Dragostea din tei

File:Dan Balan.jpg (pictured), O-Zone's founder, was involved in a lawsuit with {{ill|Bogdan Popoiag|ro}} over the song's songwriting credits in 2004.]]

O-Zone is a Moldovan Eurodance group established in 1999. In 2002, the band, which consisted of founder Dan Balan, Radu Sîrbu and Arsenie Todiraș, moved to Romania where they found success with their singles "Numai tu" and "Despre tine".{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/povestea-trupei-o-zone-varianta-romaneasca-a-714863.html|title=Povestea trupei O-Zone, varianta romaneasca a visului american|trans-title=The story of O-Zone, the Romanian version of the American dream|work=Adevărul|date=27 July 2004|accessdate=21 January 2025|language=Romanian|archive-date=9 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809121319/https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/povestea-trupei-o-zone-varianta-romaneasca-a-714863.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/o-zone-mn0000484025#biography|title=O-Zone – Biography|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=21 January 2025|archive-date=19 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119222105/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/o-zone-mn0000484025#biography|url-status=live}} The latter reached number one on the Romanian Top 100 in February 2003.{{cite news|url=http://www.rt100.ro:80/editie-top-100_x10000.html|title=Arhiva Romanian Top 100 – Ediția 5|trans-title=Romanian Top 100 Archive – Edition 5|publisher=Romanian Top 100|date=10 February 2003|language=ro|access-date=8 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050514165435/http://www.rt100.ro/editie-top-100_x10056.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 May 2005}} In April 2003, the group recorded the follow-up "Dragostea din tei" at the MOF Records studio with the assistance of {{ill|Bogdan Popoiag|ro}}. It was written and composed by Balan, while the production was handled by Popoiag; the latter also mastered the track.{{cite AV media notes|title=DiscO-Zone|type=CD liner notes|author=O-Zone|year=2003|publisher=Cat Music|id=6420565000309}}

Around September 2004, Popoiag filed a lawsuit against Balan and Media Services, the label that signed O-Zone, at the {{Interlanguage link|Bucharest Court|lt=Bucharest Court|ro|Tribunalul București}}, claiming that he had not received credit for his alleged contribution as a composer of the song.{{cite news|url=https://hotnews.ro/o-zone-acuzati-ca-au-furat-dragostea-din-tei-830072|title=O-Zone, acuzati ca au furat 'Dragostea din tei'|trans-title=O-Zone, accused of having stolen 'Dragostea din tei'|language=Romanian|date=28 July 2004|accessdate=3 September 2024|work=Evenimentul Zilei|via=HotNews|archive-date=3 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903092349/https://hotnews.ro/o-zone-acuzati-ca-au-furat-dragostea-din-tei-830072|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.curentul.info/monden/procesul-bogdan-popoiag-vs-dan-balan-incepe-in-septembrie/|title=Procesul Bogdan Popoiag vs Dan Balan incepe in septembrie|trans-title=Bogdan Popoiag vs. Dan Balan lawsuit starts in September|language=Romanian|date=4 August 2024|work=Curentul|accessdate=18 September 2024|author=Vulpescu, Andrei|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812145246/https://www.curentul.info/monden/procesul-bogdan-popoiag-vs-dan-balan-incepe-in-septembrie/|url-status=live}} Balan countersued for defamation,{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/sueta-la-o-cafea-906507.html|title=Șuetă la o cafea|trans-title=Coffee chat|language=Romanian|date=15 January 2005|accessdate=14 August 2024|work=Adevărul|archive-date=9 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809121326/https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/sueta-la-o-cafea-906507.html|url-status=live}} and won the case, with Popoiag ordered to award him 60 million ROL after failing to present evidence for his claims. Balan announced that he would donate the money to the winner of a songwriting competititon.{{cite news|url=https://www.9am.ro/stiri-revista-presei/LifeStar/4493/Dragostea-din-tei-transata-la-tribunal.html|title=Dragostea din tei, transata la tribunal|trans-title=Dragostea din tei, transferred to the tribunal|language=Romanian|date=17 February 2005|work=9am.ro|accessdate=18 September 2024|author=Vulpescu, Andrei|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512160004/https://www.9am.ro/stiri-revista-presei/LifeStar/4493/Dragostea-din-tei-transata-la-tribunal.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/dragostea-din-tei-ramane-la-dan-balan-872033.html|title='Dragostea din tei' ramane la Dan Balan|trans-title='Dragostea din tei' remains with Dan Balan|language=Romanian|date=17 February 2005|accessdate=14 August 2024|work=Adevărul|archive-date=9 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809121327/https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/dragostea-din-tei-ramane-la-dan-balan-872033.html|url-status=live}}

File:Lucas Prata cropped.png.]]

"Dragostea din tei" was first released as the lead single from O-Zone's third studio album DiscO-Zone (2003) in Romania by local label Media Services.{{cite news|url=https://consequence.net/2023/01/numa-numa-dance-video-interview-viral-vault/|title=Viral Vault: The Kinetic Poetry of Gary Brolsma's 'Numa Numa Dance'|work=Consequence|date=17 January 2023|accessdate=23 October 2024|author=Graves, Wren|archive-date=9 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309022644/https://consequence.net/2023/01/numa-numa-dance-video-interview-viral-vault/|url-status=live}} As part of an almost 100,000 euro-deal, it was eventually licensed to Italian label Time Records, who in turn authorized various labels in Europe to issue the song.{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/o-zone-contract-in-italia-de-100000-e-80025|title=O-Zone, contract in Italia de 100.000 euro|trans-title=O-Zone, contract in Italy for 100,000 euros|language=Romanian|work=Libertatea|date=6 February 2004|accessdate=17 September 2024|author=Dobrescu, Petre|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920083313/https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/o-zone-contract-in-italia-de-100000-e-80025|url-status=live}} Mentions of "Dragostea din tei" in Romanian media date back to at least July 2003, and its copyright was {{Interlanguage link|Union of Composers and Musicologists from Romania|lt=legally registered in the region|ro|Uniunea Compozitorilor și Muzicologilor din România}} in August 2003. A CD of the song was released in Romania in 2003 by Cat Music, also containing the music videos of previous singles "Numai tu" and "Despre tine".{{cite news|url=https://www.laut.de/O-Zone|title=O-Zone|language=German|accessdate=26 June 2024|publisher=laut.de|archive-date=26 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626220717/https://www.laut.de/O-Zone|url-status=live}}

Throughout 2004, "Dragostea din tei" was physically released in several other countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In France, the track was first released on 14 April 2004 and was aided by an advertising campaign on local television channels and radio stations. The song received a similar treatment in Germany, with it additionally being advertised at half-time during soccer matches and O-Zone partnering with travel agencies. As part of the 2004 international reissue of "Despre tine", "Dragostea din tei" was featured as the B-side on CDs released in selected regions.{{cite AV media notes|title=Despre tine/Dragostea din teï|type=CD liner notes|author=O-Zone|year=2004|publisher=Time Records|id=0602498677001}}

Also in 2004, Ultra Records issued two 12-inch vinyls in the United States that included "Ma Ya Hi",{{efn|group=upper-alpha|name=mayahi|Also referred to as "The Ma Ya Hi Song" or as "Words of Love".{{cite AV media notes|title=Let's Get It On|type=CD liner notes|author=Lucas Prata|year=2006|publisher=Ultra Records|id=617465136825}}}} an English language-version of "Dragostea din tei" featuring American musician Lucas Prata. This version was recorded in Milan, Italy, and was written by both Balan and Prata.{{cite news|url=https://www.curentul.info/monden/dan-balan-si-lucas-prata-canta-dragostea-din-tei-in-limba-engleza/|title=Dan Balan si Lucas Prata canta 'Dragostea din tei' in limba engleza|trans-title=Dan Balan sing 'Dragostea din tei' in English|language=Romanian|work=Curentul|date=1 November 2004|accessdate=18 September 2024|author=Vulpescu, Andrei|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812135230/https://www.curentul.info/monden/dan-balan-si-lucas-prata-canta-dragostea-din-tei-in-limba-engleza/|url-status=live}} "Ma Ya Hi" included only Balan out of the other band members, and media reports speculated that this caused internal tensions within O-Zone.{{cite news|url=https://hotnews.ro/o-zone-il-vrea-pe-claudiu-mirica-de-la-stigma-in-locul-tradatorului-838601|title=O-Zone il vrea pe Claudiu Mirica, de la Stigma, in locul tradatorului|trans-title=O-Zone wants Caludiu Mirica of Stigma to replace the traitor|language=Romanian|date=17 January 2005|work=Gardianul|via=HotNews|accessdate=18 September 2024|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920083307/https://hotnews.ro/o-zone-il-vrea-pe-claudiu-mirica-de-la-stigma-in-locul-tradatorului-838601|url-status=live}} "Ma Ya Hi" was included on Prata's studio album Let's Get It On (2006), while a remixed version was featured on the American version of DiscO-Zone.{{cite AV media notes|title=DiscO-Zone|type=CD liner notes|author=O-Zone|year=2004|publisher=Ultra Records|id=617465123924}} The original Romanian version of the song was digitally released in the United States on 22 June 2004 by Media Services, under the name of "Mai Ai Hee (Dragostea din tei)". In 2005, a CD of "Dragostea din tei" was issued in Japan by Avex Trax, titled "恋のマイアヒ" ("Koi No Maiahi").

