The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — is back to Romania, where it is reviewing the 12 semi-finalists of Selectia Nationala 2016. Now we turn to the competition’s early favourite: M I H A I, with his song “Paradisio”. Will it sound like heaven or hell to our jury members? Let’s find out!

M I H A I – “Paradisio”

M I H A I – “Paradisio” reviews

Antranig: I started watching Eurovision in 2006 and “Tornero” is one of my original favourites. This man can sing and he can perform. Unfortunately “Paradisio” isn’t half as good as “Tornero” but the last minute really picks up and the ending is great. M I H A I is good but unfortunately A N T R A N I G is not as blown away as he was with “Tornero”.

Score: 7/10

Bogdan: Forget about that video and about “Tornero” for a second. The truth of the matter is that, love it or hate it, “Paradisio” is a mercilessly catchy song that will make even the singer’s harshest detractors begrudgingly hum along. It has undeniable melodic qualities and charm and, with a promised revamp and a flawless vocal and stage performance, could do very well in Stockolm. Can M I H A I be this year’s “Golden Boy”?

Score: 8/10

Deban: “Paradisio” is magic! Concocted with  killer hooks, sexy coos and flawless octaves, this is Selectia Nationala at its finest. Personally, I am not a fan of returnees. However, I’m the first to offer an olive branch when greeted with quality. This time round, I’m sacrificing a tree. Mihai Traistariu is a narcissist. He exhibits a broad range of behaviours that testify to his all-consuming need for attention. With “Paradisio”, one thing is certain: it’s his music doing the talking.

Score: 9.5/10

Luis: I could only accept the torture that writing M I H A I supposes under exceptional circumstances — that is, another “Tornerò”. Now seriously, M I H A I is a fantastic singer and his voice is to die for, but I just don’t think “Paradisio” is good enough for such a highly anticipated comeback. Indeed, the song is not bad, but let’s put it this way: “Paradisio” is too purgatory. And I’d need something that took my soul to paradise at the second coming of one of my teenage Eurovision idols.

Score: 7/10

Robyn: Oh, the paradox of M I H A I! On one hand, he releases a decent dance-pop track. On the other hand, he delivers it via a completely tone-deaf music video, that all but reduces the song to a laughingstock. If he can leave the cheesy sci-fi out of his Selectia Nationala staging, then “Paradisio” will be one of the leading contenders for Romania. It’s not the best song in this year’s national final season, but it could make M I H A I’s dream of an ESC return come true.

Score: 7/10

William: Easily the most modern track in the selection, “Paradisio” would be a deserving winner — and not just because of the singer’s name. M I H A I takes a simple melody and makes it sensual and contemporary with some slick dance-lounge production. His signature vocal flourishes pepper the straightforward melody, giving it texture and flair. Despite looking internationally, this has an identifiably Romanian flair — he’s thinking globally and acting locally. It may not reach the heights of “Tornero”, but it’s a respectable effort.

Score: 8.5/10

In the Romanian Wiwi Jury we have 12 Jurors, but only space for 6 reviews. The remaining scores are below:

Dayana: 6.5/10

Denise: 7/10

Edd: 8.5/10

Patrick: 3.5/10

Ramadan: 4/10

Sami: 6.5/10

The highest and lowest scores are removed before calculating the final score. We have dropped a low of 3.5 and a high of 9.5.

Wiwi Jury Score: 7/10

The sole Semi-final of Selectia Nationala 2016 will take place on 4 March in Baia Mare. An expert jury will select four songs to advance to the final, while televoters will save two more acts. The winner will be chosen by 100% televote on 6 March.

First reactions to Selectia Nationala 2016

Do you agree with Wiwi Jury? What do you think about M I H A I’s song? By the way, don’t forget you can still vote in our Romania 2016 poll!

For our list of Romania 2016 rankings, click here

For more Eurovision Romania news, click here

Photo: TVR

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Charles
Charles
8 years ago

Never liked Torneró it was to gay club over-the-top rubbish that really fitted the bad taste of 2000s televoters as it was the norm back then … still this Paradise-going-nowhere is just as bland and makes me sleepy.

