TVR have released the songs competing in Selectia Nationala 2018, the competition which will select the Romanian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon.
The songs can be listened to on TVR’s website. The 60 semi-finalists where chosen from a total of 72 entries received by TVR. The 60 include , MIHAI, who placed 4th at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006, and Alex Florea, who placed 7th this year together with Ilinca. Ilinca was recently revealed as one of the jury members for Selectia Nationala 2017.
As previously reported, the format of the show to select Romania’s Eurovision entry for 2018 has been significantly revamped. Throughout January and February 2018, 6 shows will take place in various cities across Romania with the first show due to be broadcast from Suceava. The newly expanded Selectia Nationala is part of a series of programs created by TVR to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great Union Day, the national holiday of Romania.
According to the official rules of the show, 15 songs will advance to the Grand Final of Selectia Nationala 2018 on 25 February 2018. The victor will follow in the footsteps of Ilinca and Alex Florea who performed Yodel It! in Kyiv.
Source: TVR
Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest
Romania first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, the country had tried to participate in 1993 but failed to get through the pre-qualifying round. At the 1994 contest Dan Bittman finished 21st in the final scoring 14 points, Romania didn’t make it through to another final until 1998. Romania’s best results in the contest are two third place finishes. In 2005 Luminita Anghel & Sistem finished 3rd scoring 158 points, while Paula Seling & Ovi finished 3rd in Oslo with the song “Playing with Fire”. Romania missed the 2016 contest due to TVR being removed from the EBU.
