In a few minutes, Romania will enter the final stage of their preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. After two semi finals this past week where 24 acts competed, we are now down to twelve songs which will be competing tonight at the TVR studios in Bucharest.

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The show

The show starts at 19.15 CET. A ten-member jury will decide the final winner together with the televoters at a 50/50 split. Swedish trio Biondo will be the special guests on the show where they will perform four songs.

The complete line-up for tonight in running order is:

1. Popas Band – Striga
2. Costi Ionita – Can you forgive
3. Blaxy Girls – Dear mama
4. Red Blonde – Nu am cu cine
5. Zero – Sunny days
6. Elena Gheorghe – The Balkan girls
7. Tabasco – Purple
8. Catalin – Stop
9. Dalma – Love was never her friend
10. Alin Nica – Don't leave
11. Tina – Pleaca
12. IMBA – Round & round

Live coverage

And the show is on! In a few hours we will know one more song competing in the first semi final of the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. The atmosphere inside the TVR studios is very enthusiastic, the three presenters managing to create a football match feeling and the audience responding actively.

Now the jury members are presented, after the end of the 12 performances, the jury members, all music professionals will be called to give their votes one by one,

1. Popas Band – Striga

A very disturbing beginning for Popas band. Lead singer stumbles down the stairs in what looks like a strayjacket, arms crossed in front of his chest, white makeup, and angel wings (think Elnur, Azerbaijan 07) he is accompanies by a alady singer in equally glum makeup and out. The overall performance is theatrical but not the kind the Eurovision audience might go for as it is not exceptional vocalwise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erNn_EyAEGo

2. Costi Ionita – Can you forgive

Costi Ionita follows with his slow, orchestral ballad. He seems a little less emotional today, looks at the camera straight on, which is always a plus and he is delivers a much improved vocal performance to the one in the semi final on Thursday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBpGBZI8YQ4

3. Blaxy Girls – Dear mama

One of the favourites for the night. Blaxy girls took the first semi by storm as they are extremely popular these days in Romania, especially among younger audiences. Although the song is emotional, songs about ones mom always are, and the performance is perfect, we doubt this could go far in Eurovision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIFITXoFDM0

4. Red Blonde – Nu am cu cine

After a short Green Room chat between Alina and the participants, we move on to the first out of the two songs in Romanian for tonight. Interesting choice of outfits for the girls tonight. One dressed as a man in white taxedo and sleek hair and the other in a hard to describe dress of some sort. The ladies are worse vocally than the semi final on Thursday but not altogeher bad. The word Sex is predominant in the backdrop where words from the lyrics flash during the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86uzKvqWSMY

5. Zero – Sunny days

The same staging for Zero as in the semi final. The entire band is performing as if hanging from ribbons from the ceiling like puppets. The song is pleasant if slightly reminiscent of Wake me up when September ends and the vocals are good and to the point.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62sD-W1qkSU

6. Elena Gheorghe – The Balkan girls

Another favourite of the night now. Elena and her Balkan girls deliver a sexy and entertaining performance of their Euro Balkan dance song with a full choreography and two impressive dress changes on stage, no make that three (Think Marie N). The vocals are not the songs strongest point but overal this could win.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQNjAlaQZUw

7. Tabasco – Purple

Change of pace now. From the Balkan elements to a more European sound from Tabasco. Almost the entire love song is performed into a pay phone, with the lead singer taking short breaks to play his guitar and move center stage. What can we say about Purple…..it certainly has a pleasant sound to it, sentimental and well performed but could it stand out among 18 other songs in the Eurovision semi??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e09iv6SWSPw

8. Catalin – Stop

And a third favourite for next. Catalin tries again and he seems quite well prepared. Armed with his sexy lady dancers, a solid female backing vocalist, good looks, lots of pyros, a repetitive chorus aiming to stick to mind and a pure dance tuneCatalin could be the audience's favourite. The vocal part tho needs work, a lot of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-7l3J7iAEE

9. Dalma – Love was never her friend

Dalma is definitely delivering one of the best vocal performances tonight. The song is touching and the saxophone helps to set the right atmosphere which is rather ruined by the dancers dressed and acting like street mimes in black and face paint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlj9u6wvP1o

Now there is a message from the Greece's hope in the Eurovision Song Contest. Sakis promises to make Romania one of the stops of his promo tour and hopes the best song wins in the Romanian final. He thanks the audience in Romanian and gets an enthusiastic response.

10. Alin Nica – Don't leave

Time for Mr Mayor now, as Alin is called since he is also the mayor of a small town near Timisoara. Maybe that's where he owes his charisma to communicate with the audience which makes up for the less good vocals tonight. A nice, rockish ballad, pleasant to the ear.

11. Tina – Pleaca

Second and last song in Romanian for tonight. Tina is put in place in front of the microphone as a puppet and she is removed from stage this way at the end but she does not follow the same concept throughout the song. A dynamic performance from Tina of this contemporary song with the memorable chorus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaCBu7d5fsM

12. IMBA – Round & round

For many it was a surprise when IMBA made it to the final as they were really low with the televote but obviously impressed the jury. Anyway they are here now to close the Romanian final with a song with heavy American influences. A good, solid performance from the ladies who are doing much better tonight than the semi final on Thursday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfrMIT6slPQ

A tribute to our host country now for the interval act as a 20 member folk ballet performs Russian dances.

The televote has started and we are given a first taste. Blaxy Girls seem to be flying first, followed by The Balkan Girls and Tina