With four days to go until the submission window closes and ten days before we know the finalists in Romania’s Selectia Nationala, post-folk band Cobzality has released its bid for Eurovision, “Steaua din vis” (The star from the dream).
Although you have probably never heard of Cobzality, the band is not exactly a newcomer to Eurovision. Two of its members, Florin Romascu and Robert Magheti, are former members of Sistem and were on the Kiev stage in 2005 together with Luminita Anghel performing “Let Me Try”. Bianca Purcarea, the lead singer, was one of Paula Seling and Ovi’s backing vocalists in 2010 and she tried solo for the Selectia Nationala in 2012, so basically three out of the five band members can be considered Eurovision veterans.
Cobzality invited popular traditional singer Matilda Pascal Cojocarita to lend her vocals alongside Bianca’s for the song “Steaua din vis”, a melancholic tune about a girl who loves to sing to her lover, the Morning Star. The lyrics are loosely inspired by “Luceafarul”, a poem written by Romania’s national poet Mihai Eminescu. The sound combines ethnic vibes with contemporary beats, a new style that is garnering more and more support in Romania, especially among the hipster community and the cultural elite.
Here is a live performance on the Antena 1 morning show:
Due to the song’s elevated nature, we expect that “Steaua din vis” will be a shoe-in for the Selectia Nationala final on 1 March, and the TVR jury is very likely to eat it up. Therefore, Paula Seling and Ovi and Stefan Stan and TeddyK have a new threat on their hands. Meanwhile, Alexandra Stan and Mihai Traistariu have not confirmed their participation, but we are getting signals that both of them will enter the competition at the last minute. If these two are thrown in the mix, it really will be anybody’s game!
What do you think about “Steaua din vis”? Are you ready for a traditional sounding, Romanian language song possibly representing Romania in Copenhagen? And are you excited about this year’s Selectia Nationala?
Bogdan Honciuc is a Romania-based correspondent for WiwiBloggs.com. You can follow him on Twitter @stingovision. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest Eurovision news and gossip by following the team on Twitter @wiwibloggs and by liking our Facebook page.
Photo: cobzality.ro
Points for pushing boundaries — It brings Inga & Anush to mind.
It does feel a bit fragmented if you’re not used to it, and I expect that visuals will have a big role in holding it together. I’m imagining the girls in high ceremonial style with a satyr leaping about with his pipes and occasional shouts 😀
Interesting sound, but somewhere down the line it loses its spark. Not bad 🙂
It’s ok, but definitely not a winner. I prefer “Breathe”, but due to Alexandra’s massive popularity she almost definitely has the win if she participates.
@Julian – Of which song, if I may?
@Victoria – You’re not the only one, but she never said that she’d submit this song to Selectia Nationala.
no trace of originality 100% rip off of an ethnic song
hmm. ok song but not a winner. So far I am cheering for Anca Florescu – Hearts collide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmaVpfgTHWs
sounds nice, but no esc material