Is Romania withdrawing from Eurovision in 2024? The deadline for countries to confirm their intent to participate at Eurovision 2024 was September 15. But if reporting from Romanian newspaper Libertatea has it right, Romania’s state broadcaster may not participate due to financial problems.
As we wait for final and official confirmation, we took the time to discuss our favourite Romanian Eurovision entries of all time. What are yours? Let us know on YouTube and down below. You can also vote in our poll at the end of this post.
We’re including Roxen’s 2020 song “Alcohol You,” despite the fact that year’s contest was cancelled because of the pandemic. We’re also including Ovidiu Anton’s 2016 entry “Moment of Silence.” You’ll recall that Romania was disqualified over outstanding debts it owed to the EBU.
Looking at the results of the poll, Dida Dragan is in last place, she was a controversial winner back then at the National Selection, and Romanians still consider that the song that was in 2nd place, Laurentiu Cazan – Say something, is the big loser from all the editions until now, and perhaps the only chance to even win Eurovision.
I have a curiosity, do you like the song and would it have been in your top?
Unpopular opinion, I actually really like “Nu pleca”, sad to to see it’s not better appreciated in general. Dida is one of Romania’s finest divas.
Their entries from 2003 to 2010 were all high quality and got great, new sounds into the contest. Romania was punching above its weight for a while.
My top 5 from Romania:
1. Llamame
2. Tornero
3. De la Capat
4. The Balkan Girls
5. Yodel It
Maybe most of them are kinda guilty pleasure, but I truly love all those 5 songs!
i have voted for todomondo 2007 – lovely song.
Hands down “Hola mi bebebe”! There’s no competition for that!!!
Glad you can pick two, both Roxen songs were amazing, Amnesia was not good live however, which is pretty sad
Todomondo were goated.
Romania wasn’t a powerhouse for no reason, every entry in between 2002 and 2010 was at least enjoyable. ‘Playing with Fire’ is pop perfection and for a long time I honestly liked every Romanian entry.
It’s sad to see them lose momentum and interest like that.
Shocked to see Nicola and Cezar ranked so low, while Roxen’s Amnesia and The Humans so high, as I find these two terribly weak… As for the top 5, well deserving, and expected. WRS, Paula Selling and Ovi, Mihai Traistariu, Lumini?a Anghel & Sistem and Mandinga are fun, the songs are catchy and they had great shows on Eurovision scene. Romania must continue participating!
For romanians, Nicola and Cezar are mostly national memes, for what they did in the contest or after the contest, both considered joke characters.
Absolutely shocked to see WRS on top in this poll so far, even though I think it is about being one of the most recent entries, maybe many voters not even knowing some of the older entries. I think most of them were good entries and a lot were really underrated. Personally I expected to see a duel between Luminita Anghel and Ovi and Paula form 2010, with Traistariu coming closer. They were even the best results for a reason. As my personal tastes, I think Ovidiu Anton was my favourite (and I still can’t accept the fact he was… Read more »
I’m going to highlight three memories: The first entry from Romania that really peaked my interest was in 2003. “Don’t Break My Heart” really stood out for its electro sound, Nicola’s nasal voice and those fierce backing dancer routines. My personal favourite song from Romania was “Playing with Fire” in 2010. Lots of piano, yaas! The duet singing the Chorus in harmony, and Paula hitting those high notes; all terrific. The other stand-out memory for me is Cezar in 2013. That was like from another planet. The overwhelming self-belief and vocal power outperformed the song and went somewhere else for… Read more »
Let me Try for me is the clear favourite. It easily could have and should have won. I still don’t understand why that banger is not on Spotify. Apart from 2005, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2017 and robbed 2019 are all honourable mentions that should have done much better!
Pity, Theodor Andrei was forced into that bad staging. We don’t know, wether Roxen would have delivered Alcohol live. But Roxen’s Alcohol is my favourite. Loved Yodel it and Ester’s entry.
My top 3: 2019, 2014,2022.
Ester was so robbed, her staging was fire.
Again an incomprehensible unfairness…. one more… this esc world is so unfair, or rather that’s people behind the Esc who makes this thing unfair. These people are poison. Of course Romania is not Sweden or Italy you know.
Tornerò is amazing. Both of Ovi and Paula’s entries are great, and both of Roxen’s entries are stellar. Llámame was so fun and deserved much better (sigh…death slot). I think De La Capat isn’t talked about as much as it should. It’s a sweet entry with a beautiful message. I really hope Romania finds a way to stay this year.
And I forgot Ester Peony. Still singing that song!
ROXEN BACK TO EUROVISION!!
Big fan of De La Capat here! <3
another big fan of De la Capat here… such a beautiful song!
