Romania's Semi-final 1 results Selectia Nationala

Romania‘s Selectia Nationala 2018 kicked off tonight in Focsani, where eleven acts clashed for a place in the final. In the end, three of them advanced: Alexia & Matei, Echoes and Eduard Santha.

In Semi-final 1, the eleven candidates — a twelfth act, Tom Hartis, withdrew because of flu — competed in front of the national jury, made up of former Eurovision representative Ilinca Bacila, songwriter Viorel Gavrila, rocker Marian Ionescu, guitarist Nicu Patoi and lyricist Liliana Stefan.

On the stage of Focsani’s Municipal Theatre, emotions ran high, some hopefuls couldn’t cope with the pressure and others rose to the challenge. In the end, three acts remained standing and qualified for the National Final of Selectia Nationala on 25 February.

The three qualifiers were determined by jury decision alone, but they will face the public vote in the final.

Alexia & Matei

The duo formed by Alexia & Matei is the first favourite act of the jury. Also our readers’ favourite, the teenage pair got 53 points from the jury for an energy-filled performance of “Walking On Water”.

Echoes

With two rockers on the jury, it was to be expected that one of the rock numbers should go through. Echoes received 38 points from the jury for their “Mirror”.

Eduard Santha

In third place we find Eduard Santha. Despite performing last, he brought the house down with “Mesom Romales”, getting top points from Ilinca. Over all, he qualified with 35 points.

Alex Florea, who was the first to perform, failed to impress the jury and will not go on to the final.

Full results of Semi-final 1 – Selectia Nationala

  1. Alexia & Matei – 53 points
  2. Echoes – 38 points
  3. Eduard Santha – 35 points
  4. Johnny Badulescu – 34 points
  5. Alex Florea – 28 points
  6. Elena Turcu – 27 points
  7. Lina – 24 points
  8. Hellen – 22 points
  9. Liviu Anghel – 20 points
  10. Waleska – 7 points
  11. CornEL – 2 points

The three qualifiers will now face off the other 12 finalists — to be determined in the next four semi-finals — in the National Final, which will be held in Bucharest’s Sala Polivalenta on 25 February. There, the winner of Romania’s Selectia Nationala 2018 will be chosen by the viewers.

Next Sunday, twelve more acts will face off in Timisoara, where three more finalists will be picked by the jury.

What do you think about the results? Did your favourite act go through? Let us know in the comments!

FOLLOW ALL OF OUR ROMANIA NEWS HERE

52 Comments
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L'oiseau
6 years ago

Good choices. I must say, very happy Alex Florea did not pass…

Jay
Jay
6 years ago

Are you a huge (Junior)Eurovision fan? Do you like listening to national final songs? Do you like listening to foreign music? Are you an active Snapchat user? If you are, add foreignmusicx on Snapchat! I am gonna create a Snapchat group so we can discuss our favorite songs, share our opinion and exchange songs!

Talentina Monetta
Talentina Monetta
6 years ago

Can’t wait for the iconic smash “Safari” to win next week

404 error not found
404 error not found
6 years ago

I’m so sorry to say this but… she didn’t pass… the judges ( except Ilinca) sucks …

florinho
florinho
6 years ago

semifinal 2 is strong , 3 ,4 and 5 is horror

Julian
Julian
6 years ago

I thought Alex Florea would be a sure qualifier but the song went nowhere from auditions to semifinal, it lost all emotion instead of gaining some. The songs that qualified had the best package last night, with Alexia and Matei being the worst of the three – Matei is just not from the same picture with Alexia. The jury is professional, sees maybe some potential, some progress made, but if things are not improved quite a lot the public will dump the song. Cannot understand why singers do not want to sing in Romanian or in Spanish (in the case… Read more »

mike
mike
6 years ago

Ilinca said : ”Cezar, you and I know what competitors feel, I promise you all, I will never be juror in my entire life.”

Cute. I believe her, it’s a cruel job.

Shavinzki
Shavinzki
6 years ago

hahahah byebye Alex FLOPea

Melissa
Melissa
6 years ago

Eduard was the only good act. I don’t quite understand how he finished 3rd tho?? prob some discrimination going on idk. I originally liked Walking On Water but seeing them live has definitely changed my whole aspect on them and their song. It’s just a whole big mess.

NickC
NickC
6 years ago
Reply to  Melissa

I could not agree more. Walking in water is so bad, I have hard time believing it has the same composer with Yodel it.

I also agree with you that Eduard is probably being discriminated against. He is miles ahead of the other two acts that qualified.

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago
Reply to  NickC

I don’t think he’s discriminated, his song is something too unusual to be liked by everyone. Ok, that 1 pointer could have an impact about being agains the message of the song (which is a message I don’t entirely get either, I like the song as a muiscal composition, not for the message), but let’s not put the blame on the fact he’s gypsy. Thankfully, he’s got a big chance in the final, especially with the help of his community.

Marco
Marco
6 years ago

Waleska’s song was just Tina Cousins “Pray”?????

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
6 years ago

lol my favorite (santha) made it somehow? cool

Coolhand
Coolhand
6 years ago

Am I the only one who wishes “walking on water” was just sung by Alexia?

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
6 years ago
Reply to  Coolhand

You are not alone.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  Coolhand

The guy in the duo can’t sing for his life and their choreography was so horrendous…..and then they got 1st place….I was like WoW(walking on water)

florinho
florinho
6 years ago

i want evreyone to know that yodel it and walk on water has the same writter mihai alexandru so we already know who will win its that right tvr?

