Ever since he placed fourth with “Tornerò” at Eurovision 2006, Mihai Traistariu has been eyeing a Eurovision return. And he’s taken another step closer to his goal with the release of his Selectia Nationala 2018 entry “Heaven”.

Mihai Traistariu — now known as M I H A I — broke the news to his fans on Facebook. With great excitement, the Romanian icon wrote, “Dear friends, this is my song for Eurovision 2018. I really believe in it! Godspeed! PS: If you like it as well, please share it! Thanks a lot!”

https://www.facebook.com/Mihai.Traistariu.Oficial/posts/1768649933167290

“Heaven” is one of M I H A I’s trademark power ballads, but it comes with a distinctly modern sound. Some fans are comparing it to Kristian Kostov’s second-placed song “Beautiful Mess”, because of the combination of modern electronic production with the emotional lyrics.

However M I H A I brings his own style to the song. His powerhouse vocals are showed off to great effect, bringing 2000s vocal style to a 2010s production.

“Heaven” is a simple love song, and gives thanks and praise to a supportive lover. M I H A I sings of how this special person supports him when he’s having dark moods. He sings, “You guide me into the light/You see me out of the rain.”

The big chorus comes along and makes a grand statement. “You show me, you show me heaven/Oh, I need you”. It’s just the right moment for M I H A I to shine.

The song was written by a dream team of experienced Eurovision songwriters — Michael James Down, William Taylor, Jonas Gladnikoff — and M I H A I himself.

The Northern Irish songwriter Down and the British songwriter Taylor are both regular contributors to national finals. They’re joined by the equally prolific Swedish songwriter Gladnikoff, who also has the distinction of having made it to Eurovision. He was behind Ireland’s entries in 2009, 2010 and 2014.

And while it might be tempting to dismiss M I H A I as heritage act trying to make a comeback, it’s important to remember that M I H A I never went away. Last year his Selectia Nationala entry “I Won’t Surrender” place second after he delivered a commanding performance at the national final.

But he’s going to have to fight for that win. There have been plenty of other names rumoured for Selectia Nationala 2018.

Broadcaster TVR is yet to make the official announcement regarding the number of entrants and their names.

This coming week, the contestants will perform their entries in front of a jury and audience between 19 to 21 December. The jury will choose 60 songs that will make it through to the five semi-finals, set to start in January. The national final will be held in Bucharest on Sunday, 25 February.

M I H A I – “Heaven” (lyrics)

When all I see is the night
You know me morning again
You guide me into the light
You see me out of the rain

I’m scared that when you’re not here
The world will fade into grey
The colour washes my life
With every word that you say

You show me, you show me heaven
Oh, I need you
You show me, you show me heaven
Oh, I breathe you
You show me, you show me
You show me, you show me

You kill the voices I hear
When I’m alone in my head
You undermine all the fear
That has be right at the edge

I wanna get to a place
Where I can handle myself (I need to handle it)
It’s easy now that you’re here
But all things come to an end

You show me, you show me heaven
Oh, I need you
You show me, you show me heaven
Oh, I breath you

You show me, you show me life
You open my mind
Make everything right

You show me, you show me heaven

Heaven, HEAVEN

You show me, you show me heaven
Oh, I need you
You show me, you show me life
You open my mind
Make everything right

You show me, you show me heaven

What do you think of M I H A I’s new song? Can “Heaven” give Romania its first Eurovision win? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

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Macus (Day One)
Macus (Day One)
6 years ago

I actually really like it. I might be one of the few who wasn’t that keen on Tornero but I like the radio friendly style of this song. Mihai has very strong vocals and clearly wants to do Eurovision again having enter Selecta National for the 3rd time in a row. As for the Beautiful mess comparisons it bugs me when a song that is in the same genre of a previously successful song is instantly considered to be copying. I think when radio friendly and unique songs do well at Eurovision it encourages artist to try different styles and… Read more »

Ted
Ted
6 years ago

I don’t understand all this hate towards him, so many mean comments, and for what?!?…. Just for wanting to come back to Eurovision? It’s his right, if he wants… Is he the only one wishing to do a comeback? Dima Bilan, Helena Paparizou, Carola, Chiara, Johnny Logan, Lena, Loreen, Dana International, Valentina Monetta, Poli Genova, Zeljko Joksimovic, Chiara, Selma, Edsilia Rombley, Elitsa & Stoyan, Sunstroke Project and many, many, many more past participating artists wanted to come back and they did. So what’s all this backlash if MIHAI wants to come back? He’s a great artist with an amazing voice.… Read more »

