Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

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(Redirected from
We Don't Wanna Put In
)

Stephane and 3G
Selected song"We Don't Wanna Put In"
Selected songwriter(s)
  • Stephane Mgebrishvili
  • Bibi Kvachadze
Finals performance
Final resultWithdrawn
Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2008 • 2009 • 2010►

Stephane and 3G. The Georgian broadcaster Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) held a national final in order to select the Georgian entry for the 2009 contest in Moscow, Russia
. An open call for submissions was held which resulted in the shortlisting of ten entries that were presented to the public during a televised production on 18 February 2009. The results of a public televote combined with the votes of an expert jury resulted in the selection of "We Don't Wanna Put In" performed by Stephane and 3G as the Georgian entry.

Georgia was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 12 May 2009. However, on 11 March, GPB announced its withdrawal from the contest after "We Don't Wanna Put In" was rejected by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for perceived political references to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Background

Main article: Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2009 Contest, Georgia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest two times since their first entry in 2007.

introduction of semi-finals
, Georgia has managed to qualify to the final on each occasion the nation has participated in.

The Georgian national broadcaster,

2008 South Ossetia war (also known as the Russo-Georgian War), stating that they refuse to "participate in a contest organised by a country that violates human rights and international laws",[2][3] the broadcaster ultimately confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2009 contest on 19 December 2008 following talks with the contest organisers and taking into account Georgia's victory at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2008, in which Russia awarded top marks to the country.[4][5]

Before Eurovision

National final

GPB opened a public submission from 22 January until 5 February 2009.

Bzikebi performed as a guest.[11][12][13]

Final – 18 February 2009
Draw Artist Song Songwriter(s) Place
1 Bachi Kitiashvili and Bermukha "Khvalindeli dghe" (ხვალინდელი დღე) 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 "Dagvipharavs ghmerti" (დაგვიფარავს ღმერთი) Merab Mamulashvili, Manana Gurgenidze 3
8
Stephane and 3G
 "We Don't Wanna Put In" Stephane Mgebrishvili, Bibi Kvachadze 1
9 Anri Jokhadze "I" Anri Jokhadze, Bibi Kvachadze —
10 Keti Orjonikidze "Hang Out" Bachi Kitiashvili 2

Song controversy and withdrawal

The 2009 Georgian entry garnered international media exposure due to political connotations in its lyrics of the song "We Don't Wanna Put In". It was also reported that the song was ineligible to compete due to the

2008 South Ossetia war the song's lyrics were considered by some as a slight against Russia and Putin.[15] GPB denied that the song was of a political nature, while the EBU refused to make a statement until the song was officially submitted to them.[16] On 2 March, a protest against the song, organised by the Young Russia political group, was held in Moscow, Russia.[17]

After "We Don't Wanna Put In" had been submitted to the EBU, on 10 March, GPB was requested to either re-write the lyrics of the song or select a new entry after it was deemed that the song's lyrics did not comply with the rules of the contest regarding political connotations.[18][19][20] On 11 March, the broadcaster announced Georgia's withdrawal from the contest after they refused to change the song lyrics citing the EBU being "under unprecedented Russian pressure" (although no evidence of pressure being applied has been provided).[21][22][23] The country's withdrawal was confirmed on 16 March during the running order draw.[24][25] Georgia was set to perform in the first semi-final, to be held on 12 May 2009.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Georgia Country Profile". EBU. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  2. ^ Tongeren, Mario van (2008-08-28). "GPB officially withdraws from Eurovision 2009". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2008-09-06. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  3. ^ Viniker, Barry (2008-08-28). "Georgia will not participate in Moscow Eurovision". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  4. ^ Konstantopoulos, Fotis (2008-12-19). "Georgia: GPB proudly changes decision and enters Eurovision 2009". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2008-12-21. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  5. ^ Floras, Stella (2008-12-19). "Georgia returns to the Eurovision Song Contest". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  6. ^ Klier, Marcus (2009-01-22). "Georgia: national final on 18th February". ESCToday. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  7. ^ "Georgia: National final on February 18". Oikotimes. 2009-01-22. Archived from the original on 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  8. ^ Brey, Marco (2009-01-22). "Georgia: National final on February 18th". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  9. ^ Klier, Marcus (18 February 2009). "Tonight: National final in Georgia". Esctoday. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  10. ^ Georgia Sends ‘Protest Song’ to Moscow Eurovision. Civil Georgia. February 19, 2009
  11. ^ Brey, Marco (2009-02-18). "Stephane & 3G to represent Georgia in Moscow". EBU. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  12. ^ Marcus, Klier (2009-02-18). "Georgia: Stephane & 3G to Eurovision". ESCToday. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  13. ^ Fisher, Luke (2009-02-18). "Stephane & 3G wins Georgian national final; listen to the song". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
  14. ^ Lewis, Daniel (2009-03-10). "Georgian Eurovision entry sparks news frenzy". ESCToday. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  15. ^ "Georgians pull out of Eurovision over 'Put in' jab". International Herald Tribune. Tbilisi. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  16. ^ "Putin jibe picked for Eurovision". BBC. 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  17. ^ Gudim, Laura (2009-03-02). "Russian political rally against Georgian song". ESCToday. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  18. ^ Bakker, Sietse (2009-03-10). "Georgian song lyrics do not comply with Rules". EBU. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  19. ^ Viniker, Barry (2009-03-10). "EBU rejects Georgia Eurovision entry". ESCToday. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  20. ^ Eurovision axes 'anti-Putin' song
  21. ^ Lewis, Daniel (2009-02-19). "Грузинская сторона не будет менять текст "аморальной" песни для "Евровидения"". NEWSru. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
  22. ^ Georgia pulls out of Eurovision after controversial song is banned. The Daily Telegraph. 12 March 2009
  23. ^ Kozlov, Vladimir (12 March 2009). "Georgia's Eurovision entry exits over lyric". Hollywood Reporter. Moscow. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  24. ^ "Georgia drops out of Eurovision over Putin song". 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  25. ^ Shegrikyan, Zaven (2009-03-11). "Georgia withdraws from Eurovision Song Contest 2009". ESCToday. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
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