Turn off the fake applause, because the semi-final is over! Following tonight’s Selectia Nationala 2017 show hosted by TVR, when the jury in Romania had their final say, ten acts remain standing and will face the public vote next Sunday. In the national final, it’s going to be power to the people, because the winner will be decided via 100% televote. But who got the jury vote of approval tonight?
Your favourite act — and Wiwi Jury’s top scorer — Ilinca feat. Alex Florea got the most praise from the expert jury for their live performance of “Yodel It!”. Luminita Anghel even stood up to congratulate them. Paula Seling said that, while she didn’t quite get the middle eight, overall the song was very unique. Adrian Romcescu, the chairman of the jury, said that the song was very memorable. The only negative critique came from Ovi Jacobsen, who said that Alex Florea’s English enunciation needs some improvement.
Ilinca feat. Alex Florea – “Yodel It!” semi-final performance
The staging was simple, reminding us of the live audition, but it was also very effective. The two singers commanded the stage in black-vs-white outfits, channeling a bad boy rapper and his angelic, yodeling girlfriend.
Xandra – “Walk On By” – semi-final performance
Although Xandra performed last, the jury also showered both her song and voice with compliments. Luminita Anghel said that “Walk On By” is clearly in the top 5 of Selectia Nationala 2017. Xandra was pretty static, but it was her voice that stole the show anyway.
M I H A I – “I Won’t Surrender” semi-final performance
The artist formerly known as Mihai Traistariu also got a lot of praise from the jury. Ovi Jacobsen thanked M I H A I for taking his advice from the live auditions on board. This time, the “Miracle” singer said, M I H A I sounded “more masculine”. Make of that what you will! Also with a simple, static staging, the “Tornero” singer dominated the studio with his powerful voice. If only we could unsee that jacket, though!
The 10 finalists of Selectia Nationala 2017
In the end, the jury chose the ten finalists. They are:
- Ilinca feat. Alex Florea – “Yodel It!”
- Xandra – “Walk On By”
- M I H A I – “I Won’t Surrender”
- Cristina Vasiu – “Set The Skies On Fire”
- Instinct – “Petale” (Petals)
- Ramona Nerra – “Save Me”
- Eduard Santha – “Wild Child”
- Tavi Colen & Emma – “We Own The Night”
- Maxim – “Adu-ti aminte” (Remember)
- Ana-Maria Mirica – “Spune-mi tu” (You tell me)
Jury scores at Selectia Nationala 2017 semi-final
As you can see, Ilinca and Alex’s “Yodel It!” slayed the pack, getting 12 points from all the members of the jury.
The tie between Elize & No Stress and Ana-Maria Mirica was broken by the latter’s better score of 4, so Ana-Maria Mirica advanced to the national final.
The artists who packed their bags after the semi-final were Elize & No Stress, Tudor Turcu, Zanga, Alexandra Craescu and D-lema. The last act received zero points from the jury.
Ovidiu Anton, last year’s winner at Selectia Nationala, returned to the TVR stage as interval act. He performed a few of his new and old hits, including last year’s winning song “Moment of Silence”.
There was no sign of Lora though.
Next Sunday, TVR will host the national final of Selectia Nationala 2017, when the public will decide Romania’s winner via 100% televote.
What do you think about the Romanian jury picks for the final? Did your favourites go through? Sound off below!
READ MORE EUROVISION ROMANIA NEWS HERE
Photo: TVR
MIHAI …THE BEST !
In my opinion, the winner of that semi-final was Eduard Santha with ‘Wild Child’. His song was sth novel from the start, but he also managed to get the best from it, with a great staging show and even a little improvement for the song. It was the moment of the contest from my point of view. ‘Yodel It’ had to loose than to win, I’ve considered their semi-final performance weaker than their audition performance, their vocals weren’t at the best standards yesterday in my opinion and the song lost energy. Ok, this could be improved, so I believe it… Read more »
@Camelia87 Dear Camelia, ‘Yodel It’ isn’t either rap, either yodelling. It is a mix and not between just these 2 genres, it also has rock influences for example. What do you want, to take the song as a whole, or just parts of it, cause it’s not the same thing. It is as fresh as possible as a whole, it is a modern approach of that 2 genres. It’s like you would say that ‘Heroes’ was not freh, because its country influences. And my sincere question for you would be: who the hell says it has to be fresh?! There… Read more »
I personally don’t get the hype with the “Yodel it” song, it’s a catchy number but their vocals are quite pitchy in parts. However i do appreciate it’s appeal i just feel it might be a let down in a bigger arena.
My favourite is MIHAI, i personally think he might score better with the juries in Kiev.
I know it’s another ballad, but Mihai has what it takes to elevate it on the grand stage . His vocal range is sublime. With the right staging it could appeal to a wider audience.
I really loved Alexandra! 🙂 But Yodel it is fun!!
I loved Alexandra! 🙂 But Yodel it is fun!
@ Julian : Whatever public decides will be the right choice.
