Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

TRM organized once again Etapa națională 2024, the Moldovan national final for Eurovision song contest 2024 and as almost every year there was some controversy.  Open call resulted in 51 submissions and 32 were invited for auditions, and eventually 11 took part in the final won by Natalia Barbu, already an Eurovision veteran from Helsinki 2007.  Natalia Barbu (44) is a Moldovan singer-songwriter who lives in Romania these days. Her music career started in 2006. Her biggest success has been  Îngerul meu that topped the Romanian Top-100 for 11 weeks in 2006. In 2007 she was selected to represant Moldova in Helsinki Eurovision.  The legend goes she had to pay her trip herself unless she reaches the Top-10, then TRM would pay her back everything. And yes, she placed 10th with Fight. In 2012 she topped the Moldovan charts with I said it's sad. In 2013 she tried her luck in the Romanian selection with Confession placing 13th.  She has released several albums an...

The Moldovan selection was becoming a bit of a joke but then the last minute rush brought us 47 submitted songs and now 24 has been chosen for the semifinals. And no, Sasha Bognikoff didn't make the cut with his two songs this year either.... :-) You can listen all the entries here . Among them also Belarusian Litesound (ESC 2012) and quite a few familiar names from previous selections..... and even Natalia Barbu (ESC 2007) in the group ELLE. Andrei Ioniţa & Onoffrei - Lie Diana Brescan - Till the end Felicia Dunaf - You and me Katherine and Litesound - Imagine Rodica şi Ivan Aculov - Stop lying Big Flash Sound - Când vrei Doiniţa Gherman - Irresistible Valeria Paşa - Save love Lidia Isac - Falling stars Viola - In the name of love Cristina Pintilie & Alex Calancea Band - Picture of love Valentin Uzun - Mine DoReDoS - FunnyFolk Max Fall & Vozniuc Dan & Malloy - Game over Maxim Zavidia - La la love Chris Maroo - Tonight ELLE - Ta...

The first semifinal in Romania has also concluded and we have the result. Previous Eurovision glories had a different fate: natalia Barbu is out while Luminita Anghel proceed to the final. The qualifier are: Casa presei - Un refren   FreeStay - Criminal mind Luminita Anghel - Unique Cezar Florin Ouatu - It’s my life Electric Fence - Emilia Tudor Turcu - Hello

Like Hungary and Israel, Romania also having its semifinals over this weekend. Romania has two (Saturday and Sunday) and 50-50 televote-jury will send six songs to the final on March 9, 2013. Two very familiar nams in this one; Natalia Barbu who represented Moldova in Helsinki 2007 and Luminita Anghel, Romanian entrant 2005 when she scored third place with fantastic Let me try .We have the obligatory song in Italian in the line up plus some falsetto singing à la David D'Or... Tudor Turcu - Hello Casa Presei - Un refren Electric Fence - Emilia Diana Hetea - I believe in love Station 4 - Your heart is telling me so Edict - Buddy buddy FreeStay - Criminal mind Maximilian Montean - Broken heart Brigitta & Mihai ft Tips - One heart Natalia Barbu - Confession Spin & Cesar Dometi - Silver lining Liviu Mititelu - La donna di nero Cezar - It's my life Tammy - Firebird Luminita Anghel - Unique Anthony - Dream girl

Two previous Eurovision stars - both did even well - are in tonight's final, Natalia and Zdob si Zdub. Also many other familiar names in the list. But this is a good example of a national final where there are way too many songs. Cut it to 10-12 and it would be a very good selection (of course if they picked the right songs!). Amongst the writer Rafael Artesero (no, it's not Mi rey !)and Ralph Siegel. I really don't have a favourite but if I have to name someone I say Boris & Cristina, Karzma, Millenium, Natan and Zdob si Zdub.You can listen all the entries here .  Natan -  Dacă dragoste mai e Natalia Barbu -  Let's jazz Formaţia "Ion Krasnopolski" -  Cu fanfara până dimineaţa Anişoara Balmuş -  You and I Denis Latişev -  It’s my first dance with you Pasha Parfeny -  Dorule Doiniţa Gherman -  Viaţa Corina Cuniuc -  Şi tac Cristina Scarlat -  Every day will be your day Diana Staver -  Love song Dumitru Socican -  ...

TRM has selected 60 songs from over 90 sent in - listen here - and 25 will make it to the national final on February 26, 2011 after a jury has heard and seem them live. Amongst them Zdob si Zdub with So lucky . Will they be lucky enough to make it again, without the granny? And there are many familiar names listed, too. Like Natalia Barbu ! One of the nicest persons in Helsinki 2007.... Adriana Volonsenso - I can win the game, Alex Belenki – Keep Me Strong, Aluzia – Rămii, Anastasia Denisiuc – What are you want from me, Anișoara Balmuș – You and I, Alexandru Șaptefrați – Сон, Aurel Chirtoaca – Inca indragostit, Boris Cavali & Cristina Croitoru – Break it up, Ionel Calalb – Mama, Carolina Gorum & Mircea Gutu – True Love, Constantinova – Insane, Corina Cuniuc – Si tac, Cristi Cuculescu – Don’t give up, Dana Marchitan – Lucky you, lucky me, Daniliuc Veaceslav & Andrei Hadjiu – Summer is following, Danu Boian – I don’t now, Diana Staver – Love Song, Doinita Gherman – Viata, ...