The first semifinal of Romania’s Selectia Nationala 2022 took place across five days. And from 44 songs, 20 have made it through to Semi-Final 2.

After a live audition and a Facebook-only voting round, we now know the proposals that’ll move on to the next stage. There were originally 46 candidates, but only 44 actually performed, as Barbara Tešija and Fabi withdrew beforehand.

Fifteen of the 20 qualifiers were selected by the jury. Then, from the pile of unchosen acts, five more earned their place in the next round by having the most votes on the official Facebook page of Eurovision Romania.

Jury Vote Qualifiers

Alex Parker & Bastien – “All this love”
Aldo Blaga – “Embers”
Andrei Petruş – “Take me”
ARIS – “Do Svidaniya”
Cezar Ouatu – “For everyone”
Claudia, Minodora, Diana – “România mea”
Dora Gaitanovici – “Ana”
Eliza G – “The other half of me”
Eugenia Nicolae – “Doina”
Gabriel Basco – “One night”
Kyrie Mendél – “Hurricane”
Mălina – “Prisoner”
MØISE – “Guilty”
Oana Tabultoc – “Utopia”
Petra – “Ireligios”
VANU – “Never give up”
WRS – “Llámame”

Public Vote Qualifiers

Andra Oproiu – “Younique”

E-an-na – “Malere”

Mălina – “Prisoner”

Oana Tabultoc – “Utopia”

Vizi Imre – “Sparrow”

The second semi-final will take place on February 12, when the 20 selected songs will face a jury panel. They will decide which 10 acts will progress to the final on March 5.

Who is your winner? Who do you think can take Romania to the grand final once again? Let us know in the comments below!

38 Comments
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Stian F
Stian F
2 years ago

What?!? No Jessie and “Regret”? Seriously….

A Complainer
A Complainer
2 years ago

My winner is Vanu since day 1, I just got attached to his song and very biased, so I would be super happy if he goes to esc, yet, e-an-na comes right after and I’m sure they’ll deliver an interesting show in esc, but I’m afraid the Romanian jury would screw them over, good luck for them all!

Karl
Karl
2 years ago

Why do countries like Romania and Serbia insist on having massive national finals with a million songs? (of which at least 80% are awful anyway)

Last edited 2 years ago by Karl
AlexC
AlexC
2 years ago

Dora Gaitanovici probably the most ready for ESC.
Many songs have traditional/gypsy sounds. Very Romanian and not a bad thing but at the same time several of them are a bit odd with the sound being disjoined from the song. ie upbeat at parts that shouldn’t be.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago

This is what happens when you finally filter out an overcrowded field. The songs that are still standing feel stronger.

vetrina
vetrina
2 years ago

I see WRS…

Kåre Eriksen
2 years ago

Do Svidanja or România Mea ftw. Both would be my winners of ESC 2022 if they get selected

Zisk
Zisk
2 years ago

All the favourites making it through as you’d expect. Trimmed a lot of the fat and we’re left with a pretty fun NF where a lot of songs could win. Looking forward to it.

Jacob
Jacob
2 years ago

Eliza G for the win. Amazing song and her vocal is great as well. I hope to hear her in Turin

Roro31
2 years ago

My favorites (in order) : Dora Gaitanovici ARIS E-an-na Eugenia Nicholae & Cazanoi Brothers VANU Eliza G WRS Gabriel Basco MOISE Aldo Blaga I hope Romania won’t send Cezar because it would be a big joke… All that for CEZAR!!! No final with him sorry!!!   For me, Dora and ARIS can bring Romania to the final and even Eugenia Nicholae!! E-an-na won’t be in the top 10 on Saturday night because the jury doesn’t like…   I really hope for a victory from Dora Gaitanovici because her voice is magnificent, her song is cut out for the competition and… Read more »

Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  Roro31

My favorites are Andrei Petrus and Aldo Blaga, but I’d take Dora or Aris in front of Cezar with these songs.

Bogdan
Bogdan
2 years ago

Let’s be honest, most of these won’t fair well at Eurovision except “Guilty” and “The Other Half of Me”

Leendert Jan
Leendert Jan
2 years ago

8 which I would like to see in the final:

Aldo Blaga – “Embers”
Dora Gaitanovici – “Ana”
Eliza G – “The other half of me”
Eugenia Nicolae – “Doina”
Kyrie Mendél – “Hurricane”
Petra – “Ireligios”
VANU – “Never give up”
WRS – “Llámame”

Last edited 2 years ago by Leendert Jan
Colin
Colin
2 years ago

Leyah must be the best one who didn’t qualify. I’d be pleasantly surprised if they pick Aris. I’m honestly expecting Cezar Ouatu. He’s the biggest name, and this is almost entirely a jury decision. I still hope that Andrei or Aldo could take the win. I like Kyrie too. It was such a sweet performance.

Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin

I really like the idea that the juries will assess the ballads and bops on the same level. About Cezar… just something I’ve heard among Romanians on You Tube. They say that he has friends in the jury. Then again, that might be wrong, and I may regret even mentioning that possibility as much as people did when the man who sang ”Forever” in Depi evratesil 2018 didn’t win, despite claims to the contrary. I honestly hope that whatever the result is, it comes from genuine musical choices. Good luck to all 20 acts.

Last edited 2 years ago by Colin
Eds
Eds
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin

If they pick Cezar, I’m never watching Eurovision again. It won’t be fair to send such a mediocre song just because he has some connections.

