Serena Safari wiwibloggs poll winner Semi-final 2 Selectia Nationala 2018

After our readers predicted that Alexia & Matei should win Semi-Final 1 of Selectia Nationala 2018 – which the teenage duo did – we asked you who should win Semi-Final 2. With 1.325 votes cast, we have a clear winner: Serena, with her banger “Safari”!

Twelve acts will fight for three places in the final in Timisoara, with the jury once again selecting the three finalists. But who are your favourites, and who did you pick as the top three?

1. Serena – “Safari”

Relative newcomer Serena (real name: Diana Serban) came from virtually nowhere to become one of the main fan favourites at Selectia Nationala this year. She won over 41% of our poll, with 547 votes.

With a modern/tribal sound — similar to Romanian megastar Inna’s more recent hits like “Ruleta” – Serena’s entry “Safari” has instantly become a frontrunner in the race to Lisbon. If she delivers a stage show and a vocal performance worthy of her fans’ expectations, Serena should become the star of Semi-Final 2. The only question is, are the jury members going to be as impressed with her “Safari”?

2. Jukebox feat. Bella Santiago

Jukebox aren’t newcomers to Selectia Nationala. Their 2016 entry “Come On Everybody” failed to make the six-strong national final, also making a negative impression on our Wiwi Jury.

This time, the band have ditched the questionable lyrics and song title, opting for a decidedly mature and modern entry. They’ve also brought in Romania’s Got Talent 2017 finalist, Bella Santiago. The Filipino’s voice is the shining star of “Auzi cum bate” (Hear It Beating) and the song won many of our readers’ hearts. It placed second in our poll with 246 votes (around 18.5%).

3. M I H A I – “Heaven”

The artist formerly known as Mihai Traistariu needs no introduction. It seems like the veteran Eurovision star will never give up on his dream to one day win the song contest, and “Heaven” marks his latest attempt to do so. Our readers cast 211 votes for M I H A I (15.92%), making him their third favourite to win Semi-Final 2 of Selectia Nationala.

Given his track record, his vocal abilities, and the fact that only Ilinca and Alex stood in his way to Kyiv last year, we’d also venture to say that the “Tornero” singer is a surefire qualifier tonight.

Full results

[polldaddy poll=9923353]

Romania’s second semi-final will take place on the stage of Timisoara’s National Theatre starting 20:00 CET tonight and will be broadcast live on TVR 1, TVR International, TVR Moldova and online on TVR Plus. It will also be broadcast on the official YouTube channel of broadcaster TVR.

The show will also feature guest performances by Romania’s legendary rock band Cargo, Romanian-Portuguese singer Ricardo Caria, who will perform Salvador Sobral’s Eurovision 2017 winning song “Amar Pelos Dois”, Serbian pop legend Neda Ukraden, and Roma singer Lavinia Raducanu. A melting pot of ethnicities and cultures, host city Timisoara aims to showcase and celebrate its diversity with an eclectic show.

Ultimately however, the hopes and dreams of the 12 semi-finalists will hang in the balance, and the jury will select just three of them to advance to the National Final in Bucharest on 25 February, when the winner will be crowned by the public via televote.

Tonight’s line up is:

  • Jukebox feat. Bella Santiago – “Auzi cum bate”
  • Alessandro Danescu – “Breaking Up”
  • Meriem – “End The Battle”
  • M I H A I – “Heaven”
  • Jessie Banes – “Lightning Strikes”
  • Romeo Zaharia – “Maybe This Time”
  • Othello – “Noi suntem padure”
  • Miruna Diaconescu – “Run For You”
  • Serena – “Safari”
  • Pragu’ De Sus – “Te voi chema”
  • Endless feat. Maria Grosu – “Thinking About You”
  • Rafael & Andy – “We Are One”

Do you agree with the results of our poll? Is Serena going to impress the jury as she did our readers? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

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23 Comments
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Julian
Julian
6 years ago

Serena might be ok for a joke entry but Romania never sent one of those.
Jukebox feat. Bella Santiago were the best of the night and deservingly went to the final. Mihai was quite dull. Rafael was ok – 2 rockers in the jury means that at least one of the qualifiers is a rock song.
Semifinal 2 was weaker than semifinal 1, hopefully the other 3 remaining will be better.