{{Listen|pos=right|filename=Dragostea din tei sample.ogg|title="Dragostea din tei"|description=A 23-second sample of "Dragostea din tei", showcasing its prominent yodeling sequence, and the use of the words "nu mă, nu mă iei" (Romanian: "won't, won't take me") in the refrain, which have led the track to also be known as the "Numa Numa Song".}}

"Dragostea din tei" is a 1980s-inspired dance-pop,{{cite magazine|first= Michael |last= Paoletta |page= 38 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=sBQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22dragostea+din+tei%22&pg=RA1-PA38 |issn= 0006-2510 |date= 12 March 2005 |magazine= Billboard |title= Music Picks – Singles|accessdate=30 March 2025}} synth-pop, Eurodisco,{{cite news|url=http://reason.com/archives/2005/10/01/the-second-romanian-revolution/3|title=The Second Romanian Revolution Will Be Televised|work=Reason|author=Welch, Matt|accessdate=4 July 2024|archive-date=1 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101062641/http://reason.com/archives/2005/10/01/the-second-romanian-revolution/3|date=October 2005}} and Europop song,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/mar/28/sex-mozart-and-chanting-monks-the-20-best-euro-pop-uk-hits-ranked|title=Sex, Mozart and chanting monks … the 20 best Euro-pop UK hits – ranked!|author=Petridis, Alexis|date=28 March 2024|accessdate=13 August 2024|work=The Guardian|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082238/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/mar/28/sex-mozart-and-chanting-monks-the-20-best-euro-pop-uk-hits-ranked|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/o-zone-desfiintati-in-presa-britanica-84752|title=O-Zone, desfiintati in presa britanica|trans-title=O-Zone criticized in the British press|language=Romanian|work=Libertatea|date=27 April 2004|accessdate=17 September 2024|author=Dobrescu, Petre|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920083315/https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/o-zone-desfiintati-in-presa-britanica-84752|url-status=live}} whose instrumentation features synthesized bass and what Rolling Stone Australia described as "robotic stop-start rhythms".{{cite news|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/boy-band-songs-greatest-14732/o-zone-dragostea-din-tei-2003-14782/|title=75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time|work=Rolling Stone Australia|date=27 July 2020|accessdate=4 July 2024|archive-date=20 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220215850/https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/boy-band-songs-greatest-14732/o-zone-dragostea-din-tei-2003-14782/|url-status=live}} Billboard{{'s}} staff has described "Dragostea din tei" as a novelty song,{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/riaj-launches-master-ringtone-chart-1350082/|title=RIAJ Launches Master Ringtone Chart|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=13 August 2024|date=20 September 2006|archive-date=5 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605070250/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/riaj-launches-master-ringtone-chart-1350082/|url-status=live}} while several other publications have pointed out elements of camp.{{cite news|url=https://www.bz-berlin.de/archiv-artikel/millionen-sahen-sie-bei-wetten-dass-hier-ist-o-zone-im-interview|title=Millionen sahen sie bei 'Wetten, dass...?' – hier ist O-Zone im Interview|trans-title=Millions saw them at 'Wetten, dass...?' – Interview with O-Zone|language=German|date=5 July 2004|accessdate=18 August 2024|work=B.Z.|author=Kühling, Ralf|archive-date=18 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918140202/https://www.bz-berlin.de/archiv-artikel/millionen-sahen-sie-bei-wetten-dass-hier-ist-o-zone-im-interview|url-status=live}} The song is set in the key of A minor and has a tempo of 130 beats per minute (BPM).{{cite news|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0181752|title=Dragostea din tei – Sheet music|publisher=Musicnotes.com|accessdate=19 September 2024|archive-date=14 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814110219/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0181752|url-status=live}} It follows a F-C-G-Am chord progression. "Dragostea din tei" is performed in Romanian and mentions the linden tree (Romanian: "tei"), which is commonly used in Romanian literature.{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/print/wams/finanzen/article121973596/Rumaenien-Von-Linden-und-Loewen.html|title=Rumänien: Von Linden und Löwen|trans-title=Romania: About Linden Trees and Lions|language=German|date=17 November 2013|accessdate=11 October 2024|author=Stocker, Frank|work=Die Welt|archive-date=3 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203071052/https://www.welt.de/print/wams/finanzen/article121973596/Rumaenien-Von-Linden-und-Loewen.html|url-status=live}} Throughout the song, its title is pronounced in an ambiguous way that could lead the listener to hear the phrase "Dragostea dintâi" (Romanian: "The first love").{{cite encyclopedia |last=Cap-Bun|first=Marina|editor-first=Thede|editor-last=Kahl|editor-link=Thede Kahl|encyclopedia=Von Hora, Doina und Lăutaren|trans-encyclopedia=About Hora, Doina and Lăutars|title=Muzica românească în Portofoliul Muzical European|trans-title=Romanian music in the European Musical Portfolio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QaxNDQAAQBAJ&dq=dragostea+din+tei+o-zone&pg=PA597 |year=2016 |publisher={{ill|Frank & Timme|de}} |isbn=9783732903108|access-date=14 October 2024}}

While Balan has stated that the lyrics describe having sexual intercourse under trees, other publications have argued that they were nonsensical.{{cite news|url=https://www.abendblatt.de/vermischtes/article106892631/Dragostea-Din-Tei-der-doppelte-Sommerhit.html|title='Dragostea din tei' – der doppelte Sommerhit|trans-title='Dragostea din tei' – the double summer hit|language=German|date=3 August 2004|accessdate=13 August 2024|work=Hamburger Abendblatt|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082320/https://www.abendblatt.de/vermischtes/article106892631/Dragostea-Din-Tei-der-doppelte-Sommerhit.html|url-status=live}} The Believer{{'s}} Douglas Wolk called them "nonspecific", but elaborated that they were the lyrical subject's side of a phone conversation with their love interest. The former also mentions beeping the latter, which {{ill|Rivista Studio|it}}{{'s}} Pietro Minto pointed out as something emblematic of the "adolescent life in the early 2000s". During the song, O-Zone refer to themselves as hajduks and Pablo Picasso. In the English version, "hajduk" is replaced with duke, and Picasso is further referenced through the addition of lines such as "I will paint my words of love / With your name of every wall".

The sequence "Ma-ia-hii, Ma-ia-huu, Ma-ia-hoo, Ma-ia-haha" is prominently yodeled at the beginning and during the track.{{cite news|url=https://www.laut.de/News/Sommerhits-Das-Grauen-kommt-zur-Sommerzeit--26-08-2023-19886/Seite-22|title=Das Grauen kommt zur Sommerzeit|trans-title=The horror comes in summer time|language=German|accessdate=13 August 2024|date=26 August 2024|publisher=laut.de|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082843/https://www.laut.de/News/Sommerhits-Das-Grauen-kommt-zur-Sommerzeit--26-08-2023-19886/Seite-22|url-status=live}} Analyzing the delivery, Ulf Lippitz of Der Spiegel thought that Balan provided vocals similar to those found in old Romanian folk songs. In the refrain, the words "nu mă, nu mă iei" (Romanian: "won't, won't take me") are repeated as the lyrical subject details their love interest wanting to leave them; this has been perceived as "numa numa yay" by foreign listeners, prompting "Dragostea din tei" to also be referred to as the "Numa Numa Song".{{cite news|url=https://www.laut.de/News/Nein,-bitte-nicht-Die-fiesesten-Ohrwuermer-19-04-2024-20364/Seite-21|title=Die fiesesten Ohrwürmer|trans-title=The meanest earworms|language=German|accessdate=13 August 2024|date=19 April 2024|publisher=laut.de|archive-date=13 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813104910/https://www.laut.de/News/Nein,-bitte-nicht-Die-fiesesten-Ohrwuermer-19-04-2024-20364/Seite-21|url-status=live}} In the English version of the track, this sequence is changed to "Oo-aa-oo-aa-ay", which Wolk criticized for not having the "baby-talk singability" of the original.

Music critics have praised the catchy nature of "Dragostea din tei", with The Believer{{'s}} Wolk writing that "[t]here's scarcely a second without some extraordinary hook, starting with the wordless keening at the beginning".{{cite news|url=https://www.thebeliever.net/the-syncher-not-the-song/|title=The Syncher, Not the Song|work=The Believer|date=1 June 2006|author=Wolk, Douglas|accessdate=20 October 2024|archive-date=17 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417221500/https://www.thebeliever.net/the-syncher-not-the-song/|url-status=live}} Alexis Petridis of The Guardian opined that the song "wobbles unsteadily along the line that separates catchy from infuriating". laut.de's Alexander Cordas categorized "Dragostea din tei" as "unpretentious" and "simple light music".{{cite news|url=https://www.laut.de/O-Zone/Alben/Disco-zone-6909|title=DiscO-zone|language=German|accessdate=13 August 2024|publisher=laut.de|author=Cordas, Alexander|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920084314/https://www.laut.de/O-Zone/Alben/Disco-zone-6909|url-status=live}} Dana Dorian of Jurnalul echoed this thought, writing that the composition was "puerile and very predictable", meant for "the masses, [...] regardless of the language they speak". She further called the voices "thin, not at all technical and studied", but concluded that "neither do they need more".{{cite news|url=https://jurnalul.ro/fun/gaselnita-trei-o-zoni-mai-mici-pseudo-debutanti-135793.html|title=Trei o-zoni mai mici, pseudo-debutanţi|trans-title=Three small O-Zones, pseudo-rookies|language=Romanian|date=9 October 2008|accessdate=3 September 2024|author=Dorian, Dana|work=Jurnalul|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920084318/https://jurnalul.ro/fun/gaselnita-trei-o-zoni-mai-mici-pseudo-debutanti-135793.html|url-status=live}}

Another topic of discussion among music critics was the nonsensical nature of the song's lyrics. While this was criticized by Libertatea{{'s}} Petre Dobrescu, who likened this aspect to the band's other work,{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/pe-gaura-cheii-o-zone-cazuti-din-tei-69357|title=O-Zone, cazuti din tei|trans-title=O-Zone, fallen from the linden tree|language=Romanian|work=Libertatea|date=27 July 2003|accessdate=17 September 2024|author=Dobrescu, Petre|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920083312/https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/pe-gaura-cheii-o-zone-cazuti-din-tei-69357|url-status=live}} Harald Peters of Die Tageszeitung regarded it as something that "Dragostea din tei" had in common with other worldwide hits such as "The Ketchup Song (Aserejé)" (2002) by the Spanish group Las Ketchup.{{cite news|url=https://taz.de/!741573/|title=Sex unter Linden|accessdate=23 September 2024|trans-title=Sex Under Linden Trees|language=German|work=Die Tageszeitung|date=11 June 2004|author=Peters, Harald|archive-date=21 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221215807/https://taz.de/!741573/|url-status=live}} Other reviewers opined that it did not matter for the success of "Dragostea din tei" that the lyrics were written in a foreign language because the song's melody and rhythm had a universal appeal that transcended language barriers.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140620-what-makes-the-song-of-summer|title=What makes the 'song of summer'?|publisher=BBC|author=Kot, Greg|accessdate=14 August 2024|date=20 June 2014|archive-date=14 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814103547/https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140620-what-makes-the-song-of-summer|url-status=live}} The Believer{{'s}} Wolk concluded that the song had a refrain "as big as an abandoned government building" which allowed "huge legions of drunk people [to] sing easily [to]".

