Voltaj
{{Short description|Romanian pop rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Voltaj
| image = 20150512 ESC 2015 Voltaj 4924.jpg
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| alt =
| caption = Voltaj in 2015
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| origin = {{Flagicon|Romania}} Bucharest, Romania
| genre = {{hlist|Electronic rock|pop rock|hard rock (early)|heavy metal (early)|Electronic Music|Pop}}
| years_active = {{start date|1982}}–present
| label = Roton, Cat Music, Electrecord
| associated_acts = Deepside Deejays
| website = {{URL|http://www.voltaj.ro/}}
| current_members = Călin Goia {{small|(voice)}}
Gabi "Porcus" Constantin {{small|(guitar)}}
Adrian M. Cristescu {{small|(keyboards)}}
Valeriu "Prunus" Ionescu {{small|(bass)}}
Oliver Sterian {{small|(drums)}}
| past_members = Cristi Minculescu {{small|(voice)}}
Adrian Ilie {{small|(guitar)}}
Dan Cimpoieru {{small|(guitar)}}
Horațiu Rad {{small|(bass)}}
Nikki Dinescu {{small|(drums)}}
Gabi Nacu {{small|(guitar)}}
Cristi Ilie {{small|(voice)}}
Amedeo Bolohoi {{small|(guitar)}}
Dan Mateescu {{small|(bass)}}
Doru "M.S." Istudor {{small|(drums)}}
Bogdan Cristea {{small|(voice)}}
Cristi Marinescu {{small|(guitar)}}
Doru Borobeică {{small|(bass)}}
Manuel Savu {{small|(guitar)}}
Eugen "Brebu" Sălceanu {{small|(keyboards)}}
Florin "Dog" Ionescu {{small|(drums)}}
Paul "Pampon" Neacșu {{small|(drums)}}
Bobby "Bobiță" Stoica {{small|(keyboards)}}
Tavi Colen {{small|(vocals)}}
}}
Voltaj ({{IPA|ro|volˈtaʒ|pron}}; {{langnf|ro||voltage}}) is a Romanian pop rock group. They are widely regarded as one of the most successful bands in Romanian history, with songs such as "20", "De la capăt" and "De mâine" being household hits.
History
Voltaj was formed in 1982, in Bucharest, by: Horațiu Rad on bass, Nikki Dinescu (Krypton) on drums, Gabi Nacu (Krypton) on guitar, Cristi Minculescu (Iris) on vocals and Adrian Ilie (Iris) on guitar.[http://catmusic.ro/artists/voltaj/ "Voltaj Biography"]. catmusic.ro. Retrieved 9 May 2020 Their sound at the time was on the heavier side of hard rock, being one of the earliest examples of traditional heavy metal in the Romanian scene.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XggSsJsy4E0"Compilation of early voltaj demos"]. youtube.com. Retrieved 9 May 2020
During this period there were numerous changes in the line-up, all the disputes even spawning a second Voltaj, known as Voltaj 88', which also managed to release a couple of albums during the '90s.[https://www.discogs.com/artist/2182876-Voltaj-88"Voltaj 88 on discogs"]. discogs.com. Retrieved 9 may 2020
By the time of their 1996 debut, "Pericol de Moarte", only drummer Nikki Dinescu was left from the original line-up. The album, which also features Tavi Colen Talisman on vocals, is their only record in the heavy metal style.[https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Voltaj/66233"Voltaj"]. metal-archives.com. Retrieved 9 may 2020
Starting with 1998 the two remaining members, bass player Vali Ionescu, and guitar player Gabi Constantin recruit a new line-up, with Bobby Stoica on keyboards which brought Călin Goia on vocals on board. With Goia's vocals and creative mind, the group rapidly grew in success and fame. With the release of the album, "Risc Maxim 2", the group switches its style to electronic-influenced pop-rock music. In 2002 they were joined by Oliver Sterian (son of Valeriu Sterian) on drums. Releasing numerous hit singles like "20 ani", "Albinuța", "De mâine", "De la capăt" and "Doar pentru ea", they have become one of the most widely-known groups in Romania.
They won the Best Romanian Act award at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2005. After winning Selecția Națională 2015, they represented Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "De la capăt", where they progressed out of their semi-final group to place 15th in the Final with 35 points.{{cite web|url=http://eurovoix.com/2015/03/08/romania-voltaj-wins-selectia-nationala-2015/|title=Romania: Voltaj Wins Selectia Nationala 2015!|work=Eurovoix.com|last=Granger|first=Anthony|date=8 March 2015|access-date=8 March 2015}}
Band members
- Călin Goia (vocals)
- Gabi "Porcus" Constantin (electric guitar)
- Adrian Cristescu (keyboards)
- Valeriu "Prunus" Ionescu (bass guitar)
- Oliver Sterian (drums)
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Pericol de moarte (Deadly Danger)
|
|
| scope="row"| Risk Maxim 2
|
|
| scope="row"| Bungee
|
|
| scope="row"| 3D
|
|
| scope="row"| 424
|
|
| scope="row"| Povestea oricui (Anyone's Story)
|
|
| scope="row"| Revelator
|
|
| scope="row"| V8
|
|
| scope="row"| Dă vina pe Voltaj (Blame Voltaj)
|
|
| scope="row"| X
|
|
| scope="row"| Ca La 20 De Ani
|
|
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Best of Voltaj
|
|
| scope="row"| Integrala Voltaj (+ Voltaj's book)
|
|
| scope="row"| Remix
|
|
| scope="row"| Doza ta de muzică Voltaj (Your Dose of Voltaj Music)
|
|
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUT {{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Voltaj|title=Discografie Voltaj|publisher=Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)|last=Hung|first=Steffen}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| ICE |
| scope="row"| "Asta-i viaţa" (That's Life)
| 1999 | — || — | Risk Maxim 2 |
| scope="row"| "...Tu" (You)
| rowspan="2"| 2002 | — || — | rowspan="3"| 424 |
| scope="row"| "Scrisoare" (Letter)
| — || — |
| scope="row"| "Noapte bună" (Good Night)
| 2003 | — || — |
| scope="row"| "One Day I'll Win"
| 2005 | — || — | Remix |
| scope="row"| "Da vina pe voltaj"
| 2012 | — || — | Da vina pe voltaj |
| scope="row"| "Meci De Box"
| rowspan="2"| 2014 | — || — | rowspan="3"| X |
| scope="row"| "De la capăt"
| 70 || 48 |
| scope="row"| "Om"
| rowspan="2"| 2020 | — || — |
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Vocea Ta" (Cabron featuring Voltaj) | 2014 | {{n/a|Lupu'DPM}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{Succession box|
|before=Paula Seling and Ovi
with "Miracle"
|title=Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest
|years=2015
|after=Ilinca and Alex Florea
with "Yodel It!"
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest |state=autocollapse}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2015 |state=autocollapse}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Romanian Act}}
- [http://www.voltaj.ro/ Official site]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091006081024/http://trazneata.radiolynx.ro/2008/04/23/bobby-stoica-voltaj-remember-coke-live-2oo7/ Interview Bobby Stoica (keyboardist Voltaj)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090719074956/http://trazneata.radiolynx.ro/2009/05/09/ultimul-album-voltaj-interviu-calin-goia-audio/ Interview Calin Goia (singer Voltaj)]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Romanian electronic music groups
Category:Musical groups established in 1982
Category:1982 establishments in Romania
Category:MTV Europe Music Award winners