Semi-final 1 of Romania‘s Selectia Nationala came and went this weekend, and we now have the first three finalists. We move on to Semi-final 2, which will take place this coming Sunday. Before the judges decide who should qualify, we’re asking you: who should advance to the National Final?
After our readers correctly predicted that Alexia & Matei would be the winners of the first semi-final, and we are very curious to see if your flair proves right once again.
The second semi-final will be broadcast on Sunday from Timisoara, a major city located in western Romania. The chosen venue is Sala 2 of the National Theatre. Timisoara is known as the birth place of the 1989 Revolution, but also as the first European city with with electric lighting on the streets. So Timisoara is lit, but how are our 12 contestants? We invite you to watch their performances at the live auditions and then vote in our poll below!
Jukebox feat. Bella Santiago – “Auzi cum bate” (Hear It Beating)
Alessandro Danescu – “Breaking Up”
Meriem – “End The Battle”
M I H A I – “Heaven”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDH0PuznOFE
Jessie Banes – “Lightning Strikes”
Romeo Zaharia – “Maybe This Time”
Performance starts at the 15:15 mark
Othello – “Noi suntem padure” (We Are Forest)
Miruna Diaconescu – “Run For You”
Performance starts at the 34:22 mark
Serena – “Safari”
Pragu’ De Sus – “Te voi chema” (I Shall Call You)
Endless feat. Maria Grosu – “Thinking About You”
Rafael & Andy – “We Are One”
The biggest name on this list is, of course, M I H A I. “Heaven” marks Mihai Traistariu’s newest attempt to represent Romania at Eurovision again, after finishing in fourth position with “Tornero” in Athens back in 2006.
Fans of Selectia Nationala might also remember Jukebox, who entered the national selection in 2016 with “Come On Everybody”. They packed their bags after the semi-final — will they be able to convince the jury this time around?
Serena’s “Safari” is well hyped by the fans, despite her less than perfect live audition. Will she be able to step it up at the semi-final and prove that she has what it’s got to? We’ll find out on Sunday!
Until then, you have the chance to choose your finalists right here and now. You can vote for as many acts as you want, but you can only do it once, so make it count!
We will reveal your top picks on Sunday, before the second semi-final of Selectia Nationala 2018 is aired, so make sure you cast your vote before Sunday morning at 11:00 CET.
[polldaddy poll=9923353]After you vote, please feel free to defend your choice in the comments section below!
The one that stand out for me are Heaven, Safari and Breaking up.
Honestly, I’m not a big fan of Safari but there is room for improvement and the song itself is good. Heaven is similar to Bulgaria’s entry last year. That’s not good because it’s not sth original. Hope to see Mihai one day in Eurovision with a strong song and win the whole thing for Romania.
That Safari song is everything I would want and expect from a Romanian entry.
So your expectations for us are next to zero, got it…
I like Serena, her vocals will be better, even pre-parties are more about singer gaining experience, not only about promotion.
Romanian jury is in love with ESC, they will vote whatever is good for ESC, they are not old fashion, all contrary, they are very ESC-aware.
This is by far the strongest semi!! I love studio version of Safari but she needs to be more charismatic in her live performance or have a songwriter who’s a big name in Romania(Walking on water qualified with horrendous vocals and dancing) to qualify!!
This is by far the most talked about semi, that’s for sure. Serena is vocally good, but she lacks that sensual charisma for a song like this. I think that Iveta Mukuchyan or Elena from Mandinga would nail this song. MIHAI is technically great, but I don’t feel him. He’s sorta clinically amazing. Auzi cum bate would be my choice for tonight. Also, I agree about Walking on Water: good song, mess of a performance.
Romania: PLEASE SEND SERENA
I also hope that we send Serena. Let’s hope that happens
I agree with the poll. The qualifiers should be Serena, Jukebox and Mihai. Semifinal 2 is stronger than Semifinal 1, which I find unfair…
For all concerned (I know there are lots) Meriem is major LGBT hater it’s pretty much all she posts on facebook page
Serena’s live was bad and the song is just okay. Plus, I don’t like any of these entries. What a weak national selection!
MIHAIi has the best voice.
Serena is the only option. Some people are exaggerating the situation with her vocals. Yes, she did not gave the best performance, since she needs to work on her vocals and on her stage presence, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have a chance to get a respectable result in Lisbon. Safari is a really strong entry, and tbh the best out of all the songs. I see only Walking on Water being able to race Safari. And I would remind you that e.g. Ira Losco did not have the best vocals as well, when she won MESC with… Read more »
Jukebox, M I H A I, and Pragu’ De Sus were the only acceptable ones…
To the people who say Serena’s vocals are not good… Nobody’s vocals on that audition were good, because of the bad audio. Belive me she just needs dancers, good audio and a nice light show, she also didn’t have a “performance”, because nobody had a “performance”…
Yeah her vocals were decent!! The backing track was too low in volume for a pop song in the live audition videos….so yeah just charisma is what she needs…the vocals are there!!
Serenaaaa yasss
Jukebox feat. Bella Santiago should win it followed by Mihai and Serena!
Safari is a really great song with a great potential at Eurovision BUT the live was bad, and Serena vocals are not great. Im not sure she can qualify finally.
I am also Team Serena, and I hope she represents Romania, but I doubt she will proceed to the next stage of the competition. The judges will basically rob her, I already smell it …
Serena!!!! SCREW MIHAI
Serena is very bad in live…… bad vocals
Serena and/or MIHAI. I don’t care about the third act.
Serena is great live too! She only needs some dancers and a light show and she is ready for a top 10 in Eurovision, please Romania send her
I though the same when i’ve heared the song, even Top 5 but the live was kinda disappointing and bad. And her vocals are not great too.
Not sure she can qualify
I still maintain Jukebox’s song is the best in this final if they can approach the studio version quality live.
It’s even better live, check out Yusuf audition
Serena’s song “Safari” is A-Mazing, but I don’t see the old fashioned jury members passing her to the final, and it’s a pity. The sound is very modern and fresh!
Old fashioned jury members? Like Ilinca, who herself represented Romania by yodeling in a rapping song? I don’t think so. If they don’t like the song enough, I will hardly be because it’s too modern.
Serena with Safari is “amazing”, although the old fashioned jury members won’t pick her….
I’d like to see Serena to qualify I think it has alot of appeal outside of Romania, however since its 100% Jury votes I’m not sure they would be as invested in it…