Pawww
Pawww
6 years ago
The Felix
The Felix
6 years ago
Reply to  Pawww

Oh God, that song is so terrible, this is straight last place for Poland.

Poor Alex =C
Poor Alex =C
6 years ago

Why Ilinca? WHY???

KESC
KESC
6 years ago

Safari has to win!! She is the best option.

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

Did you watch her performance during the live auditions? If you want to cringe, go ahead and look it up on youtube

Dodka
Dodka
6 years ago
Reply to  Daniel_2017

Agreed! “Safari” is not that good. Feli is a way better choice.

Eurovisionfan12
Eurovisionfan12
6 years ago
Reply to  Daniel_2017

Same, her voice and the song in the music video is quite promising but her live performance is atrocious (her voice is weak and she cannot dance). I won’t be surprised if she pulls a Margaret 2016.

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago

Don’t be joking, no comparison between Safari and Margaret, you have nothing to compare.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago
Reply to  Daniel_2017

I just watched Serena’s live audition. Well, IMHO, she is a really good singer. Better than most of them, actually. No dodgy accent, no vocal breaking points, no off tune noise, just good singing.

What this performance lacks, though, is flashiness and raw seduction. Someone like Elena from Mandinga would probably nail it. Usually, less can be more, but this is such “out there” song which needs more direct approach.

Still, among the best options Romania has.

Colin
Colin
6 years ago

Alexia and Matei have a good song, but their performances need a lot of polishing. Eduard Santha had an interesting performance. Echoes were definitely not up my alley. Johnny had the best song, but his accent could have been better. Hellen and Elena gave good performances. Waleska was way better in Spanish than in English, but the song is still average at best. Liviu Anghel was not good. Lina was okay. CornEL just isn’t a performer. It was like watching an amateur on his first X-factor audition. Alex Florea was okay, but definitely not in the same league as in… Read more »

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Don’t be joking, no comparison between Safari and Margaret, you have nothing to compare.

Ruth Lorenzo
Ruth Lorenzo
6 years ago

I am happy that Eduard Santha and Echoes went through. I would have also picked Elena Turcu instead of Alexia & Matei.

There’s nothing special about “Walking on the water”. It’s a generic pop wong that is easily prone to get lost among the rest.

Andr
Andr
6 years ago
Reply to  Ruth Lorenzo

I agree with you. I personally would have chosen Elena Turcu, Echoes and Hellen

Enchanted Lobster
Enchanted Lobster
6 years ago

Political correctness at its best. Elena Turcu should have qualified instead of the gypsy band that managed to impress with chest hair and nothing else.

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago

It’s an all or nothing song, some will hate it, some will love it. Personally I love it, original, great vocals, best interpretation in terms of coreography… It seems that you hate it.

Enchanted Lobster
Enchanted Lobster
6 years ago

I said it simply failed to impress me. Not liking something does not mean I hate it. The thing I hate is that there were more deserving acts that should have qualified.

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
6 years ago

In your opinion. The fact that you blame political correctness for a result you didn’t like shows your bitterness.

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
6 years ago

Truly delighted! My 3 favourites after the show were the ones who qualified! Although I would change the order – Echoes were number 1 for me (not that it really matters, they start from 0 in the final)

Piotr
Piotr
6 years ago

Sorry, but all these songs are terrible… Next please!

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago

The qualifiers are normal and predictable… that 1 point to Santha and 6 or 7 to Walewska by the first juror… he ruined the vote there, I really like his music, but what what he did there, he has no right to be a juror on a competition, it’s not possible to give such an amount of points to a person that can not sing. Finally, it went well, they were exactly the participants that deserved to get through.

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago
Reply to  Bogdan Honciuc

I thought a little about that possibiliy :)) Just if he wouldn’t have put Alexia and Matei on the last place and I would have said the same thing for real.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

Elena Turcu had the best performance without a doubt!! She should have gone through!!

Radiologistology
Radiologistology
6 years ago
Reply to  Kris

For real! She had one of the best voices in such a crappy night.

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago

Alex had a great voice too, but it’s a contest about the songs especially, not just about the voice. Their songs were weak.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

Like really you think that mirrors is a stronger song than Perfect fall??

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
6 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Oh definitely!!! Much stronger!

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Yes, ‘Mirrors’ sounded pretty well and had something of a radio song (which is not necessarily always a plus but at least it is something). And vocally, absolutely good. A better song sang well.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

They had a better performance for sure!! But song quality wise I think it’s lacking

Bb
Bb
6 years ago

Ilinca giving Alex 6 points was one of the highlights, especially her poker face she tried so hard to keep.

Other highlight was when she used a google translator to give her opinions to Waleska (de Espania).

Oh, and how can we forget the 30+ minute music concert while we were waiting for the jury’s decision?

Jake
Jake
6 years ago

Oh Alex Florea. Maybe he forgot his sad story. Or a good voice. Or a decent song. Or Ilinca. He certainly brought the KARMA!

Juslin
Juslin
6 years ago
Reply to  Jake

Karma for what? What did I miss? And what was the sad story? Tell me everything…

Ysabella
Ysabella
6 years ago
Reply to  Juslin

Alex mentioned that Salvador only won the Eurovision because of his sad story and also said that the only disease that Salvador had was in his head. I guess that’s what Jake is talking about…

Juslin
Juslin
6 years ago
Reply to  Ysabella

Thanks! I read a few things about it in the meantime (when I found out it had smth to do with Salvador).

Radiologistology
Radiologistology
6 years ago

Elena Turcu >:(