Last edited 2 years ago by Eds
Kosey
Kosey
2 years ago

Does anyone know what happened to Barbara and Hypnotised, I can’t find her live performance anywhere? I was really looking forward to seeing that. She didn’t make it, which is a shame and I’m also sad Myriam didn’t make it either, especially when you see some of the acts that did make it. Some very strange choices by the Romanian juries.

Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

I saw Barbara’s performance. I guess they have removed it since she has withdrawn. The performance was sadly really, really poor. Probably weaker than Bojan and Ashley were in last year’s Dora. Not only that she was off-key the whole time, but she also had no energy at all. It was very uncomfortable to watch. I assume that either her own assessment of her live or the first comments she received got her to withdraw. I just hope that she is okay, and that she’s healthy. If this is just a temporary setback, it’s okay. She might return when she’s… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Colin
Kosey
Kosey
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

Thanks both. I must have been too late to get to the videos. Perhaps it is best I didn’t see it as I really enjoyed the studio version. I hope Barbara is ok, she should be confident that she had a song that at least captured some people’s hearts and everyone can write off one (at least!) bad performance. It is not a bad final selection although I think Myriam should be in it based on their performance. I actually really enjoy Younique, although it is in a self-aware sort of way if you know what I mean. As for… Read more »

Marques
Marques
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

You can see a clip of Barbara’s performance in this YouTube recap from Misja Eurowizja. Brace yourself

Kosey
Kosey
2 years ago
Reply to  Marques

Thank you. Oh poor Barbara, she looked so incredibly lost. I hope she’s ok. I still love the track and I’m sure she can kill it in the future.

And unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough to turn the recap off and I got to hear Bogdan as well. He needs some positive vibes too so I’m sending them to him as well.

Una
Una
2 years ago

.

Last edited 2 years ago by Una
Kosey
Kosey
2 years ago

Am I reading this correctly that the juries didn’t put E-an-na through? What are they on?

Eds
Eds
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

They don’t want E-an-na to win.

Last edited 2 years ago by Eds
Jony88
Jony88
2 years ago
Reply to  Kosey

They didn’t wanted E-an-na among the initial 46 songs either. Which is crazy, considering that it’s the only song that’s number 1 on Spotify in Romania (for the past 3 weeks) and the only song in the selection which was trending on youtube in România (in less than a day) after the broadcaster released the recordings of the live perfomances.

Leendert Jan
Leendert Jan
2 years ago

They’ve whittled it down nicely, but there are still about ten songs too many in this selection. Some are really cringy (please let someone tell Aldo Blaga that he should not play that sax himself), but there are a couple which are not bad at all. I really hope Aris is not gonna win this, I can’t stand that song.

For me personally Petra and VANU stand out as the most interesting choices.

Last edited 2 years ago by Leendert Jan
Escfan
Escfan
2 years ago

Also, the song of Bastien and Alex parker it’s “All this love” , not “Best of me”. They had 2 songs in the beginning and they decided to go with “All this love”, without Erik Frank.

Bernard
Bernard
2 years ago

RUSSIAN DOLL has to win!!

Colin
Colin
2 years ago

I am glad that everyone in my top 6 has made it:

  • Andrei Petrus
  • Aldo Blaga
  • Vanu
  • Aris
  • Eliza G
  • Moise

I also like the songs of:

  • Gabriel Basco
  • Kyrie Mendel
  • Alex & Bastien
  • Petra
  • Eugenia Nicolae

This selection looks much stronger now. The performances were mostly really good too.

kir
kir
2 years ago

This year we have at least two examples of the scenario in which a jury panel basically destroys a landslide televoting winner.

R.I.P. Terra and Malere

Last edited 2 years ago by kir
Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  kir

Systems that value the jury vote over 50% must go. I agree. Sure, their input is valuable, and televoters can make mistakes too, but every NF should have its audiences heard.

kir
kir
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin

True
Giving the whole national audience the share of votes equal to a single person from jury panel is disrespectful to say the least

Last edited 2 years ago by kir
Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  kir

Personally, I don’t mind it being a comedy (hello, epic Wolf Brothers!!!), but I do mind it being on almost the same velocity throughout. It’s a joke that lasts about a minute too long. Still, it’s better than any other televote qualifier. I just *hope* that the juries know that they are doing.

Colin
Colin
2 years ago
Reply to  Colin

This system is not only flawed, but predictable as well. I’d say that the acts who didn’t qualify to juries’ top 15 in the first semi have very little chance to make it to the finals in the second. Unless this is a completely different set of jurors.
I am okay with Malere being in the mix, and I can understand why some people find enjoyment in them, but they are my personal borderline qualifiers in this top 20.

Last edited 2 years ago by Colin
Ukraine stan
Ukraine stan
2 years ago
Reply to  kir

I mean, something being intended as comical doesn’t immediately disqualify it artistically. Lots of non-romanians who don’t get the joke still love it, it’s catchy and the performers are talented.

Escfan
Escfan
2 years ago

In my opinion, the only potential qualifiers are : E-an-na, Aris, Gabriel Basco, Eliza G and Eugenia Nicolae.
This selection seems much stronger now!!!

Last edited 2 years ago by Escfan
Nancy G
Nancy G
2 years ago
Reply to  Escfan

I know what you mean!!! Listening to 40+ songs made us all fatigued and we only focused on the bad. But with only 20 songs you can start to hear some good songs 🙂