Romania‘s broadcaster TVR has revealed the names and song titles of the 24 acts who will compete in the semi-finals of Selecția Națională in January. It may come as no surprise that Romania’s Eurovision 2006 singer M I H A I is back for yet another attempt at a comeback.

Despite earlier wondering if he should enter as a duet with Luminița Anghel, M I H A I is going solo again. He will sing the number “Baya (Speechless)”.

And there’s another returning Romanian Eurovision act of the 2000s. Nicola originally represented Romania in 2003 with “Don’t Break my Heart”, which placed tenth in the grand final. This time she will be singing “Weight of the world”.

National final regular Xandra is back for another attempt at Eurovision. She’ll be competing with “Independent”.

The Australian-born popstress Xonia is making her Selecția Națională debut. She will sing “Discrete”, which has already been released.

Belgian singer Olivier Kaye will be competing for Romania. He was a finalist on The Voice Belgique in 2016, and was the runner-up earlier this year in the prestigious Romanian music contest, the Golden Stag Festival. He will sing “Right now”.

The 24 semi-finalists were decided by a committee of music experts. The acts will compete in two semi-finals held on 20 and 27 January 2019. Details of the show’s grand final still have not been confirmed, however, it is expected to be held sometime in February 2019.

Selecția Națională 2019 – Competing artists

  • 2 Gents – “Ielele”
  • Aldo Blaga – “Your journey”
  • Berniceya – “The call”
  • Claudiu Mirea – “We are the ones”
  • Dan Bittman – “Pierd”
  • Dya & Lucian Colareza – “Without you (Sin ti)”
  • Echoes – “High heels on”
  • Ester Peony – “On a Sunday”
  • Georgy – “Tears”
  • Johnny Badulescu – “Give up now”
  • Laura Bretan – “Dear father”
  • Letitia Moisescu & Sensibil Balkan – “Daina”
  • M I H A I – “Baya (Speechless)”
  • Nicola – “Weight of the world”
  • Olivier Kaye – “Right now”
  • Ommieh x Anakrisez – “Rock this way”
  • Steam – “The way it goes”
  • Teodora Dinu – “Skyscraper”
  • The four – “The song of my heart”
  • Trooper – “Destin”
  • TWM – “Make me your man”
  • Vaida – “Underground”
  • Xandra – “Independent”
  • Xonia – “Discrete”

What do you think? Who would you like to see represent Romania at Eurovision 2019? Share your thoughts below!

Read more Romania Eurovision news here

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AurelianTamisan
AurelianTamisan
5 years ago

I’ve just heard 12 songs, but I’m pretty sure that Laura Bretan will be hard to be beaten. Best by far from this 12 acts. Not a winning contender in the grand contest, but a certain finalist. I wonder why no mention about Dan Bittman when you’ve reminded about former contestants, he was the vocalist of Holograf back in 1994, with a great robbed song called ‘Dincolo de Nori’. I can’t wait to hear his song, even though I’m not expecting something great. Big dissapointment in Nicola’s choice, happy to see her again afterg hearing nothing from her for years,… Read more »

James
James
5 years ago

I Have Only Seen One Person Mention How Laura Bertan Was A Golden Buzzer On AGT, But She Sang With Il Volo On The Final Of That Show (they are a eurovision act), And She Won Romania’s Got Talent, If She Doesn’t Represent, There Will Be No Hope For The World #LauraBertanForRomania2019 #Bucharest2020

ADRIAN TIRCHINECI
ADRIAN TIRCHINECI
5 years ago
Reply to  James

I agree 100%!!! Go Laura!!!

Deep Flow
Deep Flow
5 years ago

With such a big fanbase and extra points for being so youg, Laura is already the winner (at least from my perspective),

Pancake
Pancake
5 years ago

Looking at this list, Xandra is already the clear winner.

GUEST
GUEST
5 years ago

Malta selecting their representative through X Factor blew up MIHAI’s chances of going in for Malta. PRAISE THE LORD

Cozmin
Cozmin
5 years ago

I think Laura Bretan will slay ??
I can’t wait to hear her song “ Dear Father”….
Go, Romania….. in a totally positive way!!!

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

Sometimes I think Latvia should select Markus Riva so we would finally get rid of him after the contest. But then there’s Mihai.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago
Reply to  Jo.

He’s already had his chance, unlike Markus Riva, so there’s no reason to send him if his song isn’t the best.

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

I meant that Riva would probably try again.

