Romania - 72 songs for Selectia Nationala 2018

When Romania’s public broadcaster TVR ambitiously announced earlier this year that Selectia Nationala 2018 would include five semi-finals, they probably were expecting more than 84 entries, which they got last year. It wasn’t the case, with only 72 submissions received this year. But, with big names like Feli, Alex Florea, M I H AI, or Xandra, maybe the small numbers won’t count that much.

TVR announced today that 72 songs were submitted for consideration. M I H A I, Alex Florea, Feli, Jukebox, Eduard Santha and Xandra are mentioned among the local artists vying to represent Romania at Eurovision 2018. Romanian, Swedish, Belgian, Italian, Spanish and Moldovan songwriters are behind the tracks submitted to Selectia Nationala 2018.

We have already listened to M I H A I’s song “Heaven” and Xandra’s “Try”. Meanwhile, Next Star winner Elena Hasna – one of our Top 10 acts who should represent Romania in 2018 –  has made her song public. It was penned by renowned Swedish sister duo Ylva and Linda Persson.

The big surprise is Alex Florea, who seems to have gotten the Eurovision bug. After representing Romania with “Yodel It!” together with Ilinca Bacila and placing seventh in Kyiv earlier this year, it will be interesting to see what he’s sent for 2018.

However, the fact that former Voice of Romania contestant Feli is in the mix is giving Romanian Eurofans hope that she’s produced a killer song. Another top choice of ours for Romania, Feli Donose is a beloved household name in her home country, producing hit after hit and amassing dozens of millions of YouTube views each time. We cannot wait to listen to her Eurovision bid. Meanwhile, let’s listen to her latest single, “Acasa” (Home), released after 1 September 2017. Could this be her ticket to Lisbon?

Next up, the jury will listen to the songs live until 21 December. They are supposed to select 60 songs for the five semi-finals, so they’ll only have to cut 12 tracks. The dates for the five semi-finals still haven’t been announced, but they are set to start in January and they will be hosted by five different cities. The National Final will be held in Bucharest on Sunday, 25 February.

What do you think about the news from Bucharest? Are you excited for Selectia Nationala 2018? Let us know in the comments!

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Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

On Elena Hasna “Revival”: I like her, and I like the music, but I don’t like the lyrics. The lyrics need to match the music, and at the moment they don’t. You don’t sing about a “revival” and then put very sad dramatic music in the background – it just doesn’t work. Advice: Either completely re-write the lyrics or turn the song into a dance track.

On Feli “Acasa”: This is cute. It’s a choreographer’s dream at that mid-tempo. This could qualify, for sure. 🙂

Nicu Hasna
Nicu Hasna
6 years ago

Elena Hasna , es la mejor

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

First of all, Alex will compete alone? Why? I don’t think he’s going anywhere. And I’m not a fan of last year’s song whatsoever.

Alice
Alice
6 years ago

Elena Hasna : she has a powerful voice and she deliver emotions through every single song

François Colas
François Colas
6 years ago

Elena hasna

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

I’m glad that Romania is able to attract big names for their national selection.
I’d like a solo female from Romania next year perhaps singing a ballad.

I’m looking forward to hearing the songs although I don’t get why Alex has entered again because Isn’t he just more of a rapper? I know he go to bootcamp on X factor Romania but still.

I’m hoping for a strong more serious song from Romania because they always send fun songs but it’d be nice to hear a more serious song from Romania.

Good luck.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

He said he actually sings rock music, so perhaps he wasn’t satisfied with rapping.

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

Alex Florea isn’t a rapper, he is a rock artist. He had a rap part for Yodel It!, but besides that he sang rock songs, check on youtube his performances on “X-Factor” and “Vocea Romaniei”: “Bed of roses” (Bon Jovi), “I would do anything for love” (Meatloaf), “One” (U2), “Let Me Entertain You” (Robbie Williams), ”How you remind me” (Nickelback), and so on….

kai
kai
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

alex is a bad singer with a very bad looking….he was awful at ESC 2017….

ete na
ete na
6 years ago
Reply to  kai

Don’t worry, I don’t think he hopes to be send again the very next year, because that happens only with very successful like Lena (2010, 2011), but there’s no reason for so much hate. He didn’t raped Ilinca, he just kissed her on the cheek, something that people do every day. And about Salvador, he was honest and he said something that many were thinking at that time. I guess this is the hardest part to deal with, that many others were thinking the same.