Colin
Colin
8 years ago

I agree Daniel. Please let it be Ovidiu, or if not him then Florena or Vanotek or the duet. Just not this piece of excrement. It would be a rock bottom on my list. It reminds me of Romanian entry few year ago with Cezar performing It’s My Life – pretentious, ridiculous, almost vomit-worthy. This got a 7???

Daniel
Daniel
8 years ago

* I cannot find any redeaming quality… Sorrt

Daniel
Daniel
8 years ago

Well, this song is an embarrasment! If this should represent us at ESC (fingers crossed that it won’t) I may consider moving abroad!

Just kidding, but the song is utter C R A P, it cannot find any readeaming quality about it!

Hello hi
Hello hi
8 years ago

Only reason he came 4th in 2006 was because if diaspora voting and 2006 was probably one of the lowest points in eurovision ever… Quality of music was dreadful that year…

Hello hi
Hello hi
8 years ago

Utter garbage .. Cheap tacky shallow empty crappy crap crap …..
Just like his 2006 entry …. Can’t believe this rating again … It should be a 3 out of 10 …
Sounds like some late 90s reject dance music … Totally retarded !!

Eurana
Eurana
8 years ago

Florena is still the best option to Stockholm.

Colin
Colin
8 years ago

What a joke! This song is pretentious as hell!

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
8 years ago

He is the choice for Romania.
It is a weak national selection and he has made the choice easy for them. It is a good song and should do well enough to make the left hand side of the board in Stockholm.

WTF
WTF
8 years ago

Mihai has completely lost the plot, and so will we if we somehow choose this…

Daniel
Daniel
8 years ago

@maslo sorry but ‘Universal’ sounds like the cheapest song ever so deservedly has a lower score than this.

StianF
StianF
8 years ago

Horribel reviews. I’m sorry but you just have to laugh at the juries here… this is such a dated horrible song – doesnt sound anything like Eurovision 2015 or what Eurovision 2016 should sound like… will be bottom 5 if it wins in Romania. Ira has a horrible song, Nusa Derenda had a horrible song and now Mihai has a horrible song… and neither Greta or Deen har better songs than their previous attempt. I am really hoping Kaliopi and Polina will break this pattern now. Even Jamalas previous attempt for Eurovision was better than this years attempt… ah well.

Paul D.
Paul D.
8 years ago

This song is terribly dated but is actually nice to hear lol

Bb
Bb
8 years ago

Paradisio is awful… I’m gobsmacked at how the panel could award it 7/10. Mihai has a really great voice, but the song (especially the chorus) is dated and cheap. “Tornero” was a fantastic entry, this is quite honestly embarrassing. I hope Romania sends Vanotek, that’s their only shot at something truly fitting and contemporary this year.

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

Well, I was expecting the jury to trash this song based on the previous articles, but I guess not. It’s not a bad song and gives me good memories of listening to Eiffel 65 when I was 12.

Julian
Julian
8 years ago

This is the only blockbuster of this year selection has its chances to win for being a blockbuster.

Erin
Erin
8 years ago

7/10 too and wholeheartedly agree with Luis’ review. I realize why Romanians are tempted to send Mihai again , but given Romania’s results since ‘Playing With Fire’, it seems like it’s constantly slipping into the bottom half of the final’s scoreboard and the fate of this song will likely be similar. Why? because comparisons with ‘Tornero’ are unavoidable and Mihai is very much aware of that as he uses the rhyming word ‘Paradisio’ in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. Yes, we know Mihai has an impressive range and technique, but the song is outdated, bland and lacks in momentum and an inner… Read more »

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
8 years ago

Finally, Mihai’s review! The big name of the selection, the 4th place from 2006, the MVP. However, all the time after realeasing this song, I thought this is a joke. Seriously, this is the so long-anticipated creation, the nb 1 hit which could bring the contest in Romania? I still wait for him to withdraw, I think he’s not serious when he says that he can win Eurovision with this. And I wait for that especially because I know what song he withdrew 2 years ago, which really was a very good one, way better than this. It’s obvious that… Read more »

maslo
maslo
8 years ago

7/10 and “Universal” from Poland got worse points o.O
Wiwi where do you have your ears. PARADISO is the cheapest song ever.