Mandinga was formed in Romania in 2003. Their original lead singer, Elena Gheorghe left in 2005 and went onto solo success, most notably representing her country in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow with the song Balkan girls.
Mandinga now consists of lead singer Elena Ionescu and she is accompanied by band members Alex, Chupi, Omar, El Niño, Zach and Tony. All of the members are either Romanian or Cuban.
Since 2003, they have released four studio albums, all with a Latino feel.
Romanian national broadcaster TVR organised a national selection for a song which culminated in a televised final on 10 March. This was after initial claims that Romania would not participate, due to the entry fee being imposed.
In February 2012, they put out a general call for entries to be submitted within a 2 week window. A professional jury then narrowed down the entries to a final shortlist. During this stage in the selection, the jury had the right to recommend a different performer if necessary.
The national final consisted of 15 songs with a free language rule. A number of juries around Romania cast their votes which contributed half of the final mark. Televoting comprised the other half.
In a fairly close contest, Zaleilah received the maximum 12 points from the televote along with the runner-up score of 10 points from the juries - their total of 22 points being three ahead of second place.
Mandinga, everyday
Mandinga, zaleilah lei
Así, así
Vamos allá, vamos allá
Siento el ritmo del cuerpo tocándome, eh yeah...
El perfume del viento besándome, eh yeah...
Cuando estoy a tu lado, me siento bien, whoa yeah...
Si me tocas, me abrazas, quiero bailar
Soy feliz, puedo gritar
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
When you love you say, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, zaleilah leilah lei
Ay! ¿Cómo? ¿Cómo? ¿Cómo?
Tú, déjate amarte, déjame amarte toda la vida
Tú nunca lo dudes que estoy para ti nada más
Mi chico bonito, un poco negrito, ven papito, ven acá
Siempre contigo, siento que vivo en un amor real
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
When you love you say, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, zaleilah leilah lei
When you make me feel so special
I am dreaming, I'm dreaming
Oh, oh... hey yeah...
Eveybody say:
(Vamos, vamos, vamos, vamos allá) Ay!
(Vamos, vamos) Así! (Vamos) Muévete
(Vamos, vamos, vamos, vamos allá)
Arriba, arriba (Vamos, vamos)
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
When you love you say, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, zaleilah leilah lei
Like that, like that
Let's go there, let's go there
I feel the rhythm of your body touching me, eh yeah...
The perfume of the wind kissing me, eh yeah...
When I'm by your side, I feel great, whoa yeah...
If you touch me, embrace me, I want to dance
I'm happy, I can shout out loud
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
When you love you say, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, zaleilah leilah lei
Oh! How? How? How?
You, let yourself be loved, let me love you all my life
You never doubt that I'm here for you and only you
My cute boy, a little bit dark, come daddy, come here
Always with you, I feel like I'm living in a real love
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
When you love you say, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, zaleilah leilah lei
When you make me feel so special
I am dreaming, I'm dreaming
Oh, oh... hey yeah...
Eveybody say:
(Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go there) Oh!
(Let's go, let's go) Like that (Let's go) Move up
(Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go there)
I'm coming, I'm coming (Let's go, let's go)
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
When you love you say, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, everyday, everybody
Zaleilah leilah lei, zaleilah leilah lei
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