Review: “Selecţia Naţională 2023” (Romania)

On Saturday, the 11th of February 2023, Romania will choose a song and an artist for Eurovision 2023.
The results will be based on a 100% public vote.

In this article, I will give my review of the songs.

You can find the playlist here:

YouTube

Spotify

AppleMusic

#1. Deiona – Call on me

It is a mid-tempo slow pop ballad.
The melody relies on keyboards and guitar playing.
She sings the majority of the song in a high tone of voice.
The chorus is more memorable than the verses.
Towards the end, we can hear modulation with backing vocals singing.
The melody is simple and a little bit childish.
However, something feels too basic or about this song.

#2. Andrada Popa – No time for me

It is a pop ballad.
The song starts with a short instrumental part
The melody develops slowly and confidently
Andrada sings the first verse with a high and soft voice, being accompanied by pre-recorded backing vocals.
The chorus is slower, the emphasis is on her voice and the piano playing.
The outtro of the chorus includes humming.
The second verse is a bit faster.
Then again, we get the chorus with a more impressive ending
The bridge is more acoustic and starts accelerating until we get a modulation.
On the one hand, some might claim it is an expected ballad. On the other hand, it is well performed and convincing.

#3. Ocean Drive – Take you home

The song starts with a light drum beat and guitar playing.
The first verse is monotonous, and the lead singer sings it with a mid-high voice.
The pre-chorus involves more bass and guitar playing.
The chorus is more funky and has a different tempo.
The second verse is quite similar to the first one.
The second pre chorus relies on guitars playing.
Later on, we move to a longer chorus. Thereafter, we get quite a long instrumental part.
Towards the end, he sings with a higher tone.
This performance needs more energy. In addition, something just doesn’t fit with the vocals. In some cases the high notes aren’t essential

#4. AMIA – Puppet

It is a theatrical jazz pop song.
The song starts with an instrumental guitar playing, which the melody will be based on.
Amia sings the first verse in a mid-low tone of voice.
The chorus is slower, but more plowerful. It is performed in a higher tone of voice. She adds some manners to her singing, but it still aligned with the message of the song.
The additional instrumental part comes before the second verse.
The second verse repeats the same structure as the first one.
The last chorus is longer than the first one. When it ends, it starts again. This time, we have moduation and pre-recorded backing vocals.
This song suggests several advantages. The first one of them is the great singer behind it, Amia. The second one is the “spicy flavour” the song suggests. It has a very specific direction.
Some may dislike it, but at least the song raises emotions and is different than the others.

#5. Andrei Duţu – Statues

It is a powerful mid-tempo ballad.
The song starts with keyboards playing.
The first verse is performed slowly with a mid-low tone of voice.
The pre-chorus is shorter and faster.
The chorus opens with an electric guitar playing, alongside the keyboards playing, His voice becomes warmer in this part.
Thereafter, we get the second verse which is performed in a half speaking-singing.
The second chorus is longer, as it repeats twice. This time, we can hear a light drum beat.
The bridge is a little flat and predictable. It comes with backing vocals as well,
Thereafter, the song ends with another chorus and last verse.
Andrei has the right charisma, but something about this song shouts cliché. Lyrics such as “we are tall as giants, we are as strong as lions” are just too much.
In addition, there is a place for improvement for the vocals.

#6. Theodor Andrei – D.G.T. (Off and on)

It is a bilingual pop-rock song.
The song starts with the husky voice of the singer.
The melody of the first and the second verse is based on trumpet, drums and electric guitar.
The pre-chorus is slower, we can heat more instruments like keyboards playing.
The chorus is powerful. and is performed with a husky voice. The electric guitar is the main element in the melody of the chorus. Theodor is accompanied by backing vocals.
The third verse is performed in English. In this part, the song is taken in a more indie-soul direction.
The 4th verse is faster, and it is performed in a kind of “spoken word” style, but it is still strong musically. In this part, we get an eager dimension of his voice.
The pre-chorus kicks stronger this time. It includes a synthized pre-recorded backing vocals.
The chorus starts softly this time. having its first part based on keyboards only. This is a kind of the bridge of the song.
Thereafter, the trumpet is being added again.
He moves in a more rock direction and performs the chorus again.
The song ends with one last chorus, which is performed with whistle voice (very high notes).
Overall, the performance and the song suggest the full package: a strong vocalist, catchy song and stage presence. With the right staging, it can stand out.

#7. Steven Roho x Gabriella x Formaţia Albatros – Lele

It is a folklore song.
The song starts with a short instrumental part, where we mainly can hear keyboards playing with an ethnic flavor in the background.
Gabriela is the first one to sing, thereafter Steven joins her as well. However, she is the lead singer
The first verse relies on a simple and soft beat. We can hear some feminine backing vocals as well.
The chorus is more ethnic, the melody is based on electronic keyboards.
The second verse is more rhythmic, and continues the line of the chorus.
The peak of the song is ecstatic choir speaking-singing, while Gabriela supplies some vocal improvidations.
Thereafter, we get the chorus again, but this time more with “Le le le”, rather than ordinary lyrics.
On one hand, it showcases traditional Romanian music. On the other hand, the lyrics effort feels like a one that’s not good enough.

