In a lowly 40th place is a country that you wouldn’t expect to be bringing up the tail end of the rankings – Romania. They have been one of Eurovision’s most consistent performers, one of only four countries (outside of the Big 5) to have always qualified for the final since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004. Will this be the year that their 100% record will be broken? 

Well, hard to tell actually. This big rock ballad might not be the average Eurofan’s cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean it won’t perform better than this YouTube-based countdown would suggest. There’s an underlying hint of James Bond theme there and something that might suit Game of Thrones (note the staging in the official video…) and a singer who certainly doesn’t give a silent vocal performance!

Romania has always gone its own way in Eurovision, with one of the most diverse set of entries of any country if you look back through their time at Eurovision. Unlike some countries, they mix it up each year so it’s always an interesting moment to see what emerges from the national final. It’s brought success with that 100% final record in the last 12 years with two 3rd places and one 4th place in the final. Since their best result in 2010 (they came very close to coming 2nd) results have been more modest, but very consistent – not in the top 10 in the final, but inside the top 20.

So will they qualify this year? In their favour is the rock solid qualifying record, a large Romanian diaspora to boost televote results, they are in the weaker semi-final and Ovidiu has an undeniably powerful voice. Standing against that it is a non-Eurovision friendly song genre and the fact that it’s not a terribly original song of its genre either. The staging (if it remains similar to their national final) could be either a plus or a minus – it’s rather bonkers and very camp (a semi clad dancer swinging a big sword around, Ovidiu with eye shadow set to maximum etc…) See what you think! I had it down in my initial predictions as more likely to NOT qualify but I’m really not sure. What do you think? Comment below!

The official video above is actually from the live performance in the national final, but worth also watching Ovidiu’s live performance at Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam not long ago – you can get a better appreciation of his impressive voice then when amongst the campy staging. We’ll be seeing him at the London preview party very soon!

Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest: 

First entered: 1994

Appearances (excluding this year): 17

Best result: 3rd in 2005 and 2010

Last year’s result: 15th