Some critics saw "Dragostea din tei" as part of a trend where music by artists originating from the Eastern European countries in the Eastern Bloc, including Russian duo t.A.T.u. and Ukrainian singer Ruslana, would become popular across Europe.{{cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/pop-aus-osteuropa-ungarische-madonna-russischer-ramazzotti-a-303390.html|title=Pop aus Osteuropa: Ungarische Madonna, russischer Ramazzotti|trans-title=Eastern European Pop: Hungarian Madonna, Russian Ramazotti|language=German|author=Lippitz, Ulf|work=Der Spiegel|date=9 June 2004|accessdate=19 September 2024|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812113307/https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/pop-aus-osteuropa-ungarische-madonna-russischer-ramazzotti-a-303390.html|url-status=live}} Lippitz of Der Spiegel opined that this was facilitated by the 2004 enlargement of the European Union, which allowed said territories to be exposed to Western media and trends. Other reviewers have likened "Dragostea din tei" to works by Austrian singer DJ Ötzi, as well as to the song "Chihuahua" (2003) by Swiss musician DJ BoBo.{{cite news|url=https://jurnalul.ro/timp-liber/monden/o-zone-ne-a-integrat-in-ue-69914.html|title=O-zone ne-a integrat in UE|trans-title=O-Zone have integrated us in the EU|language=Romanian|date=21 April 2004|accessdate=3 September 2024|author=Ciobanu, Dana|work=Jurnalul|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812075439/https://jurnalul.ro/timp-liber/monden/o-zone-ne-a-integrat-in-ue-69914.html|url-status=live}} At the MTV Romania Music Awards 2004, "Dragostea din tei" received a nomination for "Best Single".{{cite news|url=http://muzica.phg.ro/stiri.php?id=510|title=MTV Romania Music Awards 2004|language=Romanian|date=31 March 2004|accessdate=16 December 2024|publisher=Muzica VIP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802085754/http://muzica.phg.ro/stiri.php?id=510|archive-date=2 August 2012}} It also won in the "Single of the Year" category at the 2005 Echo Music Prize in Germany,{{cite news|url=https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/echo-2005-glamour-inmitten-der-schmuddel-idylle-a-349462.html|title=Glamour inmitten der Schmuddel-Idylle|trans-title=Glamor in the middle of the dingy idyll|language=German|work=Der Spiegel|date=3 April 2005|accessdate=18 September 2024|author=Lippitz, Ulf|archive-date=27 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427172429/https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/musik/echo-2005-glamour-inmitten-der-schmuddel-idylle-a-349462.html|url-status=live}} and was nominated for "Foreign Radio Hit" and "Ringtone of the Year" at the 2005 {{Interlanguage link|Russian Music Industry Awards|lt=Russian Music Industry Awards|ru|Рекордъ}}.{{cite news|url=https://tophit.com/ru/news/show/606|title=Премия «Рекордъ-2005» вручена. Но только «Белым людям»|language=Russian|date=6 July 2005|accessdate=12 November 2024|publisher=Tophit|trans-title=The 'Record 2005' has been awarded. But only to the 'white people'}}

"Dragostea din tei" was a commercial success. As of October 2007, it has sold in excess of 12 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/dan-balan-revine-in-romania-751324.html|title=Dan Balan revine în România|trans-title=Dan Balan returns to Romania|language=Romanian|date=13 October 2007|accessdate=14 August 2024|work=Adevărul|author=Badea, Evelyn|archive-date=9 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809121313/https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/dan-balan-revine-in-romania-751324.html|url-status=live}} Among several achievements, it stands as the third-most successful song of the 2000s in Germany, and as the fourth best-selling track of the 21st century in France with 1,170,000 copies moved as of September 2014. At one point, it was Japan's best-selling digital single with four million units sold until surpassed by "Flavor of Life" by Japanese-American singer Hikaru Utada in 2007.{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/utada-breaks-digital-records-in-japan-1321038/|title=Utada Breaks Digital Records In Japan|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=13 August 2024|date=20 July 2007|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082236/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/utada-breaks-digital-records-in-japan-1321038/|url-status=live}}

File:Paula-Monica-Mitrache-in-arte-Haiducii.jpg by Romanian singer Haiducii.]]

"Dragostea din tei" first attained commercial success in Romania, where it held the number-one position on the Romanian Top 100 for three weeks in September 2003, making it the band's second number-one after "Despre tine" earlier that year. By April 2004, "Dragostea din tei" had sold over 250,000 copies in Romania. In March 2004, the song reached number 17 on the Italian singles chart. One month later, it debuted at number one in Spain―the first country outside of Romania where the song received radio support―reclimbing to the chart's top position on two more occasions in May and June 2004. In April 2004, "Dragostea din tei" further topped the French chart, holding that spot for 15 consecutive weeks. At one point, five versions of the song were present in the top 20 in France—the original, a cover recorded by Romanian singer Haiducii, as well as the parodies "Ma cé ki? Massimo" by Italian media personality {{ill|Massimo Gargia|fr}}, "Le poulailler" by French radio show {{Interlanguage link|Le 6/9|lt=Le 6–9|fr|Le 6/9 (France)}} and "Argent-Argent" by French host Cauet and Mopral.{{cite news|url=https://lescharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=2004&date=20040606|title=Les charts français|trans-title=The French charts|access-date=9 February 2024|publisher=SNEP|via=Hung Medien|language=French|date=6 June 2004}} "Dragostea din tei" was eventually certified diamond in the region by Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (SNEP).

By June 2004, the song had shipped around 500,000 copies in Europe.{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/o-zone-tops-eurochart-1435361/|title=O-Zone Tops Eurochart|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=13 August 2024|date=17 June 2004|author=Sexton, Paul|archive-date=5 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605062644/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/o-zone-tops-eurochart-1435361/|url-status=live}} From June to August 2004, it impacted several other territories. It reached number one in all DACH countries, holding that position for 14 weeks in Germany and Switzerland, and for 13 weeks in Austria. In Germany, it was certified double platinum by Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI). In the Netherlands, the song topped the Dutch Single Top 100. "Dragostea din tei" was also successful in Nordic countries, becoming a number-one hit in Norway and Denmark, as well as peaking at numbers two and three in Finland and Sweden, respectively. The song further topped Billboard{{'s}} European Hot 100 Singles chart for 12 weeks,{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/blunt-maintains-pole-position-on-euro-chart-1358383/|title=Blunt Maintains Pole-Position On Euro Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=2 February 2006|accessdate=9 July 2024|author=Sexton, Paul|archive-date=15 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515054217/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/blunt-maintains-pole-position-on-euro-chart-1358383/|url-status=live}} at one point being followed by Haiducii's version at number two and "Le poulailler" at number 18. "Dragostea din tei" peaked at numbers one, two and three in Ireland, Scotland and the United Kingdom, respectively, while a remixed version, the "Unu' in the Dub Mix", peaked at number nine on the radio airplay chart in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The song topped the 2004 year-end charts in Austria, France, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland, as well as the year-end list of the European Hot 100 Singles chart, among others.

In the United States, the Lucas Prata version reached number 14 on Billboard{{'s}} Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart at the end of August 2004, however it was not until March 2005 that the song peaked at number 16 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, as well as at positions 69 and 72 on the Digital Song Sales and Pop 100 rankings, respectively. As of that month, it had sold over 35,000 digital downloads in the region,{{cite news|url=https://hotnews.ro/o-zone-face-furori-in-sua-842658|title=O-Zone face furori in SUA|trans-title=O-Zone is making waves in the US|language=Romanian|date=19 March 2005|work=Libertatea|via=HotNews|accessdate=18 September 2024|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920083306/https://hotnews.ro/o-zone-face-furori-in-sua-842658|url-status=live}} and was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In his book The Click Moment: Seizing Opportunity in an Unpredictable World, Frans Johansson attributed the song's mediocre performance in the United States to Ultra Records not having "the experience or resources to successfully market [it]", further noting that "Dragostea din tei" had been released there "at a time when techno-based club tracks were ebbing in popularity [...] [and] airwaves were dominated by R&B and hip-hop". According to Johansson, the song's resulting poor sales and radio performance were the reasons for Ultra Records pulling back all promotional efforts and cancelling plans to tour the United States.{{cite book |author= Johansson, Frans |title=The Click Moment: Seizing Opportunity in an Unpredictable World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wlqOZBB2E9UC&dq=dragostea+din+tei+o-zone&pg=PT13 |year=2012 |publisher=Penguin Portfolio |isbn=978-1591844938|access-date=14 October 2024}} In Japan, the original version of "Dragostea din tei" peaked at number 72 on the Oricon Singles Chart in June 2005, with the song being awarded quadruple million, platinum and gold certifications by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) across multiple formats.

{{main|Numa Numa (video)}}

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| footer = American vlogger Gary Brolsma (left) used "Dragostea din tei" in his viral video "Numa Numa Dance". He had come across the song through a Japanese clip that paired it with animations of what resembles the cat figure Monā (right).

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In Japan, an anonymous user nicknamed Ikari used "Dragostea din tei" in an animated video that features a character that resembles Monā, a popular cat frequently illustrated with typed symbols by users on the Japanese textboard 2channel. During the clip, Romanian lyrics in the song are purposefully misheard as English or Japanese expressions—for example, "salut" (Romanian: "hello") is accompanied by an image of a "monkey" (Japanese: "saru"), while "fericirea" (Romanian: "happiness") is misheard as "looking up for a skirt" (Japanese: "panchira") and "nu mă, nu mă iei" as "drink, drink, yay" (Japanese: "noma, noma, yay"). The video became popular, prompting other similar clips to be created by fellow users globally. In response, O-Zone's Japanese label Avex Trax launched merchandise depicting what they called the "Noma neko" ("Noma cat").

Having reportedly come across the song through Ikari's video, American vlogger Gary Brolsma lip-synched to "Dragostea din tei" in a video that he posted to website Newgrounds on 6 December 2004. Called "Numa Numa Dance", the clip sees Brolsma sitting in a chair in front of his computer and dancing to the song. Wren Graves of Consequence elaborated: "At times he is almost still, holding his mouth open wide or punctuating a musical moment with a perfectly-timed raised eyebrow. [...] [A]nd then a sudden obliteration of matter — a solid man becoming pure, dancing air. Brolsma captures all the joy of the chorus with a sly humor and full commitment, [...] pump[ing] his fists above his head". Shortly after, the video went viral, with reported views of 700 million as of November 2006,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6187554.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Star Wars Kid is top viral video |date=27 November 2006 |access-date=23 October 2024 |archive-date=16 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216204026/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6187554.stm |url-status=live }} giving Brolsma mainstream media's coverage and inspiring several parodies and remakes. It is regarded as one of the most-watched internet videos of all time,{{cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/why-did-that-video-go-viral/|title=How 'Numa Numa' invented the viral video |publisher=CNET|accessdate=23 October 2024|date=9 December 2014|author=Cooper, Charles}} with "Dragostea din tei" consequently also becoming a meme. Referring to this phenomenon as "numanumamania", The Believer{{'s}} Wolk wrote that Brolsma's video was "better advertising for [...] 'Dragostea din tei' than anything a record label could have paid for". Francesco Gerardi, writing for Rivista Studio, opined that "Numa Numa Dance" was instrumental in the song's chart entrance in the United States.

