Luminita Anghel interview: “I want to beat my own record!”

Ever since the finalists of Romania’s Selectia Nationala were announced, the most hyped name in the pool has been Luminita Anghel, whose 2005 entry earned Romania its best result yet. We wanted to know why she wanted to come back to Eurovision 10 years later, and she gladly took the time to talk with our New York correspondent Sopon. Let’s see what she had to say.

Hi Luminita! Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us. We are really excited for you to fight for the chance to return to Eurovision! We are wondering, though, what have you been up to since 2005?

Since 2005, I’ve been involved with a lot of projects, mostly in the television industry. I’ve done talk shows, sitcoms, serial movies, Disney voiceovers, etc. I’ve also MC’d on a radio program and have performed in a lot of musical event both inside and outside of Romania. I’ve organized some big musical events and concerts in Romania, such as for Jose Carreras, Joe Cocker, Tom Jones, and Enrique Iglesias. I’ve also started a family and gave birth to my daughter in 2011!

Wow, you have been really busy! So obviously, you are now trying to represent Romania in Eurovision 2015 with your newest song, “A Million Stars”. Tell us about the song! What is it about?

“A Million Stars” is a love song, but also an easy and precise way to say “I love you!”

After all of these years, why do you want to return to Selectia Nationala and Eurovision?

To have the opportunity to beat my own record!

Two years ago, you said that you would never try to go to Eurovision again. Obviously, that statement is (fortunately) not true now. What made you change your mind?

Obviously, I could not stay far away from the Eurovision phenomena! And also, when I heard “A Million Stars” for the first time, I fell in love and knew it had to go to Eurovision.

You are working with Cristian Faur for this song, and he also wrote Cezar Ouatu’s “It’s My Life” in 2013. Does this mean that you are not jealous of Cezar’s surprising win in Selectia Nationala?

Well, Cristian Faur also wrote my Eurovision entry in 2005, “Let Me Try”. In 2013, we may have found each other on different teams, but we did not mix things. We are professionals, after all!

Your song from 2013, “Unique”, was similar to a James Bond song. Last year’s Eurovision winning song was also similar to a James Bond song. Do you feel avenged by Conchita because of this?

I like Conchita’s song very much and her voice too. But I was in love with my song, “Unique”, and I’m still in love with it!

Do you believe that being a Eurovision star will hurt or help you in Selectia Nationala?

I don’t think we will ever know the answer to this.

Are you afraid that if you win Selectia Nationala, you will place lower in Vienna than in Kiev?

All I want now is to win the Romanian contest. I do have beautiful memories involving ESC fans, and I have a lot of faith in them.

How has your music progressed since 2005? Are you looking to gain something different from your participation in 2015?

All the time, when I watched Eurovision, I’ve noted that the winning song is a song is performed by a powerful voice, composed in a creative way, and staged in an impressive manner. And YES, I have progressed all these years.

Why should Romania vote for you?

I strongly believe that I have the right song, an experienced voice and a beautiful show for the 8th of March. Of course, if everything will go like we want it, we will hopefully win!

Thank you so much again for this amazing interview, Luminita. Before we finish, do you have a message for the readers of wiwibloggs?

Hello, my beautiful friends! I hope you will like my song and if you want me to be in Vienna, please vote for me! Many kisses to everybody!