Bichir: “Costel Busuioc, the winner of “Hijos de Babel” contest that was broadcasted at Spain’s national television RTVE, is an example that myths still exist, although modern societies, invaded with technology, are beginning to reject them”.

It’s the transcendental myth of the man who breaks through, of the man who has a lucky star and cannot be stopped from fulfilling his destiny.

In his youth, “Pavarotti of Banat”(region in Romania) as the 33 year old man is nicknamed, has been a sheperd, has washed train wagons in Timisoara and worked as a masseur in an asylum. He had left in Spain because he wanted to provide a decent living to his family and started working as a mason. He ran away from home and never saw his parents since he was 16.

Costel Busuioc has become a TV star and a promising singer, from an obcure immigrant. Besides his talent, he also had that little bit of luck of which all Romanians hope for. So it is now that his story as an immigrant that finds success has grown closer to Hollywood stories. If it hadn’t been for real, and it wouldn’t have happened right before our eyes, Costel’s story might have passed as symbolic literature, or one of Mircea Eliade’s novells.

His name is on everyone’s lips, since the Romanian Minister of Culture, Adrian Iorgulescu said that Busuioc has a “special destiny”. Fate was good to Busuioc and, considering his immense popularity, the Bucharest administration is already looking up for the arrangements of four live concerts in Spain.

There, Busuioc would sing along with a proeminent Romanian soprano, with a Romanian or Spanish orchestra, according to a project named “Romania’s voice in Spain”. Sony BMG, one of the largest production houses in the world, made sure to claim Busuioc’s success.

Beyond his Romanian and predestined name (sweet basil), Costel is also another face of the Romanian traditionalism. Considering the ultra-debated case of “Mailat” the Romanian immigrant that slaughtered an Italian woman, Romanians and especially Romanian immigrants, now have a reason to be proud.

They can prove the world that not all Romanians are thieves, rapists, criminals and primitive. And the fact that Busuioc has won by interpreting the famous piece of “Nessun Dorma” from “Turandot” by Giacomo Pucini is yet another reason to feel proud. Up until now, Romanians used to be known for singing gipsy songs and were seen as troubadours, or some funny sounding gypsies.

Busuioc’s success gives new strength to the feeling of national satisfaction, of trust in one’s own powers. By emigrating, Costel has become a brand, a symbol of Romanians everywhere. Since yesterday, tens of Romanians who used to refuse to state their nationality will proudly say to the ones who know them: “I’m a Romanian, like Busuioc”.

They will no longer feel ashamed or fear to say where they came from.

The Romanians who still haven’t left this country will feel just the same way because the former mason is now a symbol of Romanians who find success in foreign countries.

Busuioc gives new strength to the myth of the emigrant. The ones who have already left for a better living now believe it is possible and the ones who stayed are day dreaming and identify to the newborn star. They think of that “what if” it was them who would have lived Busuioc’s experience. Busuioc has already become a myth.