TRM broadcast the first semi-final of this year’s national selection O melodie pentru Europa tonight, and and we’re glad to report that most of your favorites advanced to Saturday’s grand final.
The show was, in pure Moldovan style, awkward, funny, but most of all entertaining. Surprise interval acts included former “O melodie pentru Europa” stars Pasha Parfeny, Cristina Croitoru, Karizma, Geta Burlacu, and Nelly Ciobanu (who is also a jury member, and so what?).
Boris Covali won both the jury and the public vote with “Perfect Day”. Boris had a visibly larger budget – he conjured “rain” on stage – and his vocals were on point, even if he sang a lesser song. Apparently both the jury and the viewers forgot and forgave his song switch before the semi-final.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k_5wKC0n-8
However, we were more impressed with Doinita Gherman’s performance of “Energy”. She managed to pull off an improved version of “Wild Dances”, complete with inspired costumes and handsome dancers. The singer herself reminded us of Ruslana, but with much better vocals and, well, energy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVLzoQh1VBQ
It was no surprise that Boris Covali and Doinita Gherman advanced to the final, along with Tatiana Heghea (who was second in the public vote but got nil points from the jury), FLUX LIGHT, Diana Brescan, and Ana Cernicova.
In a so-called “Post Eurovision” talk-show, Doinita Gherman did not shy away from asking the jury why they punished her outstanding performance with bad marks, and it was both embarrassing and entertaining to see the jury trying and failing to give the talkative singer a good argument.
As a first, the public got to “save” an eighth act by televoting alone, and the honour was bestowed upon the rock band Paralela 47 and their song “Fragmente”.
Therefore, the eight songs advancing to Saturday’s final are:
1. Boris Covali – “Perfect Day”
2. FLUX LIGHT – “Never Stop No”
3. Felicia Dunaf – “The Way I Do”
4. Doinita Gherman – “Energy”
5. Ana Cernicova – “Dragostea divina”
6. Diana Brescan – “Hallelujah”
7. Tatiana Heghea – “I’m Yours”
8. Paralela 47 – “Fragmente”
What do you think about the results?
PS: Don’t forget that you can still cast your votes in the second semi-final poll! We will come back with the results on Thursday around noon.
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.
Well, I mean, televote results depend on the performance, too. It’s not like every performance is the same – so you can’t automatically expect the televoters to vote only for the ones that were popular in the previous round.
What a great surprise. I’m pleased for such good songs in Moldova… Diverse and modern, any of them will give Moldova a very interesting participation on ESC.
Doinita owned!!! Loved Ana too, especially that way that she breaks into that intense opera lol. Sounded great live.
Surprised that Alina bombed. I thought she would easily stay out of the bottom third. Lovely song but not big enough on stage. Interesting dress though; kinda postmodern. No surprise Doinita made it. Not her best song, but she is a fantastic performer. The song is called “Energy” and she gets maximum effect from basic resources. Yay, her! She wins this round in my book. Shame that Felicia continues to struggle with weak vocals. I really like her style, but I fear that she can’t deliver live. Please prove me wrong. Vlad Ray was the only act saved from the… Read more »
Go Doinita! My favourite from this semi final, and good luck to Margarita on thursday!
Not only that, but they also already published the individual marks given by each jury member.
Because Moldova.
Why the hell were they revealing the results already? :l