Andreea Bălan is one of the jury members of the Eurovision Romania national selection, after previously representing the country at international competitions such as “Dancing with the Stars”, where she won the silver medal. However, his presence in the jury was criticized by Mihai Trăistariu. In an interview for Libertatea, the artist spoke about her role and responded tactfully to the criticisms received.
Although many expected to see her one day on the Eurovision stage as a participant, the artist says she never considered this option.
In the jury, Andreea Bălan is joined by composer Andrei Tudor, producers Marius Dia and Cristian Tarcea (Monoir), journalist Elena Popa, TVR producer Doru Ionescu and Cristian Marica Rădoi, editor-in-chief of Radio Romania Cultural. They will choose the song that will represent Romania at this year’s edition, hosted by Vienna.
“We’re looking for the full package”
The artist says that the level of competitors is high, but uneven:
“There are many beautiful moments and the judges are looking for the complete package: very good song, vocal performance at its best and if there is a visual show. Sometimes the song was grand but the show didn’t work, sometimes the voice was beastly but the song less enjoyable”.
Andreea Bălan specifies that her role in the jury is to evaluate the show part and stage presence:
“From the semi-finals we can tell, by the attitude of the artist and how he moves, if he has the potential to put on a good show. On the composition side, Andrei Tudor is very attentive to how the piece is written and how the instruments flow.”
“I wanted to protect my little soul”
The artist says that she has never seen herself as a Eurovision contestant:
“I never wanted to participate because I felt like an established artist who has no reason to. I represented Romania in Mexico, but there was not the hate that is at Eurovision.”
She states that the negative reactions in Romania towards the artists participating in the competition discouraged her:
“The artists who left us, regardless of the place they got, were not well received. I wanted to save my soul and I think I did very well”.
Bălan recalls that her international experience in 2007, at the World Dance Championship in Mexico, was enough for her career:
“In Mexico I was received very nicely. On the other hand, at Eurovision the hate is very big”.
Criticized for jury role, but confident in herself: “I’m relevant and I have something to say”
Although she was criticized on social media for accepting the role of juror, the artist says that her experience recommends her:
“I like being a juror and I think I’m relevant and I have something to say as sworn. The experience of my career, as an artist and as a juror in other productions, helps me to be relevant and objective”Andreea Bălan also said for Libertatea.
Traistariu: “Andreea Bălan would not even pass the pre-selection if she competed at Eurovision”
We remind you that the artist Mihai Trăistariu, who, this year, entered the national selection for Eurovision with the song “Infinity”, launched harsh criticism towards some of the members of the jury and, especially, towards Andrea Bălan.
“Andreea Bălan would not even pass the pre-selection if she competed at Eurovision. Let alone put her on the jury.” declared, at the end of last month, exclusively for Click!, Mihai Trăistariu.
The artist continued with a message on the same note, sent on his social media page.
“The Eurovision jury Romania is currently:
– a singer who performs more through dance than vocals;
– two producers, who were not directly related to Eurovision, being mainly composers in a studio;
– three journalists;
– and a composer (THE ONLY ONE FROM THIS JURY – ANCHORED IN THE EUROVISION PHENOMENON).
The natural question is: how can an artist who has to be chosen to represent our country at Eurovision be judged… by people who have not experienced this contest from the inside? Eurovision is not judged only “by ear”, by personal taste or by what sounds good on the radio.
Here it matters:
– live voice under extreme pressure;
– stage presence for an audience of hundreds of millions;
– fitting into an extremely strict format;
– the real experience of the Eurovision stage.
With all due respect to everyone’s jobs, Eurovision is not judged by the press, nor by the studio, nor by those who would not even pass the pre-selection if they were to sing live! It is judged from the stage!
It’s not about pride. It’s about competence and relevance. If you want to participate in Eurovision, you should be evaluated by people who have been there, who know what the stage means, the international vote, the rehearsals, the live voice, the stress, the EBU rules”.