An accompanying music video for "Dragostea din tei", directed and animated by Dmitri Voloshin,{{cite news|url=https://voloshin.md/en/mads/|title=Am I a producer? Seriously?|date=15 March 2019|accessdate=25 October 2024|publisher=Dmitri Voloshin|archive-date=13 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613232600/https://voloshin.md/en/mads/|url-status=live}} was released in 2004 at the latest. The video opens with Todiraș stretching on a couch as elements of "Despre tine" play. Following this, shots of a fictional futuristic city from the "Numai tu" music video are shown, as well as of a magazine advertizing O-Zone's comeback paired with highlights of the "Despre tine" video.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NosF-zuJpc|title=O-Zone – Numai tu [Official Video]|date=13 July 2011|accessdate=17 November 2024|publisher=Time Records|via=YouTube}}{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScO7CZZNR48|title=O-Zone – Despre tine (Official Video)|date=7 March 2011|accessdate=17 November 2024|publisher=Cat Music|via=YouTube|archive-date=25 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925212232/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScO7CZZNR48|url-status=live}} Subsequently, the group is shown running to the exit of a building and towards a plane. They enter its cockpit and take off as "Dragostea din tei" starts playing. They are then seen dancing to the song on one of the airborne aircraft's wings, as well as dancing inside the plane and recording at a studio. All wear white pants and colorful shirts, with Todiraș and Balan's open to the waist and paired with suspenders and glasses.

Computer-generated shots of the flying plane are also shown, with it having a built-in red "on air" sign and engines that turn into speakers. Various animated stills are briefly interspersed throughout the video, among others showing Balan as a cyborg, Sîrbu at a bodybuilding competition, Balan and Todiraș in a laboratory with an alien or them as vampires, Batman, three men of different ethnicities dressed in traditional clothing in front of a dove with an olive branch, and the Moldovan flag. The song ends with an animated shot of the group members in front of a crashed plane in flames, followed by them leaving the site. The video then returns to the opening sequence with Todiraș on the couch as a mellower version of "Dragostea din tei" plays. Balan is seated next to him drawing on his pencil board, and all three members come together smiling to look at Balan's sketch. The clip ends with the reveal of the drawing, which is a storyboard of the music video.

In her book New Media Literacies and Participatory Popular Culture Across Borders, Bronwyn Williams likened the style of the animations to anime and called them "inexplicable", concluding that the video was "eminently forgettable".{{cite book |author= Williams, Bronwyn |title=New Media Literacies and Participatory Popular Culture Across Borders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SsuzUkdyUJYC&dq=dragostea+din+tei+o-zone&pg=PA106|year=2012|publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780415897686|access-date=14 October 2024}} Minto of Rivista Studio called the clip "spectacular", although noting that the dance scenes were "out-of-context" and the special effects low quality and "botched".{{cite news|url=https://www.rivistastudio.com/numa-numa-ie/|title='Dragostea din tei', dieci anni fa|trans-title='Dragostea din tei', ten years ago|language=Italian|accessdate=20 October 2024|date=10 April 2014|work={{ill|Rivista Studio|it}}|author=Minto, Pietro|archive-date=10 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410124904/https://www.rivistastudio.com/numa-numa-ie/|url-status=live}} In the book Von Hora, Doina und Lăutaren, Marina Cap-Bun elaborates on the possibility that the video alludes to the Zburător myth. In a 2017 interview, Balan retrospectively opined that the video had helped "Dragostea din tei" become a gay anthem, particularly because of the group's outfits and display of affection for each other.{{cite news|url=https://click.ro/vedete/vedete-romanesti/lui-dan-balan-ii-e-dor-de-ozone-a-fost-copilul-100160.html#goog_rewarded|title='Lui Dan Bălan îi e dor de O–Zone! A fost copilul lui'|trans-title='Dan Balan misses O-Zone! It was his child'|language=Romanian|work=Click!|date=10 February 2017|accessdate=18 September 2024|archive-date=18 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918072401/https://click.ro/vedete/vedete-romanesti/lui-dan-balan-ii-e-dor-de-ozone-a-fost-copilul-100160.html#goog_rewarded|url-status=live}}

O-Zone performed "Dragostea din tei" in Germany in 2004 on the television show Wetten, dass..? on 3 July,{{cite news|url=https://www.curentul.info/monden/dan-balan-de-la-o-zone-este-cel-mai-tare-compozitor-din-europa/|title=Dan Balan de la O-Zone este cel mai tare compozitor din Europa|trans-title=Dan Balan from O-Zone is the hottest composer from Europe|language=Romanian|date=5 July 2005|work=Curentul|accessdate=18 September 2024|author=Vulpescu, Andrei|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812145249/https://www.curentul.info/monden/dan-balan-de-la-o-zone-este-cel-mai-tare-compozitor-din-europa/|url-status=live}} twice on the local version of Top of the Pops,{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwe9wTSM-DI|title=O-Zone – Dragostea din tei (Live at Top of the Pops)|publisher=YouTube|date=31 August 2018|accessdate=11 November 2024|archive-date=1 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901131942/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwe9wTSM-DI|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-_XT7kbgCs|title=O-Zone – Dragostea din tei (Live at Top of the Pops)|publisher=YouTube|date=3 August 2009|accessdate=11 November 2024|archive-date=24 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124030922/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-_XT7kbgCs|url-status=live}} and on The Dome 30.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woUdmOVx-6Y|title=O-Zone – Dragostea din tei (Live at The Dome 30)|publisher=YouTube|date=1 November 2019|accessdate=11 November 2024|archive-date=4 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241004043328/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woUdmOVx-6Y&pp=ygUbTy1ab25lIC0gRHJhZ29zdGVhIERpbiBUZWkg|url-status=live}} In France, the group performed the song on the show Hit Machine,{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9K6W_qfTog|title=O-Zone – Dragostea din tei (Live on Hit Machine)|publisher=YouTube|date=3 September 2006|accessdate=11 November 2024|archive-date=18 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918045654/https://www.youtube.com/watch?pp=ygURZHJhZ29zdGVhIGRpbiB0ZWk%3D&v=A9K6W_qfTog|url-status=live}} and further sang it during the fourth season of Star Academy.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0P8rnCFpvU|title=O-Zone – Dragostea din tei (Live on Star Academy)|publisher=Radu Sîrbu|via=YouTube|date=22 September 2022|accessdate=11 November 2024}} O-Zone also performed "Dragostea din tei" on the show Fabrika Zvyozd in Russia,{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuQjt5s8aio|title=O-Zone – Dragostea din tei (Live on Fabrika Zvyozd)|publisher=YouTube|date=11 October 2012|accessdate=11 November 2024}} and on Top of the Pops in the Netherlands.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Rulzg7I90|title=O-Zone – Dragostea din tei (Live on Top of the Pops)|publisher=YouTube|date=23 July 2022|accessdate=11 November 2024}} In 2005, the group sang the track on shows in Japan, including on Music Station and SMAPxSMAP,{{cite news|url=https://maiahi.com/index.html|title=O-Zone|language=Japanese|accessdate=13 November 2024|publisher=Avex Inc.|archive-date=16 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316070152/https://maiahi.com/index.html|url-status=live}} and Balan also appeared with Prata to sing "Ma Ya Hi" on Today in the United States.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f36wolLtkbE|title=Dan Balan feat. Lucas Prata – Ma Ya Hi (Live on Today)|publisher=YouTube|date=30 June 2006|accessdate=11 November 2024|archive-date=31 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731213348/https://www.youtube.com/watch?pp=ygUVbHVjYXMgcHJhdGEgbnVtYSBudW1h&v=f36wolLtkbE|url-status=live}} Before disbanding in 2005, O-Zone gave a performance of "Dragostea din tei" at the Romanian Golden Stag Festival in September 2005.{{cite news|url=https://hotnews.ro/o-zone-succes-la-hollywood-855851|title=O-Zone, succes la Hollywood|trans-title=O-Zone, Hollywood success|language=Romanian|date=22 September 2005|accessdate=13 August 2024|magazine=Libertatea|via=HotNews|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920084314/https://hotnews.ro/o-zone-succes-la-hollywood-855851|url-status=live}}{{cite AV media|date=21-23 September 2005|title=Golden Stag Festival 2005|location=Brașov, Romania}} They also performed it during their reunions for Europe Day on 9 May 2017 at University Square in Bucharest,{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/entertainment/o-zone-se-reuneste-dupa-12-ani-1826356|title=O-Zone se reunește după 12 ani. Artiștii au ales România pentru relansare!|trans-title=O-Zone reunites after 12 years. The artists chose Romania for the relaunch!|language=Romanian|work=Libertatea|date=4 May 2017|accessdate=17 September 2024|author=Gheorghe, Florian|archive-date=25 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725234710/https://www.libertatea.ro/entertainment/o-zone-se-reuneste-dupa-12-ani-1826356|url-status=live}} and on the occasion of New Year's Eve at the Constitution Square in 2019 in the same city.{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/entertainment/trupa-o-zone-in-formula-completa-dupa-15-ani-cati-bani-au-incasat-artistii-in-noaptea-dintre-ani-2849464|title=Trupa O-Zone, în formulă completă după 15 ani. Câți bani au încasat artiștii în noaptea dintre ani|trans-title=The O-Zone band, reunited after 15 years. How much were the artists paid in the night between the years|language=Romanian|work=Libertatea|date=7 January 2020|accessdate=16 September 2024|author=Lixandru, Liviu|archive-date=2 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102163610/https://www.libertatea.ro/entertainment/trupa-o-zone-in-formula-completa-dupa-15-ani-cati-bani-au-incasat-artistii-in-noaptea-dintre-ani-2849464|url-status=live}}

"Dragostea din tei" is the first song in Romanian to have achieved international success.{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Dragostea din tei" is performed in Romanian, but it is often wrongfully referred to as being of Romanian origin.{{cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/ro/article/7x3nyq/10-melodii-romania-distrus-generatie|title=10 melodii din România care au distrus cel puțin o generație|trans-title=10 Romanian songs that have destroyed at least one generation|language=Romanian|date=28 October 2018|author=Ștefan, Corina|magazine=Vice|access-date=26 May 2024|archive-date=25 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525233525/https://www.vice.com/ro/article/7x3nyq/10-melodii-romania-distrus-generatie|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://radiozu.ro/stiri/noutati/toate-hiturile-romanesti-de-vara-din-2000-pana-in-prezent-1214|title=Toate hiturile românești de vară, din 2000 până în prezent|trans-title=All Romanian summer hits, from 2000 until now|language=Romanian|date=31 August 2017|access-date=26 May 2024|publisher={{ill|Radio ZU|ro}}|archive-date=25 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525235000/https://radiozu.ro/stiri/noutati/toate-hiturile-romanesti-de-vara-din-2000-pana-in-prezent-1214|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://ziare.com/muzica/top-muzica-romaneasca/care-este-hitul-romanesc-al-anilor-1990-2000-sondaj-ziare-com-1101050|title=Care este hitul romanesc al anilor 1990 – 2000?|trans-title=What is the Romanian hit of the years 1990 – 2000?|language=Romanian|publisher={{ill|Ziare.com|ro}}|date=14 June 2011|access-date=26 May 2024|author=Ghinea, Andreea|archive-date=25 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525234957/https://ziare.com/muzica/top-muzica-romaneasca/care-este-hitul-romanesc-al-anilor-1990-2000-sondaj-ziare-com-1101050|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://hotnews.ro/al-doilea-hit-o-zone-despre-tine-face-ravagii-in-europa-831254|title=Al doilea hit O-Zone, 'Despre tine', face ravagii in Europa|trans-title=The second O-Zone hit, 'Despre tine', conquers Europe|language=Romanian|date=25 August 2004|work=Gardianul|via=HotNews|author=Popescu, Ioana|access-date=3 September 2024|archive-date=3 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240903093630/https://hotnews.ro/al-doilea-hit-o-zone-despre-tine-face-ravagii-in-europa-831254|url-status=live}}}} While Libertatea wrote that it had "done more for Romania's image than all politicians put together", Balan stated in an interview that, for him, "the greatest pride is the fact that [he] promoted the Romanian language".{{cite news|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/life-inedit/de-ce-iubesc-romania-cum-a-invatat-intreaga-lume-sa-vorbeasca-romaneste-9019532|title=Cum a învăţat întreaga lume să vorbească româneşte|trans-title=How the whole world learned how to speak Romanian|language=Romanian|publisher=Mediafax|date=30 November 2011|accessdate=19 September 2024|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812110652/https://www.mediafax.ro/life-inedit/de-ce-iubesc-romania-cum-a-invatat-intreaga-lume-sa-vorbeasca-romaneste-9019532|url-status=live}} Paul Sexton of Billboard wrote how "Dragostea din tei" served as a "reminder of music's power to connect across borders", further noting that it "managed to convey uninhibited joy better than any phrase in the English language probably could".{{cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/greatest-boy-band-songs-of-all-time-top-100-8362499/|title=The 100 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=13 August 2024|date=23 April 2018|author=Sexton, Paul|archive-date=21 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421051753/https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/greatest-boy-band-songs-of-all-time-top-100-8362499/|url-status=live}} Rivista Studio{{'s}} Minto views the song's "conquest of the West [...] in a language atypical of contemporary pop" as a "very rare event", likening it to the popularity of South Korean rapper Psy's 2012 single "Gangnam Style" performed in Korean.

