I used this greeting instead of the usual one because I've seen that yesterday, during the first semi-final of the Romanian National Selection, many Eurovision fans from all around the globe entered Florin's blog for the LIVE coverage of the event. Thank you for that!
Andreea is once again in the bloggers' area of the Green Room, anxiously waiting for the start of semi-final number TWO! Stand by for preliminary photos and impressions!
Ovidiu Anton, the first competitor, before the start of the show
The second semi-final is starting NOW!!
Just like yesterday, I am asking you to be active and comment on this post. Let me know your opinions and ideas whenever you feel like adding or asking something!
Just like yesterday, I am asking you to be active and comment on this post. Let me know your opinions and ideas whenever you feel like adding or asking something!
The presenters ("ABBA"): Ovi Jacobsen, Paula Seling, Andreea Banica and Marius Rizea
Is everybody ready? Roll call!
The presenters in the Green Room are!
The presenters in the Green Room are!
Another group of 16 semi-finalists is ready to perform!
Competitor number ONE: OVIDIU ANTON-"Run away with me";
He took part in the National Final last year as well, with the song "I walk alone", receiving much praise from the jury and a good place in the standing. This time, he gave a confident performance of the entry which he wrote entirely.
Number TWO is represented by LETICIA, with the song "We are one". The name sounds familiar, doesn't it? It's exactly the slogan of this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo! The song can be best described as commercial pop and the act is energetic.
It' the band MOSQUITO bearing the lucky number THREE. Their entry "Feel the same", was written by the composer of the song which represented Romania in Germany in 2011, "Change", performed by Hotel FM. At the end of this semi-final, we will be able to see if he will have as much succes with Mosquito as he had two years ago with Hotel FM.
The first competitor, Ovidiu Anton, has returned from the stage, and we've just found out that it's his birthday today! One of the bloggers, together with Leticia, the second entrant today, brought him a birthday cake and the Green Room started singing "Happy birthday to you". We hope that Ovidiu Anton will make himself a great present: the qualification for the final!
Mosquito have also come to the Green Room, bringing an insect repellent with them.
Number FOUR is now on the stage, singing "Storyline". It's ALIN VADUVA, the runner-up of the first season of the X Factor, only having been overtaken by Andrei Leonte, who is also taking part in this semi-final and will be performing later.
There's an announcement for the competitors in the Green Room. The place is already almost full. Where will everyone sit at the end of the semi-final?
Number FIVE is nobody but the niece of the famous guitarist Carlos Santana, RENEE SANTANA, musically trying to give a definition of "What is love". So far, she has received good feedback from the public and is currently rated among the future finalists.Strong vocals!
The cameras are back in the Green Room! Alin Vaduva has just returned from the stage.
And so have Al Mike (Mihai Alexandru) and Renee Santana. She has said that she had never actually met her famous uncle, but he might be eating popcorn and watching her perform right now.
The SIXTH entrant today is DIANA MATEI with the song "Ma Ma He". She has a really powerful voice and her song also sounds commercial. Not even halfway through the semi-final, we have already had many acts belonging to this genre and which would do well on radio channels. But would they do so well in Malmo?
Next up, no. SEVEN, the band 9 GARDENS, with the song "All for naught", presenting some reggae influences. Finally, a different genre on the stage of the semi-final!
Diana Matei has returned from the stage.The guys in her group are asking the public to vote for them so that they can go to Malmo and meet some Swedish girls!
9 Gardens are also back. Their lead singer is foreign and says he would like to go to Malmo, but he would have to change his clothes first!
Break time! Photos are on their way!
9 Gardens are also back. Their lead singer is foreign and says he would like to go to Malmo, but he would have to change his clothes first!
Break time! Photos are on their way!
Alin Vaduva in the Green Room
Ovidiu Anton
The birthday cake
There's a man here who closely resembles the lead singer of Sinplus, the band which represented Switzerland last year in Baku.
We are now back in the Green Room! I am waiting for your comments and impressions! What do you currently think about the semi-final?
The ZURALIA ORCHESTRA are now on the stage with entry number EIGHT, performing their exccentric song, "Sukar Transylvania". It contains a mix of different genres such as Romanian folklore, Oriental and gypsy music, as well as jazz. The band is known for being the opening acts for Goran Bregovic's concerts in Romania. Will the fusion of the aforementioned styles prove efficient in winning the public vote, with all the racial controversy going on?
Number NINE: Another band, ABCD, is now performing "Final de razboi". The lead singer is the only Romanian female music producer, having, among others, written Sasha Lopez's internationally successful song "All my people". The social networks are revealing a good public impression of the song.
