Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Encyclopedia
Georgia, and its broadcaster Georgian Public Broadcasting
(GPB), announced in August 2008 that it would be withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow
, Russia
. The country later returned to the contest in December 2008, and planned for its third entry at the contest.
After a national final was held on 18 February, the third Georgian entry for Eurovision was decided to be Stefane & 3G with "We Don't Wanna Put In
". The song however was rejected by the European Broadcasting Union
(EBU), and could not compete in the contest in its current form due to perceived political connotations in its lyrics. On 11 March, Georgia announced its withdrawal from the contest in response to the EBU's rejection.
(GPB), originally announced in August 2008 that they would not be participating at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. This was due to the 2008 South Ossetia war
, involving Georgia and Eurovision host Russia, and in protest to Russia's foreign policies. GPB went on to say that they refuse to "participate in a contest organised by a country that violates human rights and international laws".
GPB later reversed their decision to boycott the contest in December 2008. This was after talks between GPB and the contest organisers, the European Broadcasting Union
(EBU), as well as the victory for Georgia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008
, in which Russia gave their top marks to Georgia.
In February 2009, an online campaign "Boycott MoscowVision" emerged calling on the public broadcaster not to participate in the song contest.
On 6 February GPB released the names of the ten competing artists. The song titles and songwriters were revealed on 13 February.
The winner of the contest was Stefane & 3G with the song "We Don't Wanna Put In
". Only the top three acts were announced on the night, with Keti Ordjonikidze and Boris Bedia making up the remaining top three songs.
, gained news coverage in countries around Europe, however the song was rumoured to be ineligible to compete, due to rules forbidding "lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political or similar nature". A spokesperson for GPB denied that the song was of a political nature, and the European Broadcasting Union
(EBU), the organisers of the contest, refused to make a statement until the song was officially submitted to them. A protest was held in Moscow over the song on 2 March 2009, organised by the Young Russia political group.
On 10 March, the EBU told GPB that the song's lyrics did not comply with the rules of the contest, and asked them to either re-write the lyrics of the song, or select another to compete.
On 11 March, GPB announced that it would not change the lyrics of the song, or the song itself, saying that it does not have political connotations within its lyrics, and perceiving the EBU's rejection of the song as political pressure from Russia. The country therefore withdrew from the contest. Confirmation of the withdrawal given, when the running order was announced on 16 March, and Georgia was not included.
Georgian Public Broadcasting
Georgian Public Broadcasting is the national public broadcaster of Georgia. It started broadcasting radio in 1925, and Georgian TV started broadcasting in 1956. Today, 85% of the Georgian population receive the First Channel , and 55% receive the Second Channel...
(GPB), announced in August 2008 that it would be withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The country later returned to the contest in December 2008, and planned for its third entry at the contest.
After a national final was held on 18 February, the third Georgian entry for Eurovision was decided to be Stefane & 3G with "We Don't Wanna Put In
We Don't Wanna Put In
"We Don't Wanna Put In" is a 2009 song by Stephane & 3G and was to have been the Georgian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 held in Moscow, composed by Stefane Mgebrishvili and written by Bibi Kvachadze....
". The song however was rejected by the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
(EBU), and could not compete in the contest in its current form due to perceived political connotations in its lyrics. On 11 March, Georgia announced its withdrawal from the contest in response to the EBU's rejection.
Withdrawal and return
Georgia's broadcaster, Georgian Public BroadcastingGeorgian Public Broadcasting
Georgian Public Broadcasting is the national public broadcaster of Georgia. It started broadcasting radio in 1925, and Georgian TV started broadcasting in 1956. Today, 85% of the Georgian population receive the First Channel , and 55% receive the Second Channel...
(GPB), originally announced in August 2008 that they would not be participating at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. This was due to the 2008 South Ossetia war
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
, involving Georgia and Eurovision host Russia, and in protest to Russia's foreign policies. GPB went on to say that they refuse to "participate in a contest organised by a country that violates human rights and international laws".
GPB later reversed their decision to boycott the contest in December 2008. This was after talks between GPB and the contest organisers, the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
(EBU), as well as the victory for Georgia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008
The Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the sixth Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which is the world's largest song contest for children. It was held at the "Spyros Kyprianou" Athletic Centre in Lemesos, Cyprus and hosted by Alex Michael and Sophia Paraskeva. It was won by the Georgian trio...
, in which Russia gave their top marks to Georgia.
In February 2009, an online campaign "Boycott MoscowVision" emerged calling on the public broadcaster not to participate in the song contest.
National final
In its third year of participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, the Georgian public broadcaster GPB opted to organise a public national final again. Singers and songwriters could send in their songs until February 5, when a jury picked the finalists. The national final was broadcast live on February 18 from GPB's own TV studios, with the winner being decided by a combination of SMS voting and the verdict of an expert jury.On 6 February GPB released the names of the ten competing artists. The song titles and songwriters were revealed on 13 February.
The winner of the contest was Stefane & 3G with the song "We Don't Wanna Put In
We Don't Wanna Put In
"We Don't Wanna Put In" is a 2009 song by Stephane & 3G and was to have been the Georgian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 held in Moscow, composed by Stefane Mgebrishvili and written by Bibi Kvachadze....
". Only the top three acts were announced on the night, with Keti Ordjonikidze and Boris Bedia making up the remaining top three songs.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Composer - Lyricist | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bermukha | "Khvalindeli dghe" | Bachi Kitiashvili | |
| 2 | November | "Over" | Davit Mchedlishvili - Giorgi Mukhigulashvili | |
| 3 | Giorgi Maisuradze | "Peace in the World" | Giorgi Maisuradze, Dato Ugrekhelidze - Lika Kakiashvili | |
| 4 | Tika Patsatsia | "Miracle" | Gorgi | |
| 5 | Tony and Friends | "Hear My Plea" | Tony O’Malley | |
| 6 | Nodiko Tatishvili | "No Sun When You Are Near" | Levan Jibladze - Bibi Kvachadze | |
| 7 | Boris Bedia | "Mjera" | Merab Mamulashvili - Manana Gurgenidze | 3rd |
| 8 | Stefane & 3G | "We Don't Wanna Put In" | Stefane Mgebrishvili - Bibi Kvachadze | 1st |
| 9 | Anri Jokhadze | "I" | Anri Jokhadze - Bibi Kvachadze | |
| 10 | Keti Orjonikidze | "Hang Out" | Bachi Kitiashvili | 2nd |
Song controversy and withdrawal
Shortly after "We Don't Wanna Put In" was selected, the song received widespread coverage due to political connotations in its lyrics. The song, a jab at Russian Prime Minister Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
, gained news coverage in countries around Europe, however the song was rumoured to be ineligible to compete, due to rules forbidding "lyrics, speeches, gestures of a political or similar nature". A spokesperson for GPB denied that the song was of a political nature, and the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
(EBU), the organisers of the contest, refused to make a statement until the song was officially submitted to them. A protest was held in Moscow over the song on 2 March 2009, organised by the Young Russia political group.
On 10 March, the EBU told GPB that the song's lyrics did not comply with the rules of the contest, and asked them to either re-write the lyrics of the song, or select another to compete.
On 11 March, GPB announced that it would not change the lyrics of the song, or the song itself, saying that it does not have political connotations within its lyrics, and perceiving the EBU's rejection of the song as political pressure from Russia. The country therefore withdrew from the contest. Confirmation of the withdrawal given, when the running order was announced on 16 March, and Georgia was not included.