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© Elena Gheorghe
Exclusive interview with Elena Gheorghe
Elena: I started to sing at the age of three
How did your musical career start?
"I started to sing at the age of 3. Two years after I made my debout on stage singing with my mother Romanian ethno music. When I was 12 years old I was part of the "Armonia" choir where I studied canto and piano.I took part in many festivals and I followed the classes of the Dinu Lipatti College at the section of classical-thether. At the age of 16 I was singing with a latino music band : salsa, merengue, cha-cha. The Latino music is very popular in Romania at the moment, and I'm verry happy that I somehow promoted it. Now, I'm performing with 6 musicians and 2 dancers and I'm still promoting Latino music. I adore David Bisbal and Mark Anthony and I really like Beyonce and Celine Dion."
Did you expect to win the Romanian final? How do you feel representing your country in the Eurovision Song Contest?
"I started this thinking that I'm going to win. Otherwise I wouldn't have participated... I'm a very ambitious girl and I like to do everything with professionaalism and with a certain goal... and my goal was to go to Moscow... I feel honoured to represent my country and with God's help everything will be just fine."
What's your opinion about the new voting method with 50% televoting and 50% jury?
"I totally agree with this new voting method... The opinion of the juries has the same importance as people's choice."
How are preparations going for Moscow? Have you made any plans for the staging of the song? Who will be on your team? (on stage and off stage)?
"I already started the preparations and we are far away with the show. I'm very optimistic. My team is aswell. On stage there will be 4 dancers, 1 backing vocalist and me. Together we are The Balkan Girls...From the staff I also mention the TVR team, the manager, the music label, the choregraph and my family who will accompany me in every moment."
It seems that the change of dresses was quite a hit with the Romanian audience. Can we expect to see something similar in Moscow?
"The change of dresses was a show thought by me in a very small period of time.But, in Moscow there will be something totally different. You'll have a surprise!"
Have you heard the songs your are competing against? Any favourites?
"I didn't listen to the songs because all my attention is concentrated on my show. I can say that I was surprised by the Norwegian entry."
Your music style used to be latino as the lead vocalist of Mandinga. The Balkan Girls marks a completely new music pattern for you. Are you going to change your style after this Eurovision experience?
"I love music and I always performed different music styles because of what I feel, like this I can express myself, like this I can evolve. I sing latino, ethno, aromanian music (because I'm half Macedonian) and also dance, R & B and ballade. The latino music characterizes me the best. It is energic, colorful, very optimistic and danceful. Dancing is one of my passions. I don't think that I'll quit the music genre that made me famous but I'm still going to perform other styles."
Back in 2004, after she won the Eurovision Song Contest, Ruslana grabbed a piece of Ukrainian land and kissed it. Would you follow her example? What would be the first thing you will do when you arrive back home in Romania if you'll win this year's Eurovision Song Contest?
"Very beautiful gesture of Ruslana to kiss the ground of her motherland... I don't know what will be the first thing that I'll do, probablly what my heart will dictate... But we should better wait for the grand final..."
Do you have a message for the readers of esctoday.com?
"I'm happy to see the messages of my fans, the nice words and the tips for the show. I wish everybody receive with his soul-opened music. To be happy with the show because we, as the participants only try to entertain our viewers and make them forget about their daily worries.
I'm Elena from Romania and I'm very glad to know you. I wish that you'll enjoy "The Balkan Girls" moment. God bless you!"
Elena Gheorghe will represent Romania at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in the first semi final on 12th may. Her starting position is 14.
Related polls
- Romania decided: How much do you like Playing with fire?
- esctoday.com National Final Awards 2010: Best SONG not to qualify in ROMANIA?
- esctoday.com National Final Awards 2010: Best PERFORMANCE not to qualify in ROMANIA?
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Elena presents the Earth Hour!!On march 28, 20:30pm
Shut the light!!
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=bnrvIpR2exw
@sybel
u have the same comm in other romanian articles. what's your problem? i hate dum teka teka, so now we are even.
@sibel ysr
you are from turkey so... of course you hate elena 
)
ı hate thıs song..
the translation is not correct!!!! When she was 3 years old she debuted on the folk music scene with her mother, Marioara George Man with the song Sus în Deal în Poieniţă. this is why she said she began singing at age of 3. she was singing on stage with her mother not in the shower like the rest of you said...... they translated the interview wrong. and the other days in an interview to radio 21 she said norway is her favourite this year
please!!!!!!!!!!!
who can tell me the program of her promo tour?
Gala OVB Sibiu - Ave Maria - cover David Bisbal
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=LVJqFjkccBk
Best entry this year in esc good luck Romania
OMG! She is 3rd in ESCToday poll for final!That's good result among ESC fans because only two weeks ago she was 28 th ! ! ! WOW 
after reading most of the comments my conclusion is that: all the bad things about elena come because everybody see her as a potential winner (she has a great song, very good voice, beautiful show)....so it represents a big threat for others contestants...so they try to bring her down a little bit, but no chance...elena is the best 
Romania 2010 
teresa vs helena
http://vids.myspace.(...)amp;videoid=54466647
ELENA has a beautiful voice, and the song is energic. I think that this kind of music will continue to dominate ESC, because this style atracts a lot of people.
the only thing that i think is wrong is that she has only one backing. Maybe two would have helped. But maybe she knows what she can do with her voice and doesn't need two.
Noroc si Doamne Ajuta!
@ emrah
if elena has a bad song then hadise has a terrible one!
Elana ;unfortunately a very bad song
I'm number one HADİSE
H D
A Ü T
D M E T
İ K E
S K
E TURKEY
the club version with video: http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=E_UUbP7daOE
Elena Gheorghe - Balkan Radio 21 "Girls" video
this "girls" are incredible
http://www.youtube.c(...)/watch?v=Rdgs0Qfdp6Q
elena gheorghe singing aromanian music :
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8VZ_vcrqdA&feature=related]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8VZ_vcrqdA&feature=related
elena with the balkan girls will be no.1 this year in esc....go romania
I hope Romania good luck
@VAN T
until she has a strong voice she can sing everything she wants ))
and she is singing about balkan girls because she is a balkan!!!!you dont have to be a brainiac to figure it out. but i guess you are not even average )
I storngly recomend that you stay in Romania girl. How awful is this song. I mean, HELLO!?!?!?! What are they going to sing next? The Nordic girls by Sweden, the Iberian boys by Spain, the British islles monkeys etc etc. Bring back the good old days of Tornero, Luminita etc etc!
@La Mark
Alex seems wonderful and different (in a good way) to me, but it's OK if you have something against him. After all, I have something against Jade. 
For some reason I can't stand her ever since I first saw her in that audition 
And the song doesn't help either
Good night!
very good song! Go Elena ! Go Romania!
c'mon it's a very good song! Go Elena!
i dont think she said something bad about norway ... "I can say that I was surprised by the Norwegian entry." this means she like norways entry....
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