The Zuralia Orchestra and ABCD are in the Green Room. The lead singer of ABCD admitted that she is expecting twins and the entire room applaused. There's a friendly atmosphere among the competitors here (so far!).
One of the artists here stated that he really likes the ballad which is now being performed on the stage: ELENA CARSTEA's "Spinning", entering with number TEN. She was an acclaimed Romanian singer, especially in the 80s and 90s.
Entrant ELEVEN is NARCIS IUSTIN IANAU, the 18-year-old countertenor discovered in the first season of Romania's Got Talent. What a voice! The song "Seven" was written by himself, and might just join another "opera" act (Cezar's "It's my life") in the finals.
With no. TWELVE, we have CLAUDIU MIREA, performing "I feel so high". Finally, an entrant with a guitar!
Ladies and gentlemen, ANDREI LEONTE, the first winner of the Romanian X Factor is on the stage singing "Paralyzed", with no. THIRTEEN. A great song and a great voice, which might pave their way to Malmo!
Elena Carstea is in the Green Room, saying that her oldest daughter convinced her to participate in the national selcetion. As she has been living in the United States of America for some time, she says that it feels great to be home.
Narcis Iustin Ianau has returned from the stage. And guess what! It's also his birthday! There's a continuous party in the Green Room!
Andrei Leonte is also here!
Next up, CRISTIAN PRAJESCU, the FOURTEENTH entrant of this semi-final. Although he is the youngest competitor (16 years old), his performance is deeply emotional.
We move on and watch the FIFTEENTH act, JUL's "Wake me up", written by Viky Red, who tried his luck in the National Final last year with the song "If you ever feel"; It seems that the series of commercial songs is not over yet.
The last act of the second semi-final, number SIXTEEN belongs to the band PHASER. This night had it all, commercial, folk and reggae songs, as well as ballads. This last entry is sung in French, adding up to the variety of the competition.
All the songs have been performed. Who is your favourite?
The first competitor of tonight, Ovidiu Anton, thanks the artists who have wished him happy birthday.
Cristian Prajescu and Jul are also here, followed by Phaser, whose song is much appreciated by the singers in the Green Room.
Before the voting starts, let's post some photos..
BREAKING NEWS: The presenter suggests doing a GREEN ROOM HARLEM SHAKE !
We are now back in the Green Room! I am waiting for your comments and impressions! What do you currently think about the semi-final?
The ZURALIA ORCHESTRA are now on the stage with entry number EIGHT, performing their exccentric song, "Sukar Transylvania". It contains a mix of different genres such as Romanian folklore, Oriental and gypsy music, as well as jazz. The band is known for being the opening acts for Goran Bregovic's concerts in Romania. Will the fusion of the aforementioned styles prove efficient in winning the public vote, with all the racial controversy going on?
Number NINE: Another band, ABCD, is now performing "Final de razboi". The lead singer is the only Romanian female music producer, having, among others, written Sasha Lopez's internationally successful song "All my people". The social networks are revealing a good public impression of the song.
The Zuralia Orchestra and ABCD are in the Green Room. The lead singer of ABCD admitted that she is expecting twins and the entire room applaused. There's a friendly atmosphere among the competitors here (so far!).
One of the artists here stated that he really likes the ballad which is now being performed on the stage: ELENA CARSTEA's "Spinning", entering with number TEN. She was an acclaimed Romanian singer, especially in the 80s and 90s.
Entrant ELEVEN is NARCIS IUSTIN IANAU, the 18-year-old countertenor discovered in the first season of Romania's Got Talent. What a voice! The song "Seven" was written by himself, and might just join another "opera" act (Cezar's "It's my life") in the finals.
With no. TWELVE, we have CLAUDIU MIREA, performing "I feel so high". Finally, an entrant with a guitar!
Ladies and gentlemen, ANDREI LEONTE, the first winner of the Romanian X Factor is on the stage singing "Paralyzed", with no. THIRTEEN. A great song and a great voice, which might pave their way to Malmo!
Elena Carstea is in the Green Room, saying that her oldest daughter convinced her to participate in the national selcetion. As she has been living in the United States of America for some time, she says that it feels great to be home.
Narcis Iustin Ianau has returned from the stage. And guess what! It's also his birthday! There's a continuous party in the Green Room!
Andrei Leonte is also here!
Next up, CRISTIAN PRAJESCU, the FOURTEENTH entrant of this semi-final. Although he is the youngest competitor (16 years old), his performance is deeply emotional.
We move on and watch the FIFTEENTH act, JUL's "Wake me up", written by Viky Red, who tried his luck in the National Final last year with the song "If you ever feel"; It seems that the series of commercial songs is not over yet.