Russian Fla-la-lag
Russian Fla-la-lag
5 years ago

“M I H A I is back”
Because they need someone to go home first

Julian
Julian
5 years ago

Laura Bretan should be interesting, she is an amazing singer

Alex
Alex
5 years ago
Reply to  Julian

She is Romania’s Elina Nechayeva (She’s an opera singer) plus her song is written by Mihai Alexandru who wrote Yodel It.

aaron
aaron
5 years ago
Reply to  Alex

That’s not a good thing

ADRIAN TIRCHINECI
ADRIAN TIRCHINECI
5 years ago
Reply to  Julian

I just listened Laura’s song. OMG!!! Go Laura!!!
She is the ONE!!!

PP77
PP77
5 years ago

Dan Bittman represented Romania in 1994, his song was debut for Romania in Eurovision (they try in 1993 but they faliled in Qualification for Eurovision 1993, with Slovakia, Estonia, Hungary , Slovenia, Bosnia and Croatia qualify for contest)

Pasadena
Pasadena
5 years ago
Reply to  PP77

I loved Dincolo de nori!

PP77
PP77
5 years ago
Reply to  Pasadena

That year Romania 21 th with 14 pointsc, Estonia 24 th with 2 points and Lithuania 25 th with 0 points was so underrated. and for me that year in poits was overrated Ireland, Poland, Malta ,Portugal
My TOP 5 that year
1. Russia
2.Germany
3.Estonia
4. Cyprus
5.Sweden
bottom 5
21.Slovakia
22.Greece
23.Croatia
24.The Netherlands
25.Spain

Colin
Colin
5 years ago

So good to have another NF listed. From four that are out on YT:
– Johnny Badulescu – I like it a lot, very nice flow
– Nicola – overproduced and generic
– Troopers – interesting and more ethnic than others
– Xonia – okay, pleasant, but not remarkable

James
James
5 years ago

Torneros for everybody!

It's the BBC's fault, not the UK's
It's the BBC's fault, not the UK's
5 years ago

Out of the songs on YouTube, Trooper is the best so far! A bit of originality is what we need!

Stelian
Stelian
5 years ago

Quite like Johnny Badulescus song on YouTube. Xandra will be huge.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Y’all focus on Mihai when queen Nicola, our highest priestess of Romania who gave us the holy hymn “Don’t Break My Heart” in 2003, is coming back too? Ff… PRIORITIES, Wiwibloggs, priorities.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago

Johnny Badulescu, Destin, Nicola and Xonia’s songs all appear to be available on youtube as of this moment.
So glad Nicola’s song is good. One of my favourite ESC contestants ever!

impressiveinstants
impressiveinstants
5 years ago

Wasn’t Dan Bittman Romania’s first representative as well?

Alex
Alex
5 years ago

Yes he was.

florin
florin
5 years ago

hello.. this is 1 semifinalist in romania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t2GjI7vAQA

Esc1234
Esc1234
5 years ago

if mihai flops again, will he post more naked parts of his body? I am afraid…

Talentina Monetta
Talentina Monetta
5 years ago

Can’t wait for M-I-H-A-I’s meltdown when he flops once again

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
5 years ago

Maybe Mihai and Markus Riva should get together for a duet, either for Latvia or Romania, no? >:-P 😀

Alex
Alex
5 years ago

Wait I know Laura Bretan. She was at America’s got talent when she was 13 and impressed Simon Cowell and the others and won golden buzzer.

Alex
Alex
5 years ago
Reply to  Alex

So far, she is the favourite among us. I hope she has a great song!

It's the BBC's fault, not the UK's
It's the BBC's fault, not the UK's
5 years ago

So many English songs, Romanian is such a beautiful language as well!

Just let Mihai go to Tel Aviv, he’s been trying for a long time!

Alex
Alex
5 years ago

No.

Dani
Dani
5 years ago

No!

Sophie
Sophie
5 years ago

The lanuage does not matter. It’s the country that they represent that matters. We arent just gonna let him win because his song is in romanian, because in my opinion its not that good of a song and winning just because of the language is stupid. I think laura should win because she is young has a great voice and wonderful song. Thats why she sould win. Not because of the language…

NO BIG 5
NO BIG 5
5 years ago

Its time Mihai go to Tel aviv for Romania. ???

Dani
Dani
5 years ago
Reply to  NO BIG 5

No!

Esc1234
Esc1234
5 years ago
Reply to  NO BIG 5

NO.

Khan
Khan
5 years ago
Reply to  NO BIG 5

Did Mihai write this comment

Sophie
Sophie
5 years ago
Reply to  NO BIG 5

Nope.