After staging Semi-Final 2 in Timisoara on Sunday, Romania‘s broadcaster TVR is getting ready to move to Craiova for Semi-Final 3 of Selectia Nationala 2018. It’s time to open another poll to find out who you think should win on 4 February. Let’s do this!
The third semi-final will take place on 4 February in Craiova, the same city that also hosted the 2015 National Final which saw Voltaj win the golden ticket to Vienna. The chosen venue is the National Theatre. On Sunday, the national jury will chose three acts to advance to the grand final in Bucharest on 25 February.
After you correctly predicted that Alexia & Matei would be the winners of the first semi-final, fan favourite Serena failed to qualify in Timisoara, so it all depends on the staging and the vocal performance. However, we have some clues in the form of the live auditions. Before the members of the jury make up their minds, it’s time for you to judge Sunday’s 12 contestants and then vote in our poll below.
Erminio Sinni & Titziana Camelin – “All The Love Away”
Zavera – “Come Back To Me”
Mares Pana – “Daydreamer”
(Performance starts at the 04:14 mark)
Aurel Dinca – “Fire In The Sky”
Tavi Clonda – “King”
VYROS – “La La La”
(Performance starts at the 36:30 mark)
Diana Bratan – “Paint It Rainbow”
Carolina Gorun – “Reach Out For The Stars”
(Performance starts at the 42:29 mark)
Elena Hasna – “Revival”
Eliza Chifu – “So Good Without You”
Ayona – “Watch Me Fly”
Xandra – “Try”
Xandra is the best known name on this list, at least as far as Eurofans are concerned. 2018 marks Xandra’s third attempt in as many years to represent Romania at Eurovision, and she hopes that “Try” will be her ticket to Lisbon.
Elena Hasna won the Romanian kids talent show Next Star in 2013. The 16-year old is one of the youngest contestants this year and her song “Revival”, written by Swedish duo Ylva and Linda Persson, is obviously her first entry in Selectia Nationala.
Tavi Clonda is a well-known Romanian singer, married to an even more famous TV star. “King” is his first successful attempt to make it to the stage of Selectia Nationala, after trying in the past and failing to qualify from the preselections.
You might remember Carolina Gorun from O melodie pentru Europa. It is the Moldovan singer’s first attempt to go to Eurovision on behalf of her neighbouring country.
Before the jury chooses their three finalists from the third semi-final, it’s time for you to vote for your favourites. 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 Semi-Final 3 of Selectia Nationala 2018 is aired, so make sure you cast your vote before Sunday morning at 11:00 CET.
[polldaddy poll=9928372]After you vote, please feel free to defend your choice in the comments section below!
I’ll agree this is a weak semi. I don’t like most of the songs. The clear qualifier for me is Xandra. I loved her song last year and this one is also really good. It’s strong, it has potential and her voice is great! I also like “Revival”, though I find it overdramatic. Elena’s voice is just amazing. The 3rd one I pick is “Come back to me”. Good song, with folk elements, up-beat.
Well… poorly for Xandra she will qualify and take 3rd or 4th place in final again…
Another one with such an overrated song… I don’t get the hype about ‘Revival’, it’s an ok song, sang absolutely awful by the girl in the auditions. A really great song could be ‘King’ by Tavi Clonda, however, it is another good song from Selectia Nationala that is interpreted by a poor voice. The Italians have the best performance in my opinion, however, I don’t see them getting through. Xandra’s is another one too overrated, maybe still the most acceptable between the overrated entries, but she’s deserving the final.
Qualifiers will be: one rock song, Xandra, and one other song.
Elena Hasna. “Revival” est la plus belle mélodie et elle lui sied bien.
D’accord avec toi!
Oh my God! I just realized now that I wrote “Mares Pana” instead of “Zavera”. The Celtic-inspired song I was talking about was “come back to me”. My apologies, I’m confused!
Elena reminds me of Filipa Azevedo from Portugal–her facial expressions and how she works a note…interesting
songs are just ‘eh’
A very weak semi. Elena and Xandra should win with ease.
I know it is too early to say this, but I think jukebox and Bella will most likley win. The song is in Romanian and is the type of song you hear on the radio, here in Romania.
This semi is so weak!! Why couldn’t endless ft Maria be in this one!! The third spot is literally empty after xandra n elena
Elena and Xandra should qualify!! Especially Xandra, it’s my favourite to represent Romania in Lisbon!!
Weakest semi-final
I think Jukebox has the whole thing in the bag.
It’s the women’s war this final! I have a little preference for Mares Pana, I like the celtic music reference.
Oh my God! I just realized now that I wrote “Mares Pana” instead of “Zavera”. The Celtic-inspired song I was talking about was “come back to me”. My apologies, I’m confused!
Xandra should win This NF, sinceSafari is out.
Diana Bratan is my favourite
So many rock songs in all the Romanian semi, that I’m afraid that will win, but will not do great in the bloodbath of second semi.
Elena Hasna !!