This year, Romania opted for a radical change in strategy to Selecția Națională 2020, internally selecting 20 year old singer Roxen and shortlisting five songs to proceed to the revamped national final.
In the mix is an emotional love track “Alcohol You”, the empowering song “Storm”, the deep house sounding “Colours”, the Latino-infused “Cherry Red” and the edgy track “Beautiful Disaster”.
The winning song will be selected by a combination of jury and televote, in an even 50/50 split. In the case of a tie, the public vote will indicate the winning song.
With the national final on March 1, we are asking you to have your say and vote for your favourite song in our poll. After listening to the competing song entries below, vote for as many acts you’d like, but remember, you can only vote once!
Selecția Națională 2020: Competing Songs
Song 1 – “Alcohol You”
Composers: Ionut Armas, Viky Red
Lyricists: Ionut Armas, Breyan Isaac
Song 2 – “Storm”
Composers: Minelli, Vicky Red
Lyricists: Minelli
Song 3 – “Colors”
Composers: Julie Frost, Breyan Isaac, Alex Cotoi
Lyricists: Julie Frost, Breyan Isaac
Song 4 – “Cherry Red”
Composers: Theea Miculescu, Sebastian Barac, Marcel Botezan, Costel Dominteanu
Lyricists: Theea Miculescu
Song 5 – “Beautiful Disaster”
Composers: Breyan Isaac, Alex Coti
Lyricists: Breyan Isaac, Julie Frost
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About Roxen
Deep House singer and performer Larisa Roxana “Roxen” Giurgiu has been involved with music from a young age and is currently one of the most played artists on Romanian radio. Her music and style has seen her compared to artists like Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa.
In September, she was featured vocalist on SICKOTOY’s “You Don’t Love Me”. The song was playlisted internationally and so far has clocked up over 4.5 million YouTube views.
In November, Roxen released her solo debut single “Ce-ti Canta Dragostea”. The electronic track has a folk-pop tinge with Romanian lyrics. To date, it has enjoyed more than 8.7 million views on YouTube.
The Romanian popstress was selected from the roster of Global Records, after being part of a shortlist that included two other artists.
What do you think? What song should Roxen sing at Eurovision 2020? Tell us your thoughts below!
Can’t we have her sing all 5 in the Grand Final? I just can’t choose, all of them are incredibly good
“slave or master”
Roxen’s uploaded some live sessions of each song on her YT.
The performances look very promising.
Alcohol You, in particular, seems to work really well when delivered as a performance. It’s the one of the five that I see justifying the current odds Romania have.
All these songs have so much potential, yet it always feels like something is missing…
Like, it wets my appetite, but gives me no meal… you get what I mean?
Anyways, Alcohol You, Storm and Cherry Red are the best of the 5
If “Storm” wins it’ll be the third time in a tow that a song called “Storm” will be at the Eurovision Song Contest, after the United Kingdom and SuRie in 2018 and Estonia and Victor Crone in 2019. Just saying.
I already said that I like none of them, but if Romania has to send one of these, then “Beautiful Desaster” please
Alcohol you intro reminds me of Arcade melody …
My mother said the same, she didn’t even realise it’s not Arcade until she heard Roxen’s voice. The intro is almost identical.
Are you sure you have listened that song? Melody wise it has nothing common; the whole vibe and the decorations look similar but claiming that it is almost identical is not correct
Hands down for Cherry Red, even though Beautiful Disaster is my favourite
Wow, Una, love you from the bottom of my….. for this interpretation, it’s so beautiful 🙂
Btw Roxen published today different videos for all 5 songs.
Alcohol You, that’s the answer! Cherry Red is good, but not as good as Alcohol You!
Some of these could be decent, but the English is really broken in most. How come?
Agree about the lyrics
Look at her channel, the lyrics are in description. There are quoting signs. Her Spanish-speaking lover is saying “I’m leaving mi amor”, and then she sings “come back to me”
Song 4 – “Cherry Red” no question about it , this song is top 3 at the final for sure , the rest may even not qualify
This is a nice example of 5 entries capable of surpassing the semis, and some even might be considered winner alert. I’m so happy for her, this is truly a celebration of her as an artist and shows how capable of delivering are the team behind the production. Now we just need to hear her live and I couldn’t be more hopeful that she will deliver. In another note I’m so happy she has pretty much all 5 songs like quality entries, especially after the harsh and unjustified comments made by MIHAI. This dude needs to be cancelled, his ego… Read more »
Don’t get me wrong, I agree with most of what you wrote. However…
“I am not your toy,
You, stupid boy” is not entirely lyrical as well.
For me the clear winner is Beautiful Disaster, but Alcohol You is also great.
I’m perhaps one of the few people who loves beautiful disaster as an act. But to be honest that song isn’t winning ESC, europe isn’t ready. Alcohol you seems like a more plausible contender.
“Alcohol You” and “Colors” are my favs. Both have potential to do well with both jury and televote. “Cherry Red” is good too but I don’t like the song that much. Especially because of the latin style and the Spanish lines.
I guess you are Spanish, so I fully understand your point. For me the forced Spanish in the song sounds terrible
She sings “why do fairytaleS fail”
Cherry red is a good radio friendly song, it would do very well but i don’t see it having winning vibes….. Alcohol you is very atmospheric and it has potential with a very good staging to win (at least in juries) and enter top 5 in televoting…….