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
6 years ago

Man, Serena cannot sing live to save her life! I’m watching her right now on the stage…

doliep
doliep
6 years ago

where from France I can see the show?

doliep
doliep
6 years ago
Reply to  doliep

because on youtube I don’t find the live stream…….

doliep
doliep
6 years ago
Reply to  doliep

ok sorry I have found it now

Gobio
Gobio
6 years ago

“Auzi Cum Bate” is my favorite here.
It also kinda reminds me of Beyonce’s “survivor”.

Nic
Nic
6 years ago

I think Jessie Banes should qualify, probably instead of Mihai. I think her song is awesome and the production is really smart and well done, and vocally she killed it at her audition. It could also have amazing staging and effects for the theme and feeling of the song

Victoria
Victoria
6 years ago

Serena is like Blanche of Belgium. Good song with a weak live performance.

Nickc
Nickc
6 years ago
Reply to  Victoria

Comparing city lights with safari is like comparing Audrey Hepburn with Pamela Anderson

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago

Yeah, this is a joke, of course, Serena has small chances to get through. And to be sincere, it would be fair. If she sings like in the auditions (and there are small chances to think that one person could improve too much in such a short time from such a performance), she has no right to be into the final. Ok, at Eurovision it is not about the best voice, but still you have to be able to sing. And anyway, why such much talking about this song? It’s a banal radio-dance piece of music, it would have absolutely… Read more »

Hada
Hada
6 years ago

Life is so unfair, why’s such a good song as Safari sung by such a weak singer as Serena? I hope it wins Selectia nonetheless, but they need to make profound changes to the live act.

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago

Serena has no competition at all if she delivers a good performance, which I think she will, I mean at that “audition” no one had perfect vocals, dresses, dancers etc. so yeah I belive in you Serena!

NickC
NickC
6 years ago

Just listened the top 2 songs for the first time: Jukebox for me, and by a mile.
‘Come on boy, move that body, tonight I am naughty’ made me cringe, sorry.

escfan
escfan
6 years ago

Serena was bad in live in the audition, if she improves ok but if not , I don’t want she qualify.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

Serena will qualify if her composer/producer is famous in Romania!! Else she will not be able to make it through with a performance like in the audition.

She needs to bring more sass and vocal finesse into the performance to go through!!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

I don’t get the hype for Mihai, his song is pretty bad (imo).

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

All of his attempts at making a comeback have been bland and unimpressive.

Aaron
Aaron
6 years ago

I actually agree with you!

Aaron
Aaron
6 years ago

You would have to be stupid to send anyone but Serena, she could produce a top 10 result easily! I am bored of MIHAI, Romania don’t want you to go to ESC again. Can we also bring up how unkempt he looked when he performed. Serena is a classy, sensual and PROFESSIONAL performer.

AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
6 years ago
Reply to  Aaron

Tell me a song of that type that made top 10 in Eurovision and I will believe you. Serena has the hype that ‘Miracle’ had for some, still, that song didn’t impress at all in Eurovision. And we talk about 2 years when we had an oriental ballad-ish and a 40’s vibes winners, why would I believe that something as ‘Safari’ would do that great?! About MIHAI, I don’t think that Romania doesn’t want to send him again, it’s just that he didn’t come with something that special to beat other songs last selections. Otherwise, MIHAI had pretty good results… Read more »

NickC
NickC
6 years ago

Anyone but MIHAI who is currently being sued by some Swedish composers for being a fraud.

CharlieChan
CharlieChan
6 years ago

GOSH Serena is just amazing. I’m sure she will win this semi and the whole Selectia Nationala

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago

NO heaven please. It is sooooooo cliché, it would be an awfull choice. Please go for Serena, I love her and she had great potential for a good stage show.