#8. Aledaida – Bla Bla Bla

This is an upbeat dance pop song.
The song starts with a short instrumental beat and clapping sound.
The first verse relies on fast singing with rhyming
The first pre chorus is slower and it gives us a better chance to be impressed by her vocals
The chorus is catchy. The melody is based on a mid dance beat, and we can hear backing vocals as well.
Sometimes, the pitch seems too high to perform.
The third verse has more Latin characters. Thereafter, we got another instrumental part.
The song ends with another chorus.
I feel like this song has a bigger potential which isn’t fulfilled. She must work more on her vocals.

#9. Adriana Moraru – Faralaes

It is a country pop mid-tempo song, with some ethnic elements.
The song starts with a tribal percussion beat.
The first verse is performed in a mid tone of voice.
Thereafter, the guitar joins the melody as well.
The basis of the melody is quite simple, but the production takes it to a more danceable style.
The chorus is more festive, but still quite calm.
One of the main elements in the chorus is clapping.
The main verse is more rhythmic, and comes before as a long instrumental part.
The C part should be an impressive one, but that’s where she fails vocally.
Overall, not a bad one, but from time to time, it feels like a huge production to defeat a very basic melody.

#10. Maryliss – Hai Vino (Eng: Come On)

It is a country pop ballad, performed in the Romanian language.
The song starts with an instrumental section, composed of the guitar and keyboards.
The first verse is calming, while the melody is quite basic.
She sings it effortlessly, with a mid-high tone of voice.
With some backing vocals, we move to the second verse.
She gives a long note, which takes us to the chorus.
In the chorus, she sings more powerfully and is accompanied by her players.
The third verse is based on a slow guitar stringing, and it is quite acoustic.
The following chorus is less energetic, even though we get some more dimensions from the electric guitar.
The song ends with soft singing.
For some reason, it sounds like an unfinished demo version. In some parts, the melody even fits children show soundtrack.

#11. JaxMan (Erin Dăneţ) – Bad&cool

It is a pop-rock song, with wide influences of the 2000’s music.
The song starts with an electric guitar playing.
JaxMan (Erin Dăneţ) opens the song with a soft and pleasant voice.
The second verse has a more rocky vibe, and accordingly he sings it in a huskier voice.
The chorus is catchy, and he is accompanied by backing vocals. The melody is based on electric guitar and electro keyboard beat.
The third verse is faster, the flow is excellent and his English sounds good.
This time, the chorus starts more acoustically (based on guitar playing).
The bridge opens with fast singing that transforms into the chorus.
The whole package is successful: From a singer with stable singing, cool (but not bad) attitude and stage presence and catchy melody.
Some people might criticize it as a non- modern song, but it gives a throwback in the best way. Well done!

#12. Andreea D Folclor Orchestra – Periniţa mea (Eng: My Little Girl)

It is a folklore song.
The song starts with an instrumental part, composed of accordion, trumpet and wind elements.
Andreea opens the song with some long notes that’s combined with some vocal improvisations.
Thereafter, we get another instrumental part, this time with some backing vocals, and the atmosphere becomes more uplifting.
The first verse is performed in fast singing. The melody is quite basic.
The chorus is faster, and gives a wider place to the trumpet. The singing is effortless, close to reciting.
Once again, we get the same instrumental part before the additional verse
The chorus is weaker, and it sounds like the most important component of the song is the different instruments.
This is a kind of a song in which the catchiness/ being memorable is the most important thing.
However, it feels like the melody isn’t original, and we’ve heard such songs in the past (some of them in the Moldovan/ Romanina selection for Eurovision).
I would be happier to get more singing and less reciting here. For me, the best part of the song was the introduction where Andreea showed her vocal abilities.

Personal Ranking

Theodor Andrei – D.G.T. (Off and on)
JaxMan (Erin Dăneţ) – Bad & cool
Amia – Puppet
Andrada Popa – No time for me
Aledaida – Bla Bla Bla
Deiona – Call on me
Andrei Duțu – Statues
Steven Roho, Gabriella & Formaţia Albatros – Lele
Adriana Moraru – Faralaes
Maryliss – Hai Vino
Ocean Drive – Take you home
Andreea D Folclor Orchestra – Periniţa mea

Prediction

I think the trophy will go to one of these artists:

Aledaida – Bla Bla Bla
Theodor Andrei – D.G.T. (Off and on)

Overall, it isn’t a strong selection. However, I am happy the power to choose the Eurovision 2023 act is in the Romanian public hands

Romania will compete in the first half of semi-final 2 at Eurovision 2023!
Don’t forget to visit our complete guide to Eurovision 2023: Eurovision 2023 homepage