Need to say neither of the songs left me really impressed. They are not bad at all, in fact, I really like some things about them, they just like… lacking smth, don’t reach their maximum potential by now. Cherry Red was really good until that “instrumental”-wanna be part, it’s just freaking me out, can’t listen to it at all. Alcohol You… personally I find the verses, the bridge, the instrumental, the word plays and some of the rhymes (“refuse-fake news” for example) very beautiful and high-qualitative, yet the chorus sounds a bit of a downgrade to me, but that’s not… Read more »
Alcohol You and Cherry Red are equally excellent choices for Romania.
roxen” could compete with any song for any country and would look good anywhere. I prefer “you alcohol” and would be my number 3 at the moment
I hope that Alcohol you will be chosen, but only if her voice can convey live the same emotions as in the studio version. Otherwise, Cherry red will be a much safer choice. My ears will be glued to TVR this Sunday to discover how she can sing live.
My top 3
Think about things
Alcohol you
Solovey
How is she live? Definately a contender for the win. But if she is not good live it will not happen.
Nobody really knows… she’s a newcomer with almost no stage experience.
Well lets hope she can make it.
Check for her channell – She posted a live session for every song .. she is very ,very good..
All of them 😀
This selection is one of the highlights of the season for me, such a pleasant surprise.
“Alcohol you” , it’s not “another ballad”, I just love this song, listening on repeat <3
Wouldn't mind Cherry red tbh, but personally I like more Alcohol you.
Personally I’d choose Cherry Red. love the beat and most of the lyrics minus the spanglish and the na-na-na. But I don’t think it fits Roxen who doesn’t seem to be a dancer or much of a stage performer. Alcohol you prolly fits her the most. I’d just wish they would elevate the chorus and create some sort of climax towards the end, then it would be perfect.
I’d be ok with any but Cherry Red. It’s the only song that doesn’t show off her uniqueness as much.
Cherry Red, Alcohol You or Storm will most likely do very well. Either way, I hope she releases a CD after Eurovision with these kinds of songs because she’s AMAZING
Tbh, I’ll be very disappointed if they don’t choose Alcohol You.
Y?
I love both Cherry Red and Alcohol You. Need to see how Roxen sell them live and in which one she feels more comfortable.
Alcohol You might be another ballad but it would the ballad. Romania would not have a problem.
Too much ballads for the moment. If Romania wants to stand out, Cherry Red is the only good option. All songs are good but Cherry Red is the best
Cherry Red, Storm or Colors.
anyone knows why “colors” isn’t on spotify? not that i complain since it’s by far the worst one, i just don’t get why it wasn’t uploaded.
Worst is quite much isn’t it!!
Alcohol You is nice, but since we’re getting too many ballads this year, for now I’m team Cherry Red
Alcohol you is an EPIC entery , it’ll be in Top 3 !
Cherry red is more radio friendly and surely will do well but Alcohol you is very Avantgarde
Alcohol you!
Art, stunning, deep, emotional, like wiwi said “contemporary “!
Go for gold, Roxen!
Is there any non contemporary song is this selection?
Cherry red FTW PLZ!!! <3 🙂
No one seems to like Colors ! I find it quite good
Cherry red needs to remove one of the Rakata and replace it with the “in this cherry cherry red ” part and then it’d be perfect
Colors is my favorite, but surprised to see it at the bottom of the poll…
Cherry Red is by far the most contemporary song and would do the best at Eurovision.
all of them are really good, well done ROMANIA!
Alcohol You and Cherry Red are by far the best choices. I pick Cherry Red bc it is not a ballad and it could be a huge hit after Eurovision + staging will help a lot. It’s summerish and catchy. Eurovision needs a modern song like this.
Alcohol You is superb but it might not reach the wide audience that Cherry Red will.
I prefer Alcohol you or Beautiful disaster. Cherry Red is not my cuo of tea.
Cherry Red 100% for Romania! ??
Definitely Cherry red! I can’t wait to hear this song all Summer on the beaches here in Israel. Romania, pls pls pls pick this song to represent you, it’ll be a club banger all over Europe and I wanna see it on Eurovision stage, too! 12 points for Cherry red from Israel
i wouldnt mind any country taking any of the 4 songs that wont make it through. They are extremely well produced and enjoyable
Yes! I’ll take any of them over the one representing my country (France)
Alcohol You is amazing, a ballad which doesn’t need high notes to stand, and the lyrics are so deep. Cherry Red is a good option too, with one of those Romania can reach the TOP 5 this year easily, but I think Roxen have more potential than singing ‘hola mi amor’ ‘ la costa del sol’ ‘down the streets málaga’…
I’m rooting for the amazing Cherry Red! I wanna vote for this in the first semifinal. No more dramatic ballads, pls! We wanna see a TV show, to be entertained, and not to cry. Greetings from Azerbaijan
We live in a world of disposable music; fast food music without any content. Music is not fireworks; music is feeling. So let’s try to change this and bring music back.
Don’t be so fundamentalist. Even the real Salvador Sobral has changed his mind about it.
Cherry Red will stand out among all those ballads in the 1st semifinal. It may even close the semifinal! Romanians, please…be smart and vote for it! Us, the foreigners are betting for it in the betting odds, and not for a ballad from Romania!