L'oiseau
L'oiseau
6 years ago

This is not bad, actually. It is true that it is reminiscent of Beautiful Mess, but after last year’s horror even an Irish bird screaming would be a progress.

the boy who lived
the boy who lived
6 years ago

He could’ve won last year in NF with I will survive, but Yodel was too strong. His luck in 2018 might be that not many Romanians will think about Beautiful mess.
It depends how Romanians will judge that, maybe Romanians want to alternate and not send uptempo like Yodel.

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

You mean “I won’t surrender”…

irish esc
irish esc
6 years ago

i wish he would surrender as he will not make it to eurovision again with this cheap song sorry for being brutally honest

Mony
Mony
6 years ago
Reply to  irish esc

And I wish Ireland would surrender and quit Eurovision, after all the flops in the past 10 years or more… The only sort of decent entry was Niamh Kavanagh in 2010, but beside that… Dustin The Turkey? Jedward…two years in a row? Not to mention the boy with girlish voice last year… Sorry for being brutally honest, but this is the truth!

eurovision6
eurovision6
6 years ago

Its much better than “I wont surrender”, im sure most people here are hating just cause its Mihai. Had it been anyone else everyone would have been ecstatic, im sure.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  eurovision6

You shouldn’t be so sure.
I think the song is pretty bad, I don’t care who sings it.

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

Sorry, but I think ‘Beautiful Mess’ is a thousand times better. Sounds better than his last attemp, but it’s still meh.

Jordan B
Jordan B
6 years ago

Silly boy should’ve done something uptempo

esc1234
esc1234
6 years ago

Copying beautiful mess THAT MUCH is hilarious

LULU
6 years ago

Anything will be 10000 times better than this years rubbish romania sent to kiev.
good luck MIHAL

Gobio
Gobio
6 years ago

Just MEH. He keeps submitting entries and those do not improve over the years.

M_K
M_K
6 years ago

It’s a decent national final entry. However, we’ve heard dozens of songs in this style in national finals in the last couple of years and they usually don’t make to Eurovision. Overall, it’s a little too generic for me (in a way that couldn’t be made up for by stunning visuals).

M_K
M_K
6 years ago
Reply to  M_K

*make it

D
D
6 years ago

I actually really like it but I really don’t like Mihai so I don’t know if this makes up for that lol

Juuseven
Juuseven
6 years ago

Too generic to me, Sorry but I didn’t like it.

Nancy G
Nancy G
6 years ago

This song is actually TERRIBLE. It’s great M I H A I wants to return to ESC, but he should have the sense to come back with a good song. This is so bland, boring and familiar…

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

60 songs in the semi finals? Aren’t they too many?

About “Heaven”, the music seems a lot like Kristian’s song last year. I don’t know if it’s good or bad. I wanted more originality. However, Mihai’s voice is flawless and he can elevate it. I like it, but I can’t say it’s my favourite or it will win the National Final for sure.

Jake
Jake
6 years ago

I’m sure there will be lots of Bulgaria-inspired entries this year. Somehow I don’t think that entry would’ve been as successful if Russia was in the competition. Also the added appeal was Kristian, given how young he was while still being immensely talented. I’m expecting lots of Blanche, Kristian and Salvador style songs. Like when the common linnets came in 2nd to conchita and we got tons of diva bond-style songs and lots of duets the following year.

Gorilla716
Gorilla716
6 years ago
Reply to  Jake

I think Beautiful Mess probably would have won if it was representing Russia because Russia has a lot of friends and a huge diaspora as well as a 100% qualification record whereas Bulgaria doesn’t have a lot of voting support and has only qualified three times in its Eurovision history.

Bart
Bart
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716

This is ridiculous. You sound like Russia had won a thousand times… Russia won only ONCE! Anyway Russia may have friends but it also has enemies… Furthermore Beautiful Mess is highly overrated. Russia sent far better songs in the past and didn’t win.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716

It was representing Russia. Russia wasn’t there, so the eastern bloc transferred their votes to Bulgaria. That’s how he got second.