Minto further regards "Dragostea din tei" as a precursor to modern virality, writing that "[t]he cultural diffusion of the song – and its mutation into a 'catchphrase' – can be placed at a point of transition between [Los del Río's 1993 single] 'Macarena' – which exploded in a pre-mass internet era – and 'Gangnam Style' – which instead blossomed on the now high crests of global social networks". Elaborating on the impact of "Dragostea din tei", The Believer{{'s}} Wolk opined that "not even the words but the sound of the recording [are] now part of the fabric of the internet. It's bypassed the monolithic American entertainment industry to become a standard". In 2018, "Dragostea din tei" was included on Billboard{{'s}} ranking of the "100 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" at number 82. The American edition of Rolling Stone listed it at number 18 on their "50 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" ranking in 2015,{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/showbiz/muzica/dragostea-din-tei-inclusa-in-topul-the-rolling-1654780.html|title='Dragostea din tei', inclusă în topul 'The Rolling Stone' al celor mai celebre hituri din toate timpurile|trans-title='Dragostea din tei' is included in the Rolling Stones list of the most famous hits of all time|language=Romanian|date=28 September 2015|accessdate=14 August 2024|work=Adevărul|author=Constanda, Alexandra|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082844/https://adevarul.ro/showbiz/muzica/dragostea-din-tei-inclusa-in-topul-the-rolling-1654780.html|url-status=live}} with the Australian edition of the publication listing it at number 27 on their "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" ranking in 2020.

{{See also|Dragostea din tei#Haiducii version}}

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| footer = US Billboard Hot 100 number-one "Live Your Life" (2008) by T.I. (left) and Rihanna (right) samples and interpolates "Dragostea din tei".

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"Dragostea din tei" has been adapted in over 35 languages. The 2004 parodies "Le poulailler" by Le 6–9 and "Ma cé ki? Massimo" by Gargia were both top 10 hits in France and competed with the original version and Haiducii's cover on the charts there. In 2008, American rapper T.I. and Barbadian singer Rihanna released "Live Your Life", which samples and interpolates "Dragostea din tei". The song became an international success, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at number two in the United Kingdom, among others.

Balan covered the song in 2006 on "Sugar Tunes Numa Numa" with his rock band Balan, and in 2008 on "Numa Numa 2" for his project Crazy Loop as a B-side to the single "Mm-ma-ma". He also used the refrain of "Dragostea din tei" on the identically named, but unrelated "Numa Numa 2" featuring American singer Marley Waters in 2018. In 2024, French DJ David Guetta and American band OneRepublic interpolated "Dragostea din tei" on their single "I Don't Wanna Wait", which reached the top 20 in multiple territories including Germany and the United Kingdom. Acts such as Romanian singer Inna and American band Bloodhound Gang have covered or parodied "Dragostea din tei" live,{{cite news|url=https://jurnalul.ro/cultura/arte-vizuale/alternativ-dementa-totala-la-bloodhound-gang-18591.html|title=Dementa totala la Bloodhound Gang|trans-title=Total insanity at Bloodhound Gang's concert|language=Romanian|date=21 June 2006|accessdate=3 September 2024|work=Jurnalul|author=Revenco, Alex|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812075426/https://jurnalul.ro/cultura/arte-vizuale/alternativ-dementa-totala-la-bloodhound-gang-18591.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgA7plOwciU|title=Inna – Dragostea din tei (Cover)|date=10 March 2018|accessdate=8 November 2024|publisher=Kiss FM|via=YouTube|archive-date=7 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240907072546/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgA7plOwciU|url-status=live}} with the song also having been covered by various artists on Your Face Sounds Familiar internationally.{{cite news|url=https://a1.ro/te-cunosc-de-undeva/video/anca-turcasiu-si-aurelian-temisan-se-transforma-in-ozone-dragostea-din-tei-id550699.html|title=Anca Țurcașiu și Aurelian Temișan se transformă în O-Zone: 'Dragostea din tei'|trans-title=Anca Țurcașiu and Aurelian Temișan transform in O-Zone: 'Dragostea din tei'|language=Romanian|accessdate=20 September 2024|date=25 May 2016|publisher=Antena 1|archive-date=13 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813104604/https://a1.ro/te-cunosc-de-undeva/video/anca-turcasiu-si-aurelian-temisan-se-transforma-in-ozone-dragostea-din-tei-id550699.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.antena3.com/programas/tu-cara-me-suena/temporada-9/actuaciones/morancos-ken-appledorn-dragostea-din-tei-ozone_2022012861f3e8116902180001c76f97.html|title=Los Morancos y Ken Appledorn se unen a la fiesta de O-Zone en 'Dragostea din tei'|trans-title=Los Morancos and Ken Appledorn join the O-Zone party on 'Dragostea din tei'|language=Spanish|accessdate=8 November 2024|date=28 January 2022|publisher=Antena 3|archive-date=24 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524010936/https://www.antena3.com/programas/tu-cara-me-suena/temporada-9/actuaciones/morancos-ken-appledorn-dragostea-din-tei-ozone_2022012861f3e8116902180001c76f97.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS4rCA8a73g|title=Robert Jašków, Sokol & Háma jako O-Zone 'Dragostea din tei'|trans-title=Robert Jašków, Sokol & Háma transform in O-Zone 'Dragostea din tei'|language=Czech|date=17 September 2018|accessdate=11 November 2024|work=Tvoje tvář má známý hlas|via=YouTube}}

The original or alternative versions of "Dragostea din tei" have been used in multiple films, including in Chicken Little (2005) for a reported payment of one million US$,{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/1000000-pentru-dragostea-din-tei8242-135310|title=1.000.000$ pentru 'Dragostea din tei'|trans-title=1.000.000$ pentru 'Dragostea din tei'|work=Libertatea|date=1 May 2006|accessdate=16 September 2024|author=Gheorghe, Florian|author2=Coltuc, Daniel|author3=Popa, Dana|language=Romanian|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812103434/https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/1000000-pentru-dragostea-din-tei8242-135310|url-status=live}} Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005), Happy Feet Two (2011),{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/republica-moldova/video-piesa-dragostea-din-tei-a-trupei-o-zone-679281.html|title=Piesa 'Dragostea din tei', a trupei O-Zone, într-un film cu Brad Pitt şi Robin Williams|trans-title=The song 'Dragostea din tei' by O-Zone appears in a movie with Brad Pitt and Robin Williams|language=Romanian|date=8 December 2011|accessdate=14 August 2024|work=Adevărul|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082812/https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/republica-moldova/video-piesa-dragostea-din-tei-a-trupei-o-zone-679281.html|url-status=live}} and It's Only the End of the World (2016),{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/showbiz/muzica/istoria-fenomenala-a-succesului-piesei-dragostea-2354205.html|title=Istoria fenomenală a succesului piesei 'Dragostea din tei', reînviată recent de celebrul DJ David Guetta|trans-title=The phenomenal success story of the song 'Dragostea din tei', recently revived by the famous DJ David Guetta|language=Romanian|date=12 April 2024|accessdate=14 August 2024|work=Adevărul|author=Cristescu, George-Andrei|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082813/https://adevarul.ro/showbiz/muzica/istoria-fenomenala-a-succesului-piesei-dragostea-2354205.html|url-status=live}} as well as throughout the telenovela Triunfo del amor (2010–2011),{{cite news|url=https://click.ro/actualitate/dragostea-din-tei-in-telenovele-si-in-desene-265424.html#goog_rewarded|title='Dragostea din tei', în telenovele şi în desene animate|trans-title=O-Zone, in telenovelas and cartoons|language=Romanian|work=Click!|date=17 December 2011|accessdate=18 September 2024|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920083423/https://click.ro/actualitate/dragostea-din-tei-in-telenovele-si-in-desene-265424.html#goog_rewarded|url-status=live}} and the series Stargate Universe (2009–2011).{{cite news|url=https://click.ro/actualitate/piesa-dragostea-din-tei-este-ascultata-la-249721.html|title=Piesa 'Dragostea din tei' este ascultată la milioane de ani lumină depărtare de Pământ!|trans-title=The song 'Dragostea din tei' is heard millions of light years away from Earth!|language=Romanian|work=Click!|date=29 March 2011|accessdate=18 September 2024|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812105343/https://click.ro/actualitate/piesa-dragostea-din-tei-este-ascultata-la-249721.html|url-status=live}} The song was furthermore included on the dance video game Just Dance 2017,{{cite news|url=https://gamingtrend.com/news/just-dance-2017-song-list-revealed/|title=Just Dance 2017 song list revealed|publisher=GamingTrend|author=Deogracias, Elisha|date=14 October 2016|accessdate=18 September 2024|archive-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914030632/https://gamingtrend.com/news/just-dance-2017-song-list-revealed/|url-status=live}} as well as used for commercials by companies such as Yakult,{{cite news|url=https://distribuzionemoderna.info/news/yakult-lancia-il-nuovo-spot-sulle-note-di-dragostea-din-tei|title=Yakult lancia il nuovo spot sulle note di 'Dragostea din tei'|trans-title=Yakult launches new spot featuring 'Dragostea din tei'|language=Italian|accessdate=20 October 2024|publisher=Distribuzione Moderna|archive-date=7 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207181020/https://distribuzionemoderna.info/news/yakult-lancia-il-nuovo-spot-sulle-note-di-dragostea-din-tei|url-status=live}} Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG),{{cite news|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/freie-jobs-hiiiiier-freie-jobs-daaaa-hat-die-bvg-in-ihrem-neuen-knallerhit-eine-geheime-botschaft-versteckt-10575139.html|title='Freie Jobs hiiiiier, freie Jobs daaaa': Hat die BVG in ihrem neuen Knallerhit eine geheime Botschaft versteckt?|trans-title='Free jobs heeeere, free jobs thereeee': Has the BVG hidden a secret message in its new smash hit?|language=German|work=Der Tagesspiegel|date=5 October 2023|accessdate=19 September 2024|author=Nauhaus, Constanze|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812113310/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/freie-jobs-hiiiiier-freie-jobs-daaaa-hat-die-bvg-in-ihrem-neuen-knallerhit-eine-geheime-botschaft-versteckt-10575139.html|url-status=live}} Lazada,{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVWvXutA6t4|title=Lazda commercial|date=20 November 2011|accessdate=18 November 2024|publisher=YouTube}} AliExpress,{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5goQqnyeJ8|title=AliExpress commercial|date=1 November 2011|accessdate=18 November 2024|publisher=YouTube|archive-date=23 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223194756/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5goQqnyeJ8|url-status=live}} and Ant Bank.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB7n8Zu5RDw|title=Ant Bank commercial|date=11 December 2024|accessdate=5 February 2025|publisher=YouTube|archive-date=30 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130032714/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB7n8Zu5RDw&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Romanian CD single

