Roman Iagupov, Valeriu Mazilu, Mihai Gîncu, Victor Dandeş, Anatol Pugaci and Sergiu Vatavu, members of the moldovan band Zdob si Zdub have been injured in a serious car crash in the night between Friday and Saturday in Chişinău, Moldova, while they were heading to start their European tour in Kiev, Ukraine.
The band's minibus was hit by a Volkswagen Sharan whose driver was highly drunk (so was the woman that was travelling with him).

10 yrs old Madalina Lefter from Iasi and 11 yrs old Andrada Popa from Bucharest will represent Romania at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Limassol , Cyprus on November the 22nd.
The girls have just won the Romanian jESC NF minutes ago with the song "Salvati Planeta" (Save the Planet).
They came first in the jury votes (President of the Jury was Luminita Anghel - ESC Romania 2005) and second in the televote.
Georgia Dascalu was the winner of the public with 834 votes and came second in the jury votes.

Romania was the 8th country to cast its votes last night at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.
This is how the Romanians voted :

Croatia - Kraljevi Ulice & 75 Cents - Romanca - 1 point
Azerbaidjan - Elnur & Samir - Day After Day - 2 points
Ukraine - Ani Lorak - Shady Lady - 3 points
Armenia - Sirusho - Qele Qele - 4 points
Norway - Maria - Hold On Be Strong - 5 points
Israel - Boaz - The Fire In Your Eyes - 6 points
Serbia - Jelena Tomaševic - Oro - 7 points
Turkey - Mor ve Ötesi - Deli - 08 points
Russia - Dima Bilan - Believe - 10 points

Russian pop star Dima Bilan, who was joined on stage by Hungarian violinist Edvin Marton and the ice-skating champion Evgeny Plushenko, got the victory in the annual song contest. The song, produced by US R&B star Timbaland, picked up 272 points from viewers from 42 countries.

Here are the Final results of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest:

1. Russia - Dima Bilan - "Believe" (272 points)
2. Ukraine - Ani Lorak - Shady Lady (230 points)
3. Greece - Kalomoira - Secret Combination (218 points)
4. Armenia - Sirusho - Qele Qele (199 points)

Talent, professionalism, sincerity, sensibility, courage, responsibility ... Paula Seling.
There are people that believe that, up above the world, there is a single Paradise for all of us.
... there are also people that play God, people that hit exactly in those who have the courage to show us that we can reach new horizons if we wish to. They don't see ...

Paula Seling was kind enough to answer to the questions of the Eurovision fans here on escvibes.com. We thank her for taking the time to do so and we would like to reasure her that the road she's walking on is not a closed one, that she is not alone and ... we care too.

What artists and musical styles marked your career over time ?

I believe that it is obvious that I was influenced by classical music which I've studied at Baia Mare. When I started to study music at the Popular Art School from Baia Mare, I had times when I listened intensively to various artists such as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder that opened my "appetite" for soul music and jazz. I had teachers that pointed me in that direction and to whom I owe my musical personality.

The Romanian broadcaster TVR has just announced the list of artists and songs for the 2008 Junior Eurovision national final which will take place in Bucharest on June 1st. There will be 12 songs in a televised NF in June and the winner will be decided by televoting and jury votes (50/50).

The list is as follows :

1. Caldararu Diana - Micul Mozart (Little Mozart)
2. Paun Alina Manuela - Voi Canta pe Broadway (I will sing on Broadway)
3. The band "Scoala 45" (Florea Maria Alexandra, Jugurica Dan) -Scoala 45 ( School 45)

Andrei Tudor, the composer of the 2008 Romanian Eurovision entry, has launched his website in English so you can now get to know more about the composer & artist Andrei Tudor as well as his band.

Mihai Traistariu, the Romanian representative at the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, is well known as an artist that always maintains a friendly relationship with his fans from all over Europe. Up to now and since 2006, following on from his success with "Tornero", Mihai has got record deals for 15 European countries and he is about to release a new album entitled "Love is ...".
The artist took the time to answer escvibes.com about his Eurovision experience and his future projects.

Eurovision fans are convinced that they will have the opportunity to see you again on the Eurovision Song Contest's stage in the near future. We are only asking ourselves when will that actually happen .... will you comeback in Selectia Nationala next year ?

I wanted to comeback in the 2008 Selection as well but I didn't have an appropriate song. I entered in the heat already and I'm preparing myself for 2009. Unfortunately for 2008 I received over 30 songs from various foreign composers ... and romanian, but none of the songs seem to me that was better than Tornero ... and then ... I decided not to enter the contest just for the sake of being present there. It's too risky. I have to be perfect when I go to Eurovision for the second time.

What should a song be like to convince you from the start that it's perfect for winning the Eurovision Song Contest ?

Andrei Tudor, the composer of the 2008 Romanian Eurovision entry "Pe-o margine de lume" has answered escfans' questions on escvibes.com.

When did you start composing and when did you realise that is the path for your career to follow?

I know I deal with music. I compose or I sing or I arrange or I work in the studio ... but there are no limits between them. There are times when I compose more, other times when I have more concerts as a pianist or orchestra conductor.

What was the first song that brought satisfaction to you as a composer ?

Before heading to the UK preview party, Romanian representative at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest, Nico was kind enough to answer some questions exclusively for escvibes.com.

When did you decide to pursue a career in music and what does your career mean to you at this moment?

Ever since I was a child I played with the vocals of many melodies that were in fashion at that period of time (the 80's).... of course it was all just for fun at the beginning
On the advice of my father, a passionate music fan, I began to take this art seriously and I studied Canto classes for 3 years at the Popular Art Music School in my hometown, Ploiesti. Over time I have evolved, I have been able to gain valuable experience and, with a lot of work and God's help, I have managed to reach a high level of performance skills, enough to convince me that it was about time to try a professional music career.
It wasn't easy to get noticed on the Romanian music scene which is why my acknowledgement didn't come until the age of 30.
At this moment my music career has a high meaning for me and despite the fact that I have accomplished a lot in my career, I will never stop perfecting myself in order to reach an even higher level.

Does music have age ?