The last act of the second semi-final, number SIXTEEN belongs to the band PHASER. This night had it all, commercial, folk and reggae songs, as well as ballads. This last entry is sung in French, adding up to the variety of the competition.
All the songs have been performed. Who is your favourite?
The first competitor of tonight, Ovidiu Anton, thanks the artists who have wished him happy birthday.
Cristian Prajescu and Jul are also here, followed by Phaser, whose song is much appreciated by the singers in the Green Room.
Before the voting starts, let's post some photos..
BREAKING NEWS: The presenter suggests doing a GREEN ROOM HARLEM SHAKE !
ABCD
Elena Carstea
Birthday boy Narcis Iustin Ianau
Andrei Leonte
The Harlem Shake is taking shape! The artists are gathering!
DONE! I bet no other semi-final has thought of this. Photos are on their waaaay.
DONE! I bet no other semi-final has thought of this. Photos are on their waaaay.
Before...
....and...
AFTER!
Time for a recap because the VOTING IS ON!
Phones are out! Everybody here is voting like crazy. I am, too!
Preliminary results: Cristian Prajescu in the lead!! The artist says the songs really deserves so many votes.
Surprisingly, the Zuralia Orchestra are catching him up!!
ABBA are singing an adapted cover of Fernando, about the nature of the Swedish people, ironically concluding that they are identical with Romanians.
Phones are out! Everybody here is voting like crazy. I am, too!
Preliminary results: Cristian Prajescu in the lead!! The artist says the songs really deserves so many votes.
Surprisingly, the Zuralia Orchestra are catching him up!!
ABBA are singing an adapted cover of Fernando, about the nature of the Swedish people, ironically concluding that they are identical with Romanians.
Some photos from the stage:
ABCD
Zuralia Orchestra
Narcis Iustin Ianau
Elena Carstea
Andrei Leonte
The presenters in the Green Room are interviewing Narcis Iustin Ianau, who is overwhelmed by the number of votes he has obtained so far, on his 18th birthday.
Andrei Leonte voting
Andrei Leonte and Ovidiu Anton
A few more recaps... the Green Room is either watching the performances or flooding the voting lines.
The voting is OVER. The results are now being transformed into "punctzi". (puncte, points).
Funny moments from the auditions. Liviu Mititelu, the "manele" singer from yesterday, being asked what is special about his song "La donna di nero", says that he doesn't know. Another hopeful frankly admitted that he had recorded his song in his kitchen.
The Green Room Harlem Shake video is increasing in popularity. It has been reported that the Youtube view count had actually stopped!
The president of the jury is now going to the stage for the announcement of the results. Everybody's eyes in the Green Room are glued on the screens.
The first entry to qualify:
NARCIS IUSTIN IANAU! What a present on his birthday!
With number four in the final...
ELENA CARSTEA!
The next... OVIDIU ANTON!
CRISTIAN PRAJESCU also moves on to the final!
2 more!
AL MIKE and RENEE SANTANA!
aaaaand the final envelope:
ANDREEEEEI LEONTEEEEE!!!
The second semi-final is over and we now have the 12 finalists!
Finally, I would like to thank you for following my LIVE updates from the Green Room. On March 9th, make sure you check Florin's blog for the coverage of the GRAND FINAL!
Andreea is happy to have been able to provide you with an account of the two semi-finals!
Good night!
The voting is OVER. The results are now being transformed into "punctzi". (puncte, points).
Funny moments from the auditions. Liviu Mititelu, the "manele" singer from yesterday, being asked what is special about his song "La donna di nero", says that he doesn't know. Another hopeful frankly admitted that he had recorded his song in his kitchen.
The Green Room Harlem Shake video is increasing in popularity. It has been reported that the Youtube view count had actually stopped!
The president of the jury is now going to the stage for the announcement of the results. Everybody's eyes in the Green Room are glued on the screens.
The first entry to qualify:
NARCIS IUSTIN IANAU! What a present on his birthday!
With number four in the final...
ELENA CARSTEA!
The next... OVIDIU ANTON!
CRISTIAN PRAJESCU also moves on to the final!
2 more!
AL MIKE and RENEE SANTANA!
aaaaand the final envelope:
ANDREEEEEI LEONTEEEEE!!!
The second semi-final is over and we now have the 12 finalists!
Finally, I would like to thank you for following my LIVE updates from the Green Room. On March 9th, make sure you check Florin's blog for the coverage of the GRAND FINAL!
Andreea is happy to have been able to provide you with an account of the two semi-finals!
Good night!