Azika
Azika
6 years ago

Alex should not be allowed to participate in Eurovision ever again. I know everyone’s already mentioned it, but the way Alex treated Salvador was absolutely vile. He hasn’t even apologised. Foul, foul, foul, foul.

He ruined his Eurovision experience. I feel sorry for Ilinca.

D
D
6 years ago

I’ve liked maybe one or two Romanian ESC songs throughout their entire time competing, so I’ve kinda lost hope with them

A
A
6 years ago

Forget about Alex. Alone, he doesn’t stand a chance. Let’s focus on Feli now… She is the big deal

Anna Miles
Anna Miles
6 years ago

i dont get excited….they will choose a crap song like every single year

TJ
TJ
6 years ago
Reply to  Anna Miles

… and still will get to the final with decent / good results…. undeservedly.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Anna Miles

Feli is actually a great singer, so there’s hope. I love her song “Timpul”.

kronos
kronos
6 years ago

Feli can win eurovision if made another hit <3

A
A
6 years ago
Reply to  kronos

Of course she can. She has a beautiful and unique voice. It’s very easy to remember and recognise her, that’s how unique voice and style of singing she has.
And besides that, everyone needs to know how beautiful she is inside. I know her from “The Voice of Romania 2012” and I know that she’s been thru alot to do what she likes, music.

A
A
6 years ago
Reply to  A

through a lot*

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  A

hey I think I found the female version of my little monster lol

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

What’s Álex Florea thinking? After his dumb insults towards Salvador nd his forced awkward kiss on Ilinca, he shouldn’t even try to smell anything Eurovision-related, let alone try to go to Eurovision in *Portugal*.

Mark
Mark
6 years ago

Maybe Romania should invest in a song writing boot camp like other Broadcasters to ensure they get a large amount of entries.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
6 years ago

Is it just me or does everything ylva & linda touch turn into crap?

No Name
No Name
6 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

Pretty much yeah. No wonder they’re still trying to enter ESC after so many years

Zebb
Zebb
6 years ago

Almost everyone wanted Ilinca but has got Alex Florea and M I H A I instead

A cOmeBAcK sMaCk!

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

60 songs? Five semi-finals? My goodness, Romania is going IN.

No Name
No Name
6 years ago

Alex Florea is not welcome in Portugal

Jak
Jak
6 years ago
Reply to  No Name

I’m not Portuguese but I’m also not welcoming Alex Florea to Portugal. He has had really ugly comments about the very personal situation of Salvador and still hasn’t publicly apologised.
He is also a very cheesy guy.

No Name
No Name
6 years ago
Reply to  Jak

This. He needs to apologyse and then everything should be fine

Mark
Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  No Name

Pfft! Why do you care? He’s just a sore loser.

Jayjay
Jayjay
6 years ago
Reply to  No Name

Totally agree! He must be a real looser to run to go to Portugal after the awful comments he made.

Gorilla716
Gorilla716
6 years ago
Reply to  No Name

I’m pretty sure Alex Florea isn’t well known in Portugal and I’m sure most people won’t remember his comments about Salvador so if he does go to Lisbon, I don’t think he’ll get a bad reception.

Hada
Hada
6 years ago
Reply to  Gorilla716

Don’t you worry about it. Portuguese media will make sure every Portuguese person knows exactly who he is and what he did, and they’ll play the video of him forcing that kiss on Ilinca for good measure.

ete na
ete na
6 years ago
Reply to  Hada

Next you’ll say he is a rapist and he must join Weinstein in jail. Let’s not exaggerate, it was a reaction out of joy, and they are friends. He’s not Weinstein.

ete na
ete na
6 years ago
Reply to  Hada

And the kiss wasn’t on the lips, was on the cheek, people kiss on the cheek all the time in Romania, when they meet, after they shake hands. Even hetero man with man.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat Feli?!! YAY!!