The public also can make bad choices. This year, the only good thing is that Mihai understood that Paradisio was a copy of Tornero, and that he must stop with that. He has now a timeless song, but it seems that in Romania are still people who think that rap is fresh. Fresh? Rap? Rap is as fresh as a corpse in the tomb.
@ Moon Light – ”At least its definitely an original song & offers something new/fresh to the musical world of Eurovision..”
If you think that there is anything new and fresh about RAP and about YODEL,it means that you were born yesterday. Welcome to this world!
In my opinion we have chances to stay in semifinals only with Emma&Tavi Colen and Ana Maria Mirica. Having a good result in final is complicated, my hope is that we will always respect the public’s vote and not play nice to juries like in the past years Azerbaijan does. Whatever public decides will be the right choice.
@ Tasmanian DeMoon : ”After the huge controversy aroused by Cezar in 2013 – pop-opera on the ESC stage, at the 2017 boring edition, Romania may launch another pretty controversy: rap-yodelling.” Don’t compare timeless pop-opera genre,with rap. Rap is dead,over,and actually never existed as successful genre in Eurovision. Not even when the whole planet was full of rappers (early 2000). Jury is stupid, you saw how the ”Eurovision Stars” Luminita Anghel (Romania 2005),Paula and Ovi(Romania 2010,2014) have voted. The only Stars from Romania in Eurovision are Mihai (2006) and Mandinga (2012) with Mandinga songwriter Costi Ionita that is so under-estimated… Read more »
Ok, the yodelling song is okay, but is it worthy of 12’s across the board from all jurors?? Something smells fishy to me. Did they all agree beforehand? One wonders of the Romanian public feels the same. Anyone???
Well I love yodel it ! It’s fun and has Eurovision written all over it ! I can’t remember the last fun song in Eurovision ! Look at Ukraine 2007 people hated it yet it came 2nd not saying this will win but it will stand out and defo make it to the final although with this new voting system that will do a Poland for sure ! Bottom with the juries and top with the public
All the jurors thought Yodel It was the best? That is slightly strange!
I am still pulling for Mihai but am not hopeful.
Yodel It is actually pretty good. It is a catchy song and I am sure they can make it have a good performance.
I will say it is nice to have a unique song vs. the boring ballads we keep getting.
“Yodel it!” is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! I love that song to death!!!! Would be Romanias best entry since 2006 for sure 🙂 Its unique, memorable and catchy – and very well performed as well. It will stick out and people WILL vote for it even in Eurovision. Neither rap or yodelling has ever won Eurovision before – and it seems like in the last 2 years its pretty much something completely different that wins compared to the previous years. So I think Yodel It could go all the way even and score a top 5 for Romania 🙂
Yodel It is such a fun song, I can’t help but love it! Really hope they’ll end up winning the entire thing 🙂
If it turns out that “Yodel It” wins next week, I’m gonna blow a fuse!!!
@Sb. It’s quite obvious the jurors discussed the issue beforehand over a cup of coffee and decided they will just support Yodel It. I hope that the romanian public will express their rightful will (whichever that may be), without being influenced by the jury.
Yodel It is bit of a mess, but undoubtely unique in this selection.
I cannot believe We Own the Night actually passed the ‘expert’ jury. That is the last place lock. Wild Child is as well.
Now it’s all up to the audience. Statistically, winner is more likely among Ilinca & Alex, MIHAI and Xandra, but technically it could be any of them now. We *can* get Wild Child or We Own the Night. =-O
Yodel it is unbearable. And the whole thing with the jury supporting it smells rigged.
If “Yodel It” wins Romania immediately becomes my last place (like many of their other entries).
Nooooooo MIHAI – Ovi is wrong in this case!!! Making it more masculine doesnt work for his voice – his pre-semi performance was better. He does need to open his eyes though and make some eye contact and connect with the camera. Especially if he decides that nothing is going to be going on on the stage at all. That yodel song is very gimmicky and I think most countries will make fun of it. I dont see how all 5 jurors thought that it was the best. Im praying that MIHAI has rigged this and will win as I… Read more »
I had better expectations from the jury of experts. I had appreciation for them before this night, but it’s clear TVR doesn’t want a foreign composer to represent Romania’s song, that’s why they picked Yodel It, composed by Mihai Alexandru. Look in the past, all Romanian songs were written by Romanian composers… 1998 – Eu cred, by Adrian Romcescu 2000 – The Moon, by Dan Teodorescu (Taxi) 2002 – Tell me why, by Ionel Tudor 2003 – Don’t break my heart, by Mihai Alexandru 2004 – I admit, by George Popa 2005 – Let me try, by Cristian Faur 2006… Read more »
hope that yodel rubbish don’t end up winning it’s total load of crap
I cannot believe that Yodel It got full marks from all five jury members! I really hope it wins next week.
Mihai or Ilinca for the win.
why do i have a feeling that mihai has paid for him to be the winner?????
Yodel It are so going to win this, there’s no other way. That song is everything I would want and expect from Romania.