatul cerului (2021)

Interview

Barbu gave an interview for Wikipedia: listen

References

  1. ^ Mamaliga, Ludmila. "Natalia Barbu: "I can't imagine my life without songs"". Welcome Moldova. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  2. ^ "Natalia Barbu not participating again in ESC 2008 because of cost". Oiko Times. Archived from the original on 14 June 2008.
  3. ^ "Natalia Barbu 2007 at ESC". Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  4. ^ Viniker, Barry (14 December 2006). "Exclusive: It's Natalia Barbu For Moldova". ESC Today. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2007 Final". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Bio of Natalia Barbu". Rassada Music. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  7. ^ Farren, Neil (26 December 2016). "Moldova: Etapa Națională 2024 Audition Participants Revealed". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  8. ^ Farren, Neil (13 January 2024). "Moldova: Etapa Națională 2024 Finalists Selected". Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  9. ^ Sturtridge, Isaac (12 May 2024). "Revealed: The Eurovision 2024 semi-final and final jury/televote detailed voting results". Escxtra. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  10. ^ Granger, Anthony (5 January 2013). "Romania: Natalia Barbu Wants To Represent Her New Home". Eurovoix. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  11. ^ "ESC 2024: Natalia Barbu für Moldau nicht im Finale" (in German). Norddeutscher Rundfunk. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.