Leather body suits, bag pipes and accordions rarely appear on stage at the same time—unless you’re Romanian pop group Mandinga. Their mishmash of folk music, pop couture, and spilling cleavage helped them win Romania’s national selection—and the opportunity to represent Bucharest in Baku.

It didn’t hurt that they came to the competition with “Zaleilah”—a feel-good number that sets happiness to a euro-pop beat. “Zaleilah” isn’t a word with any known meeting. Instead it’s a new way to shake your body. Here’s how Mandinga explain it on their official web site: “Wondering what Zaleila means? It’s a dance that you’ve never seen before, a dance that we are ready to teach you at every concert.” After watching the video of their national finals performance below, we still haven’t figured out precisely what that dance involves. But we know that we like the way this song makes us feel.

WATCH:

Wiwi also knows that the group is made of up Romanians and Cubans, which explains its sizzling international sound. They’ve released four albums—De corazon in 2003, My sun in 2005, Gozalo! in 2006, and Donde in 2008. According to their web site, they also give around 300 live performances every year. Their single “Goochi” featuring Luis Vasquez also made the Top 40 in Spain, Switzerland, Peru, Bulgaria, Romania and the United States.

In other news, congratulations to Wiwi’s readers for accurately predicting that “Zaleilah” would win Romania’s national selection. Wiwi is going to go out on a limb right now and say that Mandinga’s sole female member—and lead singer—will be a strong contender to win our annual search for Eurovision’s Next Top Model. Romanian women have taken the title twice in the past three years. She’s a worthy contender. For now, enjoy their lyrics!

“Zaleilah” Lyrics

Mandinga everyday
Mandinga, zaleilah….

Asi, asi
Oh yeah,

Siento el ritmo del cuerpo tocandome
El perfume del viento besandome
Cuando estoy a tu lado, me siento bien
Ooh, yeah
Si me tocas, me abrazas quiero bailar
Soy feliz, puedo gritar

Hook:
Zaleilah, everyday, everybody
When you love, you say everyday, everybody
Zaleilah, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah, Zaleilah. x2

Tu dejate amarte, dejame amarte toda la vida
Tu nunca lo dudes que estoy para ti, nada mas
Mi chico bonito un poco negrito, ven papito ven aca
Siempre contigo siento que es vivo en un amor real. x2

Hook:
Zaleilah, everyday, everybody
When you love, you say everyday, everybody
Zaleilah, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah, Zaleilah.

When you make me feel so special
I am dreaming, I am dreaming
Oooh…

Everybody say…..
Vamos, vamos, vamos,vamos alla, (ahi)
vamos, vamos, (asi), vamos (muevete)
vamos, vamos, vamos, vamos alla (arriba arriba)
(asi asi, vamos alla)
Hook:
Zaleilah, everyday, everybody
When you love, you say everyday, everybody
Zaleilah, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah, Zaleïlah.

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crispy9084
crispy9084
12 years ago

12 p To Romania from Portugal

azerbaijan
12 years ago

12 points romania

iceland
12 years ago

12 points tu romania

malta
12 years ago

12 points tu malta,cipru,greece,israel,spain,moldova,portugal,go tu romania

alex
alex
12 years ago

this is the winner

UK FAN
UK FAN
12 years ago

BEST SONG THIS YEAR!

Nirgal
12 years ago

This is so Mexican in some moments that it scares me. I like it.

Serbia Euro Fan
Serbia Euro Fan
12 years ago

12 points from Belgrade. WHO CAN BEAT THIS?!?!?

SwedeBoy
SwedeBoy
12 years ago

I seriously love this song! It doesn’t really develop, but it is pleasant. Which is more than I can say about 75% of this year’s acts….