1. "Dragostea din tei" – 3:33
2. "Despre tine" (Unu' in the Mix) – 7:38
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Unu' in the Dub Mix) – 3:39
4. "Numai tu" (Music video) – 4:10
5. "Despre tine" (Music video) – 3:53

• DACH CD single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:35
5. "Dragostea din tei" (Unu' in the Dub Mix) – 3:39
6. "Dragostea din tei" (Music video) – 4:46

• European and Swedish CD single 1

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15

• European CD single 2

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:35

• French CD single 1

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:35
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Unu' in the Dub Mix) – 3:39

• French CD single 2

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Nectar Remix) – 5:57
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Spike Norton Tekmix) – 6:37
5. "Dragostea din tei" (Almighty Mix) – 7:00

• French 12-inch single 1

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Nectar Remix) – 5:57
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Spike Norton Flymix) – 6:34
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Spike Norton Tekmix) – 6:37
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Almighty Mix) – 7:00

• French 12-inch single 2

1. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Acapella) – 3:30

• German CD single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:35
5. "Dragostea din tei" (Unu' in the Dub Mix) – 3:39

• German mini CD and UK CD single 2

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15

• Italian, Mexican, Dutch and Spanish CD single,
  and Swedish CD single 3

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:35
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15
4. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
5. "Dragostea din tei" (Unu' in the Dub Mix) – 3:39

• Italian 12-inch single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Unu' in the Dub Mix) – 3:39
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:35
5. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33

{{col-2}}

• Spanish 12-inch single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:35
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33

• Swedish CD single 2

1. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Aligator vs. CS-Jay Radio Version) – 3:35
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:35
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
4. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15
5. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
6. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Aligator vs. CS-Jay Club Version) – 6:04

• UK CD single 1

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Almighty Mix) – 6:58
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Unu' in the Dub Mix) – 3:39
5. "Dragostea din tei" (Almighty Dub) – 6:01

• UK 12-inch single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Almighty Mix) – 6:58
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Almighty Dub) – 6:01

• US 12-inch single 1

1. "Ma Ya Hi" (featuring Lucas Prata) – 3:36
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:35
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Romanian Version) – 3:33
4. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:22
5. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:15

• US 12-inch single 2

1. "Ma Ya Hi" (featuring Lucas Prata) [Valentin Remix Club Version] – 6:38
2. "Ma Ya Hi" (featuring Lucas Prata) – 3:37
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Italian Version) – 3:33
4. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Radio Remix) – 4:16
5. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:23

• Japanese CD single

1. "Dragostea din tei" – 3:39
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Overhead Champion Remix) – 6:46
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Kaya & DJ Kousuke Remix) – 5:40
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Eurobeat Remix) – 4:09
5. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross Extended Remix) – 6:23

• Japanese 12-inch single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Overhead Champion Remix) – 6:46
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Kaya & DJ Kousuke Remix) – 5:40
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Version) – 3:39
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Eurobeat Remix) – 4:09

• Other official digital versions{{efn|group=upper-alpha|This is a summary of all digital versions of the single that differ from those found on the CD releases.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dragostea-din-tei-ole-eb-remix-single/1582848707|title=Dragostea din tei (Ole Eb Remix) – Single|publisher=Apple Music (US)|access-date=25 June 2024|archive-date=20 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620220255/https://music.apple.com/us/album/dragostea-din-tei-ole-eb-remix-single/1582848707|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dragostea-din-tei-radu-sirbu-remix-single/1642980562|title=Dragostea din tei (Radu Sirbu Remix) – Single|publisher=Apple Music (US)|access-date=25 June 2024|archive-date=20 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620220239/https://music.apple.com/us/album/dragostea-din-tei-radu-sirbu-remix-single/1642980562|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dragostea-din-tei-w-w-remix-single/1711703526|title=Dragostea din tei (W&W Remix) – Single|publisher=Apple Music (US)|access-date=25 June 2024|archive-date=20 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240620220236/https://music.apple.com/us/album/dragostea-din-tei-w-w-remix-single/1711703526|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dragostea-din-tei-besomorph-its-different-remix-single/1730710157|title=Dragostea din tei (Besomorph & It's Different Remix) – Single|publisher=Apple Music (US)|access-date=25 June 2024|archive-date=25 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625071156/https://music.apple.com/us/album/dragostea-din-tei-besomorph-its-different-remix-single/1730710157|url-status=live}}}}

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Crystal Mix) – 3:45
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Seb Version) – 3:53
3. "Ma Ya Hi" (featuring Lucas Prata) [Valentin Radio Edit] – 3:34
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Ole Ed Remix) – 2:52
5. "Dragostea din tei" (Radu Sirbu Remix) – 3:35
6. "Dragostea din tei" (W&W Remix) – 2:54
7. "Dragostea din tei" (Besomorph & It's Different Remix) – 2:08

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Dragostea din tei"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2004|relmonth=4|certyear=2004|date=13 July 2004|access-date=4 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|access-date=4 July 2024|refname="Belgium cert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/guld-og-platin-i-september|title=Gold og platin i september|trans-title=Gold and platinum in September|publisher=IFPI Denmark|date=14 October 2004|access-date=4 July 2024|language=Danish|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303031051/http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content%2Fguld-og-platin-i-september|archive-date=3 March 2014|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Diamond|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|salesamount=1,170,000|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-93671.html|title=Top 100 des singles les plus vendus du 21ème siècle : le récap !|trans-title=Top 100 best-selling singles of the 21st century: the recap!|publisher=Charts in France|access-date=4 July 2024|language=fr|date=20 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210120626/http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-93671.html|archive-date=10 December 2014|url-status=live}}|access-date=4 July 2024|refname="France cert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|access-date=4 July 2024|refname="Germany cert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Gold|id=13295|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|access-date=13 October 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=オゾン|title=恋のマイアヒ|award=Million|number=4|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2006|certmonth=8|digital=true|note=Ringtone|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w060920_3.html|title=Japanese single certifications – オゾン – 恋のマイアヒ|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140812093549/https://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w060920_3.html|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=dead|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|language=ja|access-date=4 July 2024}}|access-date=4 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=オゾン|title=恋のマイアヒ|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2005|certyear=2006|certmonth=8|digital=true|note=Full-length ringtone|certref=|access-date=4 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|artist=オゾン|title=恋のマイアヒ|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2006|certmonth=8|digital=true|note=PC download|certref=|access-date=4 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=O Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|access-date=4 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Romania|nocert=true|salesamount=250,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry |region=Spain|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2024|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|access-date=4 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|date=2 September 2004|access-date=4 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|access-date=4 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=O-Zone|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|certmonth=2|id=11341-3417-1|access-date=4 July 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=O-Zone|title=Mai Ai Hee|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|digital=true|date=25 August 2005|access-date=4 July 2024|refname="US cert"}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=true|salesamount=12,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Dragostea din tei

| cover = Dragostea_din_tei.jpg

| caption = Cover for the Belgian and Dutch physical release.

| type = single

| language = Romanian

| studio = MM Studio

| artist = Haiducii

| album = Paula Mitrache in Haiducii

| released = December 2003

| length = 3:35

| genre = Dance

| label = Universo

| writer = Balan

| producer = Max Minoia

| next_title = Nara Nara Na Na (Mne s Toboy Horosho)

