"Eu cred" (English: "I believe") is a song recorded by Romanian singer Mălina Olinescu. It was recorded at the TVR Music Studio in Bucharest, and was released as a CD single in 1998 by Mega Music in Romania. The release also contained "You Live", the English-language version of the song. "Eu cred" was written by Liliana Ștefan, while production was handled by Adrian Romcescu [ro].

"Eu cred"
A shot of Olinescu and Adrian Romcescu standing side to side in front of a beige backdrop. Information on the song is superimposed on them in yellow and red letters.
Single by Mălina Olinescu
B-side"You Live"
Released1998
Length3:03
LabelMega
Songwriter(s)Liliana Ștefan
Producer(s)Adrian Romcescu
Eurovision Song Contest 1998 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Language
Composer(s)
Adrian Romcescu
Lyricist(s)
Liliana Ștefan
Conductor
Romcescu
Finals performance
Final result
22nd
Final points
6
Entry chronology
◄ "Dincolo de nori" (1994)
"The Moon" (2000) ►

The track represented Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 in Birmingham, United Kingdom after winning the pre-selection show Selecția Națională. In Birmingham, Romania automatically qualified to the final due to their relegation in the previous year and finished in 22nd place with six points. This remains one of Romania's worst results ever in the contest. Commercially, "Eu cred" failed to impact any national chart.

Background and release

edit

"Eu cred" was written by Liliana Ștefan, while production was handled by Adrian Romcescu.[1][2] It was recorded by Mălina Olinescu at the TVR Music Studio in Bucharest, Romania, and engineered by Dani Constantin.[1] Olinescu had previously risen to significant fame in Romania after competing in native TV music show Școala Vedetelor [ro] in 1996.[3] A CD single of "Eu cred" was released in 1998 by Mega Music in Romania, containing "You Live", the English-language version of the track, on its B-side. The CD came with a booklet featuring lyrics to both versions. Adrian Ștefănescu was credited for artists and repertoire (A&R) services.[1]

At Eurovision

edit

On 14 March 1998, the Selecția Națională was held in order to select the Romanian entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 1998. Subsequently, "Eu cred" was chosen after the votes of four regional jury panels, an expert jury panel and televoting results were combined; Olinescu had come second with the televotes.[4][5] The Eurovision Song Contest 1998 took place at the Arena Birmingham in Birmingham, United Kingdom and consisted of the final on 9 May 1998. According to the then-Eurovision rules, selected countries were picked to participate in the final, including the host country. In 1998, Romania automatically qualified to the final due to their relegation in the previous year; Olinescu performed in 15th place, preceded by Portugal and followed by the United Kingdom. Her show used orchestral accompaniment conducted by maestro Romcescu.[6] Romania eventually came in 22nd position with six points awarded by Israel, which remains one of the country's lowest placements ever in the contest. The Romanian jury awarded its 12 points to the United Kingdom.[7][8]

Voting

edit
Points awarded to Romania[9]
Score Country
12 points
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5 points
4 points
3 points
2 points
1 point
Points awarded by Romania[9]
Score Country
12 points   United Kingdom
10 points   Poland
8 points   Ireland
7 points   Israel
6 points   Germany
5 points   Slovenia
4 points   Cyprus
3 points   Macedonia
2 points   Turkey
1 point   Hungary

Track listing

edit
  • Romanian CD single[1]
  1. "Eu cred" – 3:03
  2. "You Live" – 3:00

Credits and personnel

edit

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the CD single.[1]

Management
  • Published by Mega Music
  • Recorded at Studioul muzical al TVR (Bucharest, Romania)
Personnel

Release history

edit
Country Date Format Label
Romania[1] 1998 CD single Mega

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f Eu cred (CD single). Mălina Olinescu. Mega Music. (Matrix: GZ J41517 MEGA MUSIC 101). 1998.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "Adrian Romcescu despre Mălina Olinescu: "Ştiam că putea deveni hiper-depresivă oricând, dar nu că se va ajunge aşa departe"" [Adrian Romcescu about Mălina Olinescu: "I knew she could become hyper-depressive every moment, but I wasn't thinking it could go that far"]. Adevărul (in Romanian). 12 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  3. ^ "O nouă tragedie loveşte muzica românească: Mălina Olinescu s-a sinucis" [A new tragedy hits the Romanian music industry: Mălina Olinescu has committed suicide]. Libertatea (in Romanian). 12 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Romanian National Final 1998". National Finals. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  5. ^ Selecția Națională 1998. 14 March 1998.
  6. ^ Eurovision Song Contest 1998. Birmingham, United Kingdom. 9 May 1998.
  7. ^ "Results of the Final of Birmingham 1998". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Malina Olinescu, la Eurovision, interpretand piesa "Eu cred"" [Malina Olinescu at Eurovision, singing "Eu cred"] (in Romanian). Pro TV. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Birmingham 1998". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.