Last week, a demo version of Paula Seling and Ovi’s “Miracle” leaked on YouTube and was promptly deleted, but now the real deal has arrived. Today, Paula and Ovi have finally released the full and complete version of their song for Romania’s Selectia Nationala. And it sounds triumphant—for Romania, at least.
The pair, who finished third with “Playing With Fire” in Oslo in 2010, seems to have struck gold yet again with “Miracle”. The spectacular track, which sounds like it’s been produced by the likes of Avicii or Swedish House Mafia, surpasses the expectations set by the teaser and has all the right ingredients for a Eurovision hit. The simple lyrics, the infectious beats and Paula’s jaw-dropping 18-second high note, come together to pander to a lot of Eurovision aficionados’ taste, at least judging by the overwhelmingly positive reaction among fans when the demo leaked. Songwriter Ovi Jacobsen knows what he’s doing and a “Miracle” is, perhaps, what Romania needs in order to finally win the Eurovision trophy.
Mind you, the same qualities may be quoted as faults by other Eurovision fans, who could object to the use of yet another tried and tested dance recipe for Eurovision, instead of something original or with national elements. Once again, for instance, Romania aims high with an English language song largely produced by a Scandinavian team. Not to mention that Paula and Ovi are returnees, and returning artists are not usually successful in Eurovision, with a few notable exceptions. Nevertheless, we have a feeling that “Miracle”, just like “Playing With Fire” in Oslo, could look and sound like a winner in Copenhagen.
Until then, however, the duo has to win Selectia Nationala, Romania’s own national contest, and its submission window was opened just today. Paula Seling and Ovi will unquestionably advance to its Final on the 1st of March, but will they win? So far, Stefan Stan and TeddyK seem set on beating the returnees, and we hear that their song “Breathe” is also amazing. Plus, it wouldn’t be the first time that Romania’s hot favorites lose in Selectia Nationala… Only time will tell.
What do you think about “Miracle”? Is it better than “Playing With Fire”? And what are its chances to win it all in Romania and then in Denmark?
Bogdan Honciuc is a Romania-based correspondent for WiwiBloggs.com.
You can follow him on Twitter @stingovision.
Photo: Daniel Kruczynski.
boring and generic, it will not win Selectia Nationala, not by a longshot, the Romanians learned something in the past twenty-something years of failures, they “feel” they have to send at Copenhagen something way more original to have a chance to win the Eurovision
I don’t like it very much, but it seems to be the kind of music that wins Eurovisions. But I don’t think they have real chances, it’s not so special. It is a top 10 song but nothing more. And I want to say that if with the show and voice Cezar had last year Romania didn’t win, I don’t know if they can do it.
It is the quality music that have won the past few years and that juries love so much. They will come with a great show maybe with confetti they are so popular. And signing with Universal or other big record company is a must. Who cares what the public likes? After forcibly listening to a song hundreds of times everywhere on radio, in malls, discos and wherever it will be a hit. Or something.
I like it!!! But it is a cheesy mixture of stuff we’ve heard over the past few years. Would go down well in the arena though, I think!
Oh this is so generic 🙁
Why?I think Romania will win with them.Also,jury will bring them 1st and televoters at least 2nd(I say about Selectia Nationala)
I’m disappointed, to be honest – Ovi’s a more capable songwriter than this. The lyrics are uninteresting, the chorus background synth is generic, and the rhythm hammered by the piano in the chorus is the same one that’s been recycled in many pop songs (Calvin Harris’s “I’m Not Alone,” Cobra Starship’s “You Make Me Feel,” Chris Brown’s “Yeah 3x” …). Cascada recycled a popular rhythm last year (from “Don’t You Worry Child”), but Glorious was more melodically interesting and inspiring than this one. As a song, “Playing with Fire” is much, much better. It also had more obvious things to… Read more »
Not as good as “Playing With Fire” but I like it better than “It’s My Life”
If Paula delivers that note live, and they have excellent staging, they can win the National Selection, and get into the Finals!
Hope they win!
Loved it. Even “Playing with fire” remains best, “Miracle” should be enough for Bucharest 2015… I hope so! Paula, Ovi and Romania deserve it…. And more: they are light years ahead from 2013 romanian entry, Cezar. Go Romania!
This track won’t win a thing.
Wow…
Put a smile on my face. I love it. Can’t believe the negativity on here.
Good luck Romania!
It would be a ” miracle ” for this to ever win
Totally over-hyped.
Europe moved on from this kind of music a decade ago.
‘Playing With Fire’ was so much better, this is just eh. It may win the Romanian national selection and if it does, it’d probably make it to the finals but definitely not win.
LOL People think that this old stuff is going to win the whole show? It’ll be lucky to win the Romanian NF. “Playing with Fire was on the lower end of average but this isn’t as good.
-Verses feel very weak. The chorus is bombastic and catchy. Paula may beat her high note of 2010. -Between the insturmentals adn the lyrics, this is almost too poppy for me. Almost -This will obviously soar live, no doubt on that. The fact they’re amazing vocalists helps to the cause. Those two deserve the Eurovision victory and the recognition that goes with it. Not better than their 2010 effort, but topping that was nigh impossible; this is a commendable effort. I’d like to think that, if this wins Eurovision on a hypothetical scenario, it just might be a worldwide hit,… Read more »
It won’t do well with juries .. Would be a very weak winner along with Azerbaijan 2011 ..
Most of the songs in A Dal for Hungary are stronger than this cheap stuff
Callum: are you saying that if Playing with fire entered the contest in 2014, it would get a worse place than 3rd??? come on 3 years that’s nothing.
you are saying that a weak song can win eurovision, just if it sounds like something from 2014. and you think every 2014 song should be a dance-song like this to sound new and chart???
Romanii nu trebuie sa se duca cu vreo piesa ,,mondiala” la Eurovision, pentru ca ei oricum nu vor castiga, din nefericire! Piesa asta e foarte buna, insa daca Romania va participa cu ea la Eurovision tot nu va castiga! Nici cu aceasta piesa superba, nici cu altele. Cu toate astea, succes Romania!
It’s pretty decent but I agree that it has nothing unique about it to stand out and would make a pretty non-eventful winner. I didn’t even really like “Playing With Fire” that much but I prefer it to this.
For everyone hating:
it’s not that fact it’s a weaker song, it’s the fact that in 3 years time, the music industry has evolved. It may seem weaker but in today’s current market, it would chart well, that’s what you need to consider.
I love it! On repeat! Bucharest 2015
it sounds like something from dmgp , a lot of songs sounds like Miracle
this really sucks…. it will be great if they represent romania but not with this song…..
So un-original and boring 🙁 What is so special about it?
I hope Romania won’t choose this crap, because I want them to qualify!
Playing with fire was a stronger song .. No winner here .. Not very original or memorable ..
Why bother entering a second time with a weaker song