| next_year = 2004

| misc =

{{External music video|{{YouTube|MhuTaD-B4qs|"Dragostea din tei"}}}}

}}

Italy-based Romanian singer Paula Monica Mitrache recorded a cover of "Dragostea din tei" after having been advised to do so by her label Universo,{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/europa/solista-de-la-haiducii-va-primi-cetatenie-1013960.html|title=Solista de la Haiducii va primi cetăţenie italiană|trans-title=The Haiducii lead singer will receive the Italian citizenship|language=Romanian|date=16 September 2009|accessdate=14 August 2024|work=Adevărul|archive-date=9 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809121311/https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/europa/solista-de-la-haiducii-va-primi-cetatenie-1013960.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.soundsblog.it/post/haiducii-2016-dragostea-din-tei-che-fine-ha-fatto-intervista|title=Haiducii (Paula Mitrache) a Blogo: "Dicono che sono una meteora? Resto pur sempre una stella"|language=Italian|trans-title=Haiducii (Paula Mitrache) to the Blog: "They say I am a shooting star? I am still a star"|publisher=Soundsblog|author=Pasqui, Giulio|date=16 August 2016|accessdate=10 October 2024|archive-date=29 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829144020/https://www.soundsblog.it/post/haiducii-2016-dragostea-din-tei-che-fine-ha-fatto-intervista|url-status=live}} although she had initially opposed to the idea.{{cite news|url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/spettacolo/caffellatte-haiducii-dragostea-nuova-versione_66545959-202302k.shtml|title=Caffellatte e Haiducii rilanciano 'Dragostea din tei' in una versione 'Troppo chic'|trans-title=Caffellatte and Haiducii re-release 'Dragostea din tei' as 'Troppo chic'|language=Italian|accessdate=20 October 2024|date=28 July 2023|publisher=TgCom24|author=Longoni, Massimo|archive-date=30 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630105238/https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/spettacolo/caffellatte-haiducii-dragostea-nuova-versione_66545959-202302k.shtml|url-status=live}} Her stage name, Haiducii, was inspired by the mention of hajduks in the song. The cover was produced and mixed by Max Minoia at MM Studio in Rome, Italy, and features uncredited vocals by Italian singer Vittorio Centrone, who notably provides the "Ma-ia-hii, Ma-ia-huu, Ma-ia-hoo, Ma-ia-haha" sequence.{{cite news|url=https://bari.repubblica.it/cronaca/2024/02/19/news/era_la_voce_maschile_della_super-hit_di_haiducii_del_2004_il_pugliese_vittorio_centrone_a_sopresa_in_gara_a_the_voice_senior-422164072/|title=Era la voce maschile della super-hit di Haiducii del 2004, il pugliese Vittorio Centrone a sorpresa in gara a The Voice senior|language=Italian|trans-title=He was the male voice of Haiducii's super-hit of 2004. The Apulian Vittorio Centrone surprisingly competing in The Voice senior|work=la Repubblica|author=Puricella, Anna|date=19 February 2024|accessdate=14 October 2024|archive-date=19 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219165310/https://bari.repubblica.it/cronaca/2024/02/19/news/era_la_voce_maschile_della_super-hit_di_haiducii_del_2004_il_pugliese_vittorio_centrone_a_sopresa_in_gara_a_the_voice_senior-422164072/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.baritoday.it/social/vittorio-centrone-lemuri-the-voice-senior.html|title=The Voice Senior, il molfettese Vittorio Centrone scelto dai 4 coach|trans-title=The Voice Senior, Vittorio Centrone from Molfetta chosen by the 4 coaches|language=Italian|accessdate=20 October 2024|date=17 February 2024|publisher=Bari Today|archive-date=17 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240217132204/https://www.baritoday.it/social/vittorio-centrone-lemuri-the-voice-senior.html|url-status=live}} This dance version was reframed as a conversation between a man and a woman, which Francesco Gerardi of Rivista Studio likened to "{{Interlanguage link|Che scherzo mi fai/Buonasera dottore|lt=Buonasera dottore|it|Che scherzo mi fai/Buonasera dottore}}" (1974) by Italian singer Claudia Mori.

"Dragostea din tei" was serviced as Haiducii's debut single in December 2003 in Italy by Universo. It was physically released in various countries throughout 2004, including in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the United States. The CDs and vinyls all included a remix produced by Italian DJ and group Eiffel 65 member Gabry Ponte. A remix EP was made available for digital download on 3 August 2004 in various countries. In 2005, a CD was released in Taiwan by Avex Trax under the title of "嘜阿喜" ("Mai A Hi"), featuring cartoon characters on its cover that were used to promote the song in the region.{{cite news|url=http://www.avex.com.tw/maiahi/history01.asp|title=Mai Ai Hi Official Website|publisher=Avex Taiwan|language=Chinese|accessdate=13 August 2024|archive-date=11 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611145522/http://www.avex.com.tw/maiahi/history01.asp|url-status=live}} "Dragostea din tei" was eventually included on Haiducii's sole studio album, Paula Mitrache in Haiducii (2008).{{cite news|url=http://www.ibs.it/album/k8027851012381/haiducii-1/paula-mitrache-haiducii.html|title=Haiducii – Paula Mitrache in Haiducii (album MP3)|language=Italian|publisher={{Interlanguage link|Internet Bookshop Italia|lt=Internet Bookshop Italia|it|IBS.it}}|accessdate=27 July 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012649/http://www.ibs.it/album/k8027851012381/haiducii-1/paula-mitrache-haiducii.html|archivedate=5 March 2016}} A remix, titled "Dragostea din tei 2k13", was released in 2012, featuring the contribution of Eiffel 65 lead vocalist Jeffrey Jey alongside Ponte. On 11 August 2023, Haiducii issued a solo re-recording of the song for its 20th anniversary.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/album/0VVOXaXH1IlMEwSbkwvHos|title=Dragostea din tei – Single by Haiducii|publisher=Spotify|access-date=15 October 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.paeseroma.it/intrattenimento/2023/08/10/haiducii-presenta-la-nuova-versione-solista-di-dragostea-din-tei-matura-ed-energica/|title=Haiducii presenta la nuova versione solista di Dragostea din tei: 'Matura ed energica'|trans-title=Haiducii releases the new solo version of Dragostea din tei: 'Mature and energetic'|language=Italian|accessdate=20 October 2024|date=10 August 2023|publisher=Paese Roma|author=Giampetruzzi, Domenico|archive-date=1 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301175150/https://www.paeseroma.it/intrattenimento/2023/08/10/haiducii-presenta-la-nuova-versione-solista-di-dragostea-din-tei-matura-ed-energica/|url-status=live}}

File:Gabry Ponte @ Troppifiky Bellaria.jpg significantly aided the song's performance on the Italian charts.]]

In several territories, Haiducii's version of "Dragostea din tei" impacted the charts before O-Zone's original, including in Germany, Italy, Spain, and France. It debuted atop the Italian singles chart in January 2004 with 200,000 copies sold, outpeaking the original. Significantly aided by the Gabry Ponte remix,{{cite news|url=https://www.laut.de/Haiducii|title=Haiducii|language=German|accessdate=13 August 2024|publisher=laut.de|archive-date=30 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630173415/https://www.laut.de/haiducii|url-status=live}} the song claimed the top position for a total of six weeks and remained within the top 10 for over four months. In March 2004, Haiducii's version debuted and peaked at number four in Spain, following which she reached numbers one and two in Austria and France, respectively, in April. The track also reached number two in Wallonia in May 2004, being held from number one by the original.

In June 2004, the cover peaked at number two in Germany—behind by the original—and Switzerland, as well as number four in Norway and number six in Flanders. Throughout July, it ranked behind O-Zone's original at number two on the European Hot 100 Singles chart, while also peaking at numbers four, five and seven in the Netherlands, Denmark and Hungary, respectively. In Sweden, Haiducii topped the chart in August, outcharting the original. It held the top spot for five consecutive weeks and spent five months in the top ten. For the year of 2004, Haiducii's version of "Dragostea din tei" ended within the top 10 of the best-performing singles in Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, as well as on the European Hot 100 Singles chart. It was further awarded gold certifications in Austria, Belgium, France, Sweden and Switzerland. As of February 2021, the song has sold one million copies in Europe.{{cite news|url=https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2021/02/04/dragostea-din-tei-nu-ma-nu-ma-iei-diventa-presto-presto-parliamo-di-gesu-la-svolta-cristiana-di-haiducii/6090064/|title=Dragostea din tei, 'nu ma, nu ma iei' diventa 'presto presto, parliamo di Gesù': la svolta cristiana di Haiducii|trans-title=Dragostea din tei, 'nu ma, nu ma iei' becomes 'quickly, quickly, let's talk about Jesus': Haiducii's Christian turning point|language=Italian|accessdate=20 October 2024|date=4 February 2021|work=il Fatto Quotidiano|author=Pasqui, Giulio|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224015606/https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2021/02/04/dragostea-din-tei-nu-ma-nu-ma-iei-diventa-presto-presto-parliamo-di-gesu-la-svolta-cristiana-di-haiducii/6090064/|url-status=live}}

An accompanying music video was released in 2004 at the latest. It opens with a man entering a hotel room and throwing himself on the bed. He then proceeds to walk through the room and the hallway of the hotel seemingly confused and in search of something. Haiducii, meanwhile sitting in another room, is watching him on a TV that shows the footage of a surveillance camera. The man ultimately finds a hidden camera and walks to Haiducii's room, which is now empty. He watches the footage on the aforementioned TV, which now depicts her leaving through the hallway in a red fur outfit. The video often has its screen split in four, and includes interspersed shots of Haiducii dancing to the song wearing different dresses.

For further promotion, Haiducii performed the song as a musical guest at the Italian Sanremo Music Festival 2004 on 4 March 2004,{{cite news|url=https://jurnalul.ro/timp-liber/monden/de-la-vip-uri-adunate-71889.html|title=De la VIP-uri adunate|trans-title=On VIPs|language=Romanian|date=6 March 2004|accessdate=3 September 2024|author=Horațiu, Tudor|work=Jurnalul|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812075437/https://jurnalul.ro/timp-liber/monden/de-la-vip-uri-adunate-71889.html|url-status=live}} as well as on the local version of Top of the Pops.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UAWuSEtEVc|title=Haiducii – Dragostea din tei (Live at Top of the Pops)|date=30 May 2013|accessdate=11 November 2024|publisher=YouTube}} She also sang "Dragostea din tei" in Germany on Interaktiv,{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpgsSeb_D64|title=Haiducii – Dragostea din tei (Live on Interaktiv)|date=17 May 2019|accessdate=11 November 2024|publisher=YouTube}} as well as in France on {{ill|La Chanson de l'année|fr}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctFk8Wu3OWo|title=Haiducii – Dragostea din tei (Live on La Chanson de l'année)|date=8 May 2023|accessdate=11 November 2024|publisher=YouTube|archive-date=29 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829144041/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctFk8Wu3OWo&feature=youtu.be|url-status=live}} In 2020, she appeared on {{ill|Die ultimative Chartshow|de}} in Germany.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGwnXhKxjV0|title=Haiducii – Dragostea din tei (Live on Die ultimative Chartshow)|date=3 January 2020|accessdate=11 November 2024|publisher=YouTube|archive-date=18 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518132448/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGwnXhKxjV0&list=RDMGwnXhKxjV0&start_radio=1&rv=MGwnXhKxjV0|url-status=live}} In 2023, she performed on ZDF-Fernsehgarten in the same region on 7 May, as well as on {{Interlanguage link|Arena Suzuki|lt=Dai 60 ai 2000|it|Arena Suzuki}} in Italy on 27 September.{{cite news|url=https://www.paeseroma.it/attualita/2023/11/06/haiducii-dual-beat-e-mr-frog-trasformano-dragostea-din-tei-in-chiave-future-rave/|title=Haiducii, Dual Beat e Mr Frog trasformano 'Dragostea din tei' in chiave future rave|trans-title=Haiducii, Dual Beat and Mr Frog transform 'Dragostea din tei' in future rave|language=Italian|accessdate=20 October 2024|date=6 November 2023|author=Giampetruzzi, Domenico|publisher=Paese Roma}} Haiducii further made an appearance during Centrone's audition on the Italian version of The Voice Senior in 2024 to sing the song with him.

In February 2004, Balan claimed that, although he had been credited as a songwriter, Haiducii's cover was released without his permission. He threatened to sue Haiducii and Universo if they would not pull back her version. According to Balan, they had relied on an Italian law which they alleged allowed the release of covers. However, he concluded that such a law did not exist and would not apply to Haiducii, a Romanian citizen, as well as not to "Dragostea din tei", which had been recorded in Romania first.{{cite news|url=https://jurnalul.ro/timp-liber/monden/scandalul-dragostea-din-tei-72374.html|title=Scandalul 'Dragostea din tei'|trans-title=The 'Dragostea din tei' scandal|language=Romanian|date=26 February 2004|accessdate=3 September 2024|author=Horațiu, Tudor|work=Jurnalul|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812075436/https://jurnalul.ro/timp-liber/monden/scandalul-dragostea-din-tei-72374.html|url-status=live}} Gerardi of Rivista Studio wrote that Haiducii "didn't even ask permission" for her cover, but concluded that this was "a practice that was still legal at that time". In a 2016 interview, Haiducii said that no legal action had been taken against her cover.

