Georgia faces Eurovision axe over Putin song
Published 21 February, 2009, 07:45
Georgia’s Eurovision pre-selection jury has chosen a provocative anti-Putin song called “We Don't Wanna Put In” for this year’s Eurovision song contest, which will be held on May 16 in Moscow.
The chorus of the song performed by the “Stephane and 3G” band in the disco style goes:
We don't wanna put in
The negative mood
It's killing the groove.
Georgia's Eurovision entry may well fall foul of contest rules which specifically state that no song is allowed to contain lyrics that might in any way be taken as political.
But despite the equivocal play of words the singers say they do not mean any insults: “We have great expectations that this song will be liked in Europe and in particular in Russia, because there is nothing insulting in it and we are not naming anyone. This song fits the standards of the Eurovision song contest,” said band member Kakha Tsiskaridze.
Chairman of the jury British producer Steven Budd also said the song was “a fun Euro-pop disco pastiche” while admitting there were better written and better performed entries.
An ‘immoral’ song
Georgian singer Diana Gurtskaya, who represented the country at Eurovision 2008, refused to pass the baton to “Stephane and 3G”. She was supposed to announce the name of the winner but when she learnt who’d won, she declined to do so.
The Moscow-based singer, who is currently in Tbilisi, told a Georgian newspaper that the song “should not have been in the contest.”
“I’m not talking about the quality of performance, but about its political message. This song will not bring any advantages to Georgia,” she said.
In May 2009 Moscow will host the event for the first time after last year’s triumphant performance.
“I spoke to the former parliament speaker of Georgia Nino Burdzhanadze who told me that it is not in the traditions of our country to insult the host during the visit,” Gurtskaya said.
While the performer last year’s Eurovision winner Dima Bilan has called the song ‘immoral’.
Georgians against Eurovision in Moscow
All in all, there were ten bands and solo singers taking part in the national contest.
It was marred by the protests of Georgians who are against participating in the event in Moscow. Among them were members of the Internet forum group which considers it unacceptable for Georgian singers to perform in Russia “in the light of Russian occupation of Georgian territories.”
Until recently Georgia said it wasn't planning to take part in the song contest, but it's now apparently changed its mind.
We Don't Wanna Put In – Video & Lyrics
Some people tell you the stories
To drag you down to (their) the knees,
But lemme tell you don’t worry,
No worries, No worries.
Another glass of my moonshine,
Will kick the hell out of me,
But lemme focus on good stuff,
Some good stuff, just good stuff.
(CHORUS)
We Don’t Wanna Put In
The negative move,
It’s killin’ the groove.
I’m a-try to shoot in
Some disco tonight,
Boogie with you.
Meanwhile, songs about political figures are not new things – and they haven't always been used to mock or criticise.
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