I’m late to the party but De la capat is the very best Romania has offered to ESC. It’s a literal masterpiece. The lyrics, which are so existentialistic, so Viktor Frankl-ish, speaking about finding the meaning in your life, finding the reason to live and to endure anything, to accept life as it is… Incredibly powerful and moving. Voltaj is the best band ever.
— crickets …
2020 all the way. One of the best songs to ever come out of Eurovision.
Tornerò
Studio version of Amnesia was amazing. Was so disappointed Roxen couldn’t deliver live
My personal favorites are 2021 and 2022
Quite enjoy 2005, 2006, 2010, 2015 and 2019 as well
Hoping for a strong Romania comeback in near future (as long as the broadcaster treats the nation’s choice with proper respect)
A strong comeback of Romania is not really likely to happen considering the worsening situation of either the national selection or the delivery on stage or both depending on the year. The 2022 qualification eventually happened but it all seemed to be damage control and “reputation recovery” of sorts by the label behind the 2021 act. Romania is not Finland, the most amazing country in Eurovision four years in a row, with fabulous, extraordinary, amazing national selections that have gained them *respect* and love and unwavering support. Finland Yle <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3… Read more »
My TOP 3
1.2005
2.1998
3.2020
4.2010
5.2014
Back to maths class 🙂
Honourable Mentions:
2008,2011,2014,2015,2017,2019,2021 and 2022
Romania rarely sends bad stuff to Eurovision, so I hope we get to see them again in 2024
Eu cred and De la capat are my absolute favorites. Followed by Roxen’s songs, and On a Sunday. Romania has some good songs under their belt.
It’s so nice to see that you appreciate songs in the national language. Romanian has a lot of depth and nuance.
“Eu cred” is pretty basic lyrically. “De la capat” is at another level. Rich, beautiful, emotive language. The lyricist(s) did a great job.
I think that both songs have really beautiful lyrics. De la capat, of course, tackles a subject that’s more delicate in nature. Love the way it handles it.
Actually, most of Voltaj’s song have some outstanding lyrics. They are filled with some really simple and naive pearls of wisdom which we humans, however, often tend to forget. Back when I was a teenager, their lyrics helped me to get through those years a lot more easily.
In particular the three which did not qualify!
Which three? De la capat *did* qualify, Eu cred was at the time when we only had one night show, Alcohol You didn’t have the opportunity to compete. Only two mentioned that didn’t qualify are Amnesia and On a Sunday.
2005 for me
“Of course, DGT (On and Off) Theodor rocks!”
– Wiwibloggs team, probably
1. playing with fire (my 2010 winner)
2. Llamame
3. Let me Try
1998 (RIP, Malena)
Runners up… 2010, 2012
RIP, M?lina
Oh dear
2005, 2006 and 2010. Those were the only 3 years in which Romania was somewhat relevant in the contest. I am baffled it took all the way until 2018 for them to fail to qualify for the first time
Why care what’s “relevant” when deciding your favourite?
Agree, Romania in ESC is generally really bland
i have a soft spot for “i admit” from 2004… i even have the cd haha
Me too. Also I thought Sanda was the name of the whole act and not the singer. Not forgetting one of the male dancers who looked a little out of place but stole the show! I think he may have been one of the writers.
2010 all the way. Playing With Fire was my winning song of that year.
You guys making light fun of the situation of Ilinca and Alex in the current context of the UK (the R B issues) … NOT OK!! Filmed on 21 September? Come on!!!!!
What are you on about?
Don’t mention. Russell Brand. He’s being thrown under the bus there. Two decades to get allegations out sounds like political targeting to me. Innocent until proven guilty.
Sweetheart. Using a different example for context: that “act” that happened Down Under on 20 August 2023 in plain sight of loads of people. Not *hermoso*!!!!
1994 !
2005,2006 and 2010 are the best of the bunch.
A seven-year voyage to bring star dust to the earth is a reality.
The Romanian broadcaster cannot manage to make a decent national selection in 2023 which disappears from the internet, gets 0 points and spends around 400k or more for the whole spiel.
*WHY*??? That would make a great article, wiwibloggs, not hundreds of words articles on Romania’s shameless participation of 2023. The shameless ridicule that contestants of 2022 were subjected to could be a topic as well, by the head of jjuuryy or similar no less.
“Alcohol You” is the best Eurovision song ever, imo.
“Amnesia” is a legit amazing song with a great, timeless message, imo.
“On a Sunday” has this awesome vibe of a well put together story.
“De la capat” is heartbreaking but the words depict the beauty of hearts and love.
“Moment of Silence” captures strengh of character and willpower in an artistic way.
Roxen’s “Alcohol You” is objectively the best out of these.
Objectively, this is all subjective.
Voted for 2005, 2015, 2016 and 2019.