Selectia Nationala 2018 semi-finals locations

The preparation for Romania‘s Selectia Nationala 2018 is well underway. 60 semi-finalists are gearing up for the live shows, culminating with the National Final on 25 February. Today, broadcaster TVR has officially revealed the dates, host cities and line-ups for the five semi-finals — and we’re going on a journey!

This year, Romania is celebrating 100 years of existence as an independent state and united country. To mark the centenary, TVR is going all out and organising a pan-Romanian Selectia Nationala!

The contest is heading outside of Bucharest and into the countryside. This gives more opportunities to Eurovision fans all over the country to witness the selection firsthand, and support their favourite artists.

The five live heats will be hosted by five different cities, as follows:

Semi-final 1: 21 January in Focsani

Semi-final 2: 28 January in Timisoara

Semi-final 3: 4 February in Craiova

Semi-final 4: 11 February in Turda

Semi-final 5: 18 February in Sighisoara

It’s important to note that all semi-finals and the national final will take place on Sundays. This avoids a collision with many other major national selections — phew!

Semi-final 3 will take place in Craiova, which also hosted the 2015 National Final.

And how’s this for a potentially fascinating venue. Reports suggest the chosen venue for Semi-Final 4 is Salina Turda, a salt mine that was placed by Business Insider at the top of their list of the ten “coolest underground places in the world”.

Deep in its cavern lies an amphitheatre — and we have reason to believe that is where our semi-finalists will have to perform. How cool is that?

Selectia Nationala semi-finals running order

We also know where the likes of M I H A I, Feli, Xandra and Alex Florea will battle it out for a place in the final. TVR has now released details of competing acts in each semi-final, as follows:

Semi-final 1

  1. Lina – “A love Worth Falling For”
  2. Johnny Badulescu – “Devoted”
  3. Hellen – “From Underneath”
  4. Eduard Santha – “Mesom Romales”
  5. Echoes – “Mirror”
  6. Alex Florea – “Nobody Told Me It Would Hurt
  7. Waleska – “Renacer (Reborn)”
  8. Liviu Anghel – “Rise Up”
  9. CornEL – “Take Me Away”
  10. Tom Hartis – “Teardrop Rain”
  11. Elena Turcu – “The Perfect Fall”
  12. Alexia & Matei – “Walking On Water”

Semi-final 2

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

Semi-final 3

  1. Erminio Sinni & Titziana Camelin – “All The Love Away”
  2. Zavera – “Come Back To Me”
  3. Mares Pana – “Daydreamer”
  4. Aurel Dinca – “Fire In The Sky”
  5. Tavi Clonda – “King”
  6. VYROS – “La La La”
  7. Diana Bratan – “Paint It Rainbow”
  8. Carolina Gorun – “Reach Out For The Stars”
  9. Elena Hasna – “Revival”
  10. Eliza Chifu – “So Good Without You”
  11. Ayona – “The Story Goes On”
  12. Xandra – “Try”

Semi-final 4

  1. Feli – “Buna de iubit”
  2. ZØLTAN – “Daca dragostea e oarba”
  3. TIRI – “Desrt de sentimente”
  4. Paula Crisan – “I Am Here”
  5. Cristian Siminonescu – “Nirvana”
  6. Alice Jeckel – “Out Of The Dark”
  7. Dan Manciulea – “Raza de soare”
  8. Lion’s Roar – “Rekindle The Flame”
  9. Claudia Andas – “The One”
  10. Ioana Ciornea – “Time After Time”
  11. Bernice Chitiul – “Too Busy For My Heart”
  12. Nicoleta Ticala – “Una oportunidad”

Semi-final 5

  1. SAVE – “All We Need”
  2. Tomher Cohen – “Baby You’re The Only One”
  3. Sergiu Bolota – “Every Little Thing”
  4. Dora Gaitanovici – “Fara tine”
  5. Teodora Dinu – “Fly”
  6. The HUMANS – “Goodbye”
  7. Iliana – “I Won’t Lie”
  8. Evermorph – “Live Your Life”
  9. Alexandru Ungureanu – “Sail With Me”
  10. Manuel Chivari – “Somebody To Love”
  11. Maria Suciu – “Sweet Nothing”
  12. Denisa Trofin – “Tears”

Tomher Cohen replaces Freia in the semi-finals, as her song “Fix Me” was commercially released in China and on Spotify before 1 September 2017.

In each semi-final, the jury will select three songs that will make it to the National Final. In the final, the public will be granted sole power to send the best act and song to Lisbon, via televote.

The National Final will take place in Bucharest on 25 February. The venue is yet to be announced.

What do you think about Selectia Nationala’s new selection style? Which semi-final looks most interesting to you? Sound off in the comments below!

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14 Comments
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AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

It’s hard to keep track with all these songs in the semis. I mean… 5 semis? However, I’m looking forward to the shows.

brunowskii
brunowskii
6 years ago

This is THEEE NATIONAL FINAL for 2018…. Go Romania!!!!

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

What’s the point in all these semi-finals if the jury is solely gong to choose the fifteen finalists? They could’ve done this entire process internally and saved some money.

James
James
6 years ago

Perhaps due to the fact it’s their country’s centennial year that the broadcaster wants to make Selectia Nationala the highlight for Romanian television this year.

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
6 years ago

Furthermore, to judge properly you want to see live performances, in a proper television setting. It also gives the artists an opportunity to practice in an authentic competitive environment, with live audience, cameras, etc.
But yeah, as already pointed out, _the point_ is primarily to serve the public with entertainment, as is the case with most TV productions.
I hope that answered your question.

Giorgio
Giorgio
6 years ago

They already listened to the artists perform at the live auditions though…

Anda
Anda
6 years ago

Semifinal 2 is very strong

Kinie
Kinie
6 years ago

Hum…good luck.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

How have they decided the Semi-final allocation?
Semi-5 literally doesn’t have any good song whereas semi 1 and 2 seem to have many of people’s favourites!!

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  Kris

Semi -4 ! It has only Feli who some people like

John Myers
John Myers
6 years ago

Timisoara is going to be European Capital of Culture in 2021. That’s a very nice city 🙂

Marcus (Day One)
Marcus (Day One)
6 years ago

I’m glad a lot of countries are going all out and having a format that includes so many songs but can weed out the bad songs or artist with a large fan group (But a subpar song).

Although having 15 songs in the Final seems like much but when you consider eurovision has 26 and you have to stand out it makes sense to have a large number of songs in the Final.

Good luck Romania

cat lady
cat lady
6 years ago

Romania never makes a safe choice. Great. I can’t wait to hear this year’s entry.

Josh
Josh
6 years ago

excitinggggggggggggggg