We’re keeping up the run of “first country from xxx part of Europe” in the previews countdown with last year’s 40th place (based on YouTube top 43s), climbing one place in my this year’s countdown (and not based on YouTube top 43s but my own personal top). It’s the first of the trio of Caucasus countries – Georgia. They narrowly missed out on the final last year, can they make a return this year? 

I respect Georgia (most years) as a Eurovision country. As I said in my preview last year, they tend to vary the type of entry they put in from year to year, and they have never been afraid to go their own way and enter songs very different from those of other countries and with genres not usually associated with Eurovision (or at least Eurovision success). Their choice this year follows in that tradition with Iraio, an Georgian jazz and ethno folk group representing them.

Now I’ll be honest, it’s not a song that I would want to listen to over and over again and I’ve consequently placed this low in my rankings. What I will say is that it is good to hear a national language being sung at Eurovision, and the harmonies will, I’m sure, be impressive live and may find favour with some juries at least. Not sure it’s going to qualify but while I’m not a personal fan of the song itself, I respect Georgia for putting in an entry like this.

Official music video:

Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest:

 First entered: 2007

Appearances (excluding this year): 11

Best result: 9th in 2010 and 2011

Last year’s result: 11th in semi-final (did not qualify)