Multiple observers argued that Haiducii's cover was a key factor in bringing international attention to the original version.{{cite news|url=https://www.siebenbuerger.de/zeitung/artikel/alteartikel/3246-o_zone-dragostea-din-tei.html#google_vignette|title=O-Zone 'Dragostea din tei': Rumänischer Hit erobert Europa|trans-title=O-Zone 'Dragostea din tei': Romanian hit conquers Europe|language=German|work=Siebenbürgische Zeitung|date=16 June 2004|accessdate=19 September 2024|author=Schuster, Thomas|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812113307/https://www.siebenbuerger.de/zeitung/artikel/alteartikel/3246-o_zone-dragostea-din-tei.html#google_vignette|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/o-zone-numarul-unu-in-europa-729358.html|title=O-Zone – numarul unu in Europa|trans-title=O-Zone – number one in Europe|language=Romanian|date=25 June 2004|accessdate=14 August 2024|work=Adevărul|archive-date=20 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920084314/https://adevarul.ro/stiri-interne/societate/o-zone-numarul-unu-in-europa-729358.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.mz.de/panorama/verwirrung-in-der-hitparade-sangerkrieg-um-sommerhit-2885135|title=Verwirrung in der Hitparade: Sängerkrieg um Sommerhit|trans-title=Confusion in the charts: singer war surrounding the summer hit|language=German|work=Mitteldeutsche Zeitung|date=16 June 2004|accessdate=19 September 2024|author=Könau, Steffen|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812113308/https://www.mz.de/panorama/verwirrung-in-der-hitparade-sangerkrieg-um-sommerhit-2885135|url-status=live}} Rivista Studio{{'s}} Gerardi wrote: "[In 2003, 'Dragostea din tei' by O-Zone] had achieved a fair amount of success in Romania and Moldova, only to then be forgotten along with many of the things that happen in the summer. But [...] Universo [...] did not miss the commercial potential of the song. [...] [After Haiducii's success, Balan] called all the people he knew in the music industry to find one who would reissue [the original] 'Dragostea din tei' and give the single global distribution".{{cite news|url=https://www.rivistastudio.com/dragostea-din-tei/|title=L'estate in cui tutti cantavamo in rumeno|trans-title=The summer when we all sang in Romanian|language=Italian|accessdate=20 October 2024|date=19 August 2022|work={{ill|Rivista Studio|it}}|author=Gerardi, Francesco|archive-date=19 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519085257/https://www.rivistastudio.com/dragostea-din-tei/|url-status=live}} According to media reports, Haiducii's success was also the reason why O-Zone postponed their intended disbandment in December 2003.{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/se-desparte-si-o-zone-98852|title=Se desparte si O-Zone?|trans-title=Are O-Zone breaking up too?|language=Romanian|work=Libertatea|date=11 January 2005|accessdate=17 September 2024|author=Dobrescu, Petre|archive-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523014115/https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/se-desparte-si-o-zone-98852|url-status=live}} Balan saw the coexistence of Haiducii's cover as an impediment in commercializing the original version internationally, since O-Zone "[had] to convince other labels [...] that the original song belong[ed] to [them]".

A version of the song titled "Maya Hi, Maya Hu" credited to Swedish animated character Crazy Frog was released in 2009.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/best-of-crazy-hits/1369886424|title=Best of Crazy Hits – Album|publisher=Apple Music (US)|access-date=4 November 2024|archive-date=9 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709205954/https://music.apple.com/us/album/best-of-crazy-hits/1369886424|url-status=live}} In 2019, Haiducii and Catholic pastor Don Allessandrou Cosu published "Parliamo di Gesú" ("Let's Talk About Jesus") on YouTube, which is an alternate version of "Dragostea din tei" with rewritten religious lyrics.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/news-musica/e-tornata-dragostea-din-tei-ma-ora-parla-di-gesu/549624/|title=È tornata 'Dragostea din tei', ma ora parla di Gesù|trans-title='Dragostea din tei' is back, but now it's about Jesus|language=Italian|accessdate=20 October 2024|date=4 February 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone Italia|archive-date=20 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220232920/https://www.rollingstone.it/musica/news-musica/e-tornata-dragostea-din-tei-ma-ora-parla-di-gesu/549624/|url-status=live}} The accompanying music video, which was filmed in a church, went viral on Italian social media in 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/entertainment/solista-paula-monica-mitrache-cea-care-a-amplificat-succesul-mondial-o-zone-a-dus-dragostea-din-tei-in-bisericile-catolice-italiene-2855057|title=Solista Paula Monica Mitrache, cea care a amplificat succesul mondial O-Zone, a dus 'Dragostea din tei' în bisericile catolice italiene|trans-title=The soloist Paula Monica Mitrache, who amplified the worldwide success of O-Zone, took 'Dragostea din tei' to Italian Catholic churches|language=Romanian|work=Libertatea|date=14 January 2020|accessdate=16 September 2024|author=Gheorghe, Florian|archive-date=12 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812103430/https://www.libertatea.ro/entertainment/solista-paula-monica-mitrache-cea-care-a-amplificat-succesul-mondial-o-zone-a-dus-dragostea-din-tei-in-bisericile-catolice-italiene-2855057|url-status=live}} In June 2023, Caffellatte and Haiducii released "Troppo Chic (Dragostea din tei)", which uses portions of "Dragostea din tei" that Haiducii re-recorded. She also took part in promotional endeavours for the song on television.

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• Austrian, Italian, Dutch, US and Taiwanese CD single,
  and Swedish CD single 1

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Mix) – 3:35
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Radio Version) – 3:42
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross 4 the Radio Remix) – 4:15
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Extended Version) – 6:30
5. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross 4 the Club Remix) – 6:22

• Belgian and French CD single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Mix) – 3:35
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Radio Version) – 3:42
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross 4 the Radio Remix) – 4:15

• French 12-inch single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross 4 the Club Remix) – 6:22
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Extended Version) – 6:30
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Mix) – 3:35

• German CD single 1 and Swiss CD single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Mix) – 3:35
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Radio Version) – 3:42
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross 4 the Radio Remix) – 4:15
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Extended Version) – 6:30
5. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross 4 the Club Remix) – 6:22
6. "Dragostea din tei" (Potatoheadz Club Mix) – 6:55
7. "Spring" – 7:17

• German CD single 2

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Mix) – 3:35
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Extended Version) – 6:30
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Friki Remix) – 5:17
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Karaoke Version) – 3:35
5. "Dragostea din tei" (Music Video) – 3:35
6. Kultvideo von DJ Friki – 2:21

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• Italian 12-inch single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Extended Version) – 6:30
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Radio Version) – 3:42
3. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross 4 the Club Remix) – 6:22
4. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Mix) – 3:35

• Spanish CD single

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Radio Version) – 3:42
2. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross 4 the Radio Remix) – 4:15
3. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Extended Version) – 6:31
4. "Dragostea din tei" (DJ Ross 4 the Club Remix) – 6:22

• Sweden CD single 2

1. "Dragostea din tei" (Original Version) – 3:35
2. "Dragostea din tei" (Haiducii vs. Gabry Ponte Radio Version) – 3:42

• Other official digital versions{{efn|group=upper-alpha|This is a summary of all digital versions of the single that differ from those found on the CD releases.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/it/album/dragostea-din-tei-2k13-feat-haiducii-jeffrey-jey-single/591337125|title=Dragostea din tei 2k13 – Single|publisher=Apple Music (IT)|access-date=26 June 2024|language=Italian|archive-date=23 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923125512/https://music.apple.com/it/album/dragostea-din-tei-2k13-feat-haiducii-jeffrey-jey-single/591337125|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/it/album/dragostea-din-tei-single/1705268100|title=Dragostea din tei – Single|publisher=Apple Music (IT)|access-date=26 June 2024|language=Italian|archive-date=25 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625225751/https://music.apple.com/it/album/dragostea-din-tei-single/1705268100|url-status=live}}}}

1. "Dragostea din tei 2k13" (Gabry Ponte featuring Haiducii and Jeffrey Jey) [Radio Edit] – 3:26
2. "Dragostea din tei 2k13" (Gabry Ponte featuring Haiducii and Jeffrey Jey) [Extended] – 4:52
3. "Dragostea din tei 2k13" (Gabry Ponte featuring Haiducii and Jeffrey Jey) [Alien Cut & Dino Brown Radio Remix] – 3:38
4. "Dragostea din tei 2k13" (Gabry Ponte featuring Haiducii and Jeffrey Jey) [Alien Cut & Dino Brown Remix] – 5:46
5. "Dragostea din tei" (with Dual Beat and Mr. Frog) [Future Rave Extended Mix] – 5:30
6. "Dragostea din tei" (with Dual Beat and Mr. Frog) [Future Rave Radio Mix] – 3:18

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Haiducii's version of "Dragostea din tei"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Haiducii|title=Dragostea Din Tei|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|date=7 June 2004|access-date=7 July 2024|refname="Austria H cert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|artist=Haiducii|title=Dragostea Din Tei|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|date=26 June 2004|access-date=7 July 2024|refname="Belgium H cert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Haiducci|title=Dragostea Din Tei|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|access-date=7 July 2024|refname="France H cert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|nocert=true|salesamount=200,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Haiducii|title=Dragostea Din Tei|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|date=11 August 2004|access-date=7 July 2024|refname="Sweden H cert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Haiducii|title=Dragostea din tei|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|access-date=7 July 2024|refname="Switzerland H cert"}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|nocert=true|salesamount=1,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

• List of music released by Moldovan artists that has charted in major music markets
• List of music released by Romanian artists that has charted in major music markets
• List of best-selling singles in Japan
• List of best-selling singles by country

{{notelist-ua}}

{{reflist}}

{{O-Zone}}

{{Haiducii}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dragostea din Tei}}

Category:2003 songs

Category:2003 singles

Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles

Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Jive Records singles

Category:Macaronic songs

Category:Number-one singles in Austria

Category:Number-one singles in Denmark

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:Number-one singles in Italy

Category:Number-one singles in Norway

Category:Number-one singles in Romania

Category:Number-one singles in Spain

Category:Number-one singles in Sweden

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:O-Zone songs

Category:Polydor Records singles

Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Songs containing the I–V-vi-IV progression

Category:Songs written by Dan Balan

Category:Ultra Records singles

Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Wallonia) number-one singles

Category:Songs involved in plagiarism controversies