Sergey4everfan
Sergey4everfan
6 years ago
Reply to  Jake

I sure hope there will be lots of Blanche & Kris-style songs. I loved both

Adrian
Adrian
6 years ago

Simply copy of Kristan Kostov ‘Beautiful Mess’ and Molly Sandén ‘Youniverse’

Tomás Patrick davitt
Tomás Patrick davitt
6 years ago

I LOVE Mihai – he’s clearly a Eurovision superfan like us!!!

It’s a great song. Very solid. I have absolutely zilch problem with someone trying to copy ‘beautiful mess’ – that’s my favourite song of 2017 so I’d love to hear more in that vein.

Alvaricomg
Alvaricomg
6 years ago

With all respect, who cares? I mean, Romania always sends terrible songs and they always manage to qualify and even end up in top 10 most of the times. #SorryNotSorry

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago
Reply to  Alvaricomg

I agree they are the most overrated country ever. Since 2010 they only deserved to qualify in 2010(Playing with Fire is amazing!) and 2014. I mean how could they qualify in 2017, 2013 is beyond me. In 2017, they qualifed instead of Estonia, Macedonia, Ireland, Switzerland and they got 7th place in the final!? And in 2013 they qualifed instead of Switzerland and Israel?!

Adryan
Adryan
6 years ago
Reply to  Alvaricomg

Hahah, are you serious? ”end up in top 10 most times”?

Let me fix that for you: since the semi-finals were introduced in 2004, they’ve been in top 10 four times!

So out of 14 editions, they have been in top 10 four times. So no, ”not most of the time”. In fact, not even a third of the time.

2005, 2006, 2010 and 2017 were the only ones who made it to top 10!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Adryan

We will see them in the Top 10 more frequently now with this new voting system.

KESC
KESC
6 years ago

Hmm, this is just an unsuccessful copy of Beautiful Mess. And I don’t really like his voice either. So, sending this after Yodel it would be a big mistake.

Real Winner
Real Winner
6 years ago

M I H A I
B O R I N G

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Sounds like something that I’ve heard a billion of times…

Closs
Closs
6 years ago

Oh NO. Please Romania – no. You always send great songs, but sending this will be a huge mistake. I can already imagine how many people will shred this to pieces because of its similar theme to Kristian Kostov’s Beautiful Mess.

The UK always recycles old songs and fails miserably, don’t make the same mistake, Romania, you are one of the countries that sends decent songs year after year.

Matilda Teodora
Matilda Teodora
6 years ago
Reply to  Closs

Don’t worry, here in Romania many people don’t care about him that much anymore and hopefully other song that will deserve will win our National Final

esc freak
esc freak
6 years ago

I never like his songs, I don’t know why. In this one the verses are not bad but the chorus is disappointing.
Johnny Badulescu is still my favorite.

Eurowiwision
Eurowiwision
6 years ago

Reminds me too much of molly sanden – youniverse

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Let’s be honest here. Kristian did so well because it was him (the image, the looks…), not because of his song, which was out of every iTunes and Spotify top 200 ten days after the contest. Mihai chose the wrong song to get ~inspired~ from… it’ll do absolutely nothing for him.

VlaD
VlaD
6 years ago

Which Eurovision song is not out of every iTunes and Spotify ten days after the contest?
IF a song is going to do something in the charts after Eurovision it is only going to be in its own country.

D
D
6 years ago

Speak for yourself Kristian’s song was one of my big favorites from last year. Very few Eurovision songs last year were able to dominate the charts, and we haven’t had a legitimate continental hit since Loreen.

Giui Jongin
Giui Jongin
6 years ago

Bucharest 2019….. Maybe?

TJ
TJ
6 years ago
Reply to  Giui Jongin

only if they don‘t send this! xD

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Actually, quite nice. Maybe it misses the WOW factor on very first listening, but could be a grower. It’s very pleasant and melodic.

VlaD
VlaD
6 years ago

Its a good song, his better attempt to come back to eurovision, but its clear that they have been influenced by Kristian’s entry

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago

Of course, it is good and he will kill it live but….that is very similar to Mr. Kostov’s song.

Beary
Beary
6 years ago

He’s old enough to be Kristian Kostov’s dad

Adam
Adam
6 years ago

It’s alright, but I really like his music more when its uptempo/dance…

zheng
zheng
6 years ago

Elena Hasna has a great song!

Kid
Kid
6 years ago
Reply to  zheng

Haha no. Elena’s song is the opposite of great.