Introduction

• Participant(s): WRS
• Song: Llámame
  
• Writer(s): Andrei Ursu, Cezar Gună
  
• Composer(s): Andrei Ursu, Alexandru Turcu, Cezar Gună, Costel Dominteanu
• Broadcaster: TVR
  
• Social media:        
  
• Team review: 

This year the Romanian broadcaster TVR has held another national final ‘Selecţia Naţională. Out of ten finalists the singer WRS received the highest votes from the jury, the second highest vote from the Romanian public, this was enough for the golden ticket to Turin.

Andrei-Ionuț Ursu was born in Buzău, Wallachia east of Bucharest in 1993. He started his career as a professional dancer. Andrei has been the house dancer in various TV formats such as ‘Romania’s Got Talent’ and ‘The Voice Romania’. In 2015 he joined the band SHOT and moved to London two years after and started his solo singing career. Andrei invented his stage name WRS, his first called “Why” . In his other published songs like “Tsunami” , “Amore”  and “la răsărit” , he was able to build up is career.

The ESC song “Llámame'” has a Spanish title which means ‘call me’ and in the original lyrics there are Spanish words as well. It’s an up-tempo song where WRS can also show his talent as a dancer. The song also has some Romanian flavour with traditional elements from the Romanian music culture. The song is about to find one’s own way:

Knew that I was different than the others
They never liked you
Trying to keep my head above the water
But you making it so hard to
What If they gonna find out
Nobody is gonna like if
We get away

The Romanian entry is approachable and will stand out from the other songs of the very strong second semi-final.

History

• Debut: 1994
• Participations: 22
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 18 (13 since 2004)
• Top 10: 6

This year it will be the 22nd time for Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1993 there has been an international pre-decision for the ESC held in in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Unfortunately, Romania could not qualify with “Nu pleca” by Dida Drăgan. So the debut entry on year later “Dincolo di Nori” by Dan Bittman was the first official Romanian entry. The great song only made a 21st place in a strong year.

Romania’s entries distinguish modern and up to date songs, less folkloristic elements like the neighbour countries Moldova, Hungary or Bulgaria. With a little help from the neighbour countries in particular Moldova, it was mostly possible for Romanian entries to qualify for the Grand Finals – the chances are unbelievably high with 82%. But Romania only made it six times into the Top10. In the year 2016 the Romanian entry has been disqualified due to financial issues of the Romanian broadcaster TVR at the very last minute. The Romanian candidate Ovidiu Anton could not sing his entry “Moment Of Silence” in Stockholm. Last year in Rotterdam the young singer ROXEN was not able to convince with “Amnesia”, she made a 12th place in the semi-final and did not reach the Grand Final.

Biggest successes

• 2x 3rd place
  “Let Me Try” | Luminita Anghel & Sistem (Kiev 2005)
  “Playing With Fire” | Paula Seling & Ovi (Oslo 2010)
  
  

Video Nostalgia

• “Dincolo De Nori” | Dan Bittman
  Rank 21, Dublin 1994
  
• “The Moon” | Taxi
  Rank 17, Stockholm 2000
  
• “Zaleilah” | Mandinga
  Rank 12, Baku 2012

First Rehearsal