They’re the artists who have given Romania two of its best-ever Eurovision results. Now Eurovision 2006 singer Mihai “M I H A I” Trăistariu is considering joining forces with his 2005 predecessor Luminița Anghel for a Eurovision power duet.
The “Tornerò” singer raised the subject with fans on Instagram, where he shared a heavily filtered snap of himself with Luminița. The Eurovision icons had appeared together on a Romanian talk show. M I H A I wrote, “Today, at Acces Direct, I played in duet with Luminita Anghel. About the voice … wooooow! Really … what about a new duet with her? Perhaps even for Eurovision… I ask myself…”
A Luminița and M I H A I duet could be appealing to Romania. The powerful vocalists are responsible for two of Romania’s best-ever Eurovision results.
In 2005, Luminița performed “Let Me Try” with the Romanian percussion group Sistem. The song won the 25-act single semi-final and placed third in the grand final. The following year, M I H A I — then billed as Mihai Trăistariu — placed fourth with “Tornerò” — and is also the Romanian act to earn the highest percentage of available points.
The only Romanian act to score more points was Paula Seling and Ovi in 2010, whose song “Playing with Fire” also placed third, but with slightly more overall points.
Paula and Ovi were also tempted back to Eurovision. They returned in 2014, holograms in tow, with “Miracle”. However while their comeback entry was a fan favourite, it couldn’t better “Playing with Fire”. “Miracle” placed 12 in the grand final.
But for M I H A I and Luminița to get to Tel Aviv, they would first need to win Selecția Națională. While Romania’s broadcaster TVR has not yet confirmed that they will use their long-running national final, it is very likely that it will be back for 2019.
It wouldn’t be the first time M I H A I and Luminița have attempted a comeback since their Eurovision appearances. Each has made three subsequent attempts, all with good results.
Luminița competed in 2010 with “Save Their Lives” which placed second, then in 2013 she had “Unique” which placed third. She last competed in 2015 where “A Million Stars” placed second.
M I H A I’s comebacks have been more recent. In 2016 his dance anthem “Paradisio” placed fifth, the following year his power ballad “I Won’t Surrender” came close in second place, and earlier this year he finished seventh with the romantic ballad “Heaven”.
After Romania’s shock non-qualification in Lisbon, broadcaster TVR is said to have been looking at ways to improve its selection process. Could a M I H A I and Luminița Anghel duet be what Romania needs to get back in the game?
What do you think? Should M I H A I and Luminița join forces? Can they give Romania its first Eurovision win? Sound off below!
This song doesn’t even exist yet and still there’s so much controversy. Just write a song that has the word HOLD in title (Johnny Logan 1987, Farid Mammadov 2013). Hold Hold Peace Peace.
You can enter that in the Eurovision Hold Contest
Let’s be Touchy – Feely
10 years overdue but this duo would be a dream ticket for Romania! “Let Me Try” & “Tornero” are some of the finest Eurovision entries in the 2000s
His long note in Paradisio followed by her long note in A Million stars would be pretty epic, they’d probably take up half of the 3 minutes.
Let them try!
Well, I’m curious 🙂
Who knows? It might work :3
Old-fashioned try-hard power ballad in sight! Their 2005 and 2006 attempts were good, but I can’t see a positve outcome here.
I wish he’d consider never coming back again.
Philipp Kirkorov and MIHAI, Eurovision needs people like that, no joke. Just have the right song. Everything is about THE RIGHT SONG.
which is precisely what neither of those has. 😛
Are you clairvoyant? Who thought Doron Medalie will win after Made of Stars?
Well, he did also write Golden Boy, which was fine. As far as “Made of Stars” goes, he could have written ANYTHING for that singer, I would have disliked it.
I really like Made of Stars, I think it’s a well written ballad.
And here comes a second Verona ‘sigh’
If he stops taking selfies naked, maybe.
Like William Lee Adams said about Lindita Halimi : is the attitude “I work hard for this body, honey!”
MIHAI is the reason many romanian artists take Eurovision seriously. Tornero was a success after Eurovision, and MIHAI was not shy to show his financial success. And Luminita Anghel is great. With the right song it can be a dream team.