TVR, the Romanian national broadcaster, has announced that Cezar Ouatu and Diana Dumistrescu will present Selecţia Naţională 2018, the Romanian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Cezar Ouatu is a familiar name to Eurovision fans, as he previously represented Romania in 2013 with the song “It’s My Life”. He was also part of the jury for Selecţia Naţională 2016. Cezar has admitted that even though the role of presenter is challenging, he is excited by the challenge and is happy to be a part of the Eurovision family once more.
Diana Dumistrescu is a model and television presenter. She has watched Selecţia Naţională since a young age. Even though her family wanted her to perform on stage, she is very happy to finally make to the Selecţia Naţională stage, albeit in a different role:
“I was already working on television when my dad told me during the Eurovision: “Look, I want to see you there!” And he showed me the stage. Even if he is no longer among us, I am happy to fulfil a dream and I wish with all my heart to rise up to the expectations of the viewers.”
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A total of sixty artists will take part in this years Romanian selection process, with just 15 making it through to the final. For the first time the selection process will travel around Romania in search of their artist for Lisbon.
Semi-Final One – Focsani – January 28
- Lina – A Love Worth Falling For
- Johnny Badulescu – Devoted
- Hellen – From Underneath
- Eduard Santha – Mesom Romales
- Echoes – Mirror
- Alex Florea – Nobody Told Me It Would Hurt
- Waleska – Renacer
- Liviu Anghel – Rise Up
- CornEL – Take Me Away
- Tom Hartis – Teardrop Rain
- Elena Turcu – The Perfect Fall
- Alexia & Matei – Walking On Water
Semi-Final Two – Timisoara – February 4
- Jukebox feat Bella Santiago – Auzi Cum Bate
- Alessandro Dănescu – Breaking Up
- Meriem – End The Battle
- MIHAI – Heaven
- Jessie Baneş – Lightning Strikes
- Romeo Zaharia – Maybe This Time
- Othello – Noi Suntem Pădure
- Miruna Diaconescu – Run For You
- Serena – Safari
- Pragu’ de Sus – Te Voi Chema
- Endless feat Maria Grosu – Thinking About You
- RAFAEL & ANDY – We Are One
Semi-Final Three – Craiova – February 11
- Erminio Sinni & Titziana Camelin – All The Love Away
- Zavera – Come Back To Me
- Mares Pana – Daydreamer
- Aurel Dinca – Fire In The Sky
- Tavi Clonda – King
- VYROS – La La La
- Diana Brătan – Paint It Rainbow
- Carolina Gorun – Reach Out For The Stars
- Elena Hasna – Revival
- Eliza Chifu – So Good Without You
- Ayona – The Story Goes On
- XANDRA – Try
Semi-Final Four – Turda – February 18
- Feli – Bună De Iubit
- ZØLTAN – Daca Dragostea E Oarba
- TIRI – Deşert De Sentimente
- Paula Crişan – I Am Here
- Cristian Siminonescu – Nirvana
- Alice Jeckel – Out Of The Dark
- Dan Manciulea – Rază De Soare
- Lion’s Roar – Rekindle The Flame
- Claudia Andas – The One
- Ioana Ciornea – Time After Time
- Bernice Chiţiul – Too Busy For My Heart
- Nicoleta Ţicala – Una Oportunidad
Semi-Final Five – Sighisoara – February 18
- SAVE – All We Need
- Tomher Cohen – Baby You’re The Only One
- Sergiu Bolota – Every Little Thing
- Dora Gaitanovici – Fara Tine
- Teodora Dinu – Fly
- The HUMANS – Goodbye
- Iliana – I Won’t Lie
- Evermorph – Live Your Life
- Alexandru Ungureanu – Sail With Me
- Manuel Chivari – Somebody To Love
- Maria Suciu – Sweet Nothing
- Denisa Trofin – Tears
During the semi-finals a jury will select the fifteen finalists will be selected by a jury of music professionals. On the jury are Marian Ionescu, Ilinca Băcilă, Nicu Patoi, Liliana Ştefan and Viorel Gavrilă. In the final, the winner will be decided by the Romanian public.
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.
