Following its recent war with Russia, Georgia had initially planned to boycott this year's Eurovision Song Contest to be staged in Moscow, but later changed its mind. However, if reversing that decision might have initially seemed an attempt to repair damaged relations, yesterday's national song contest proved otherwise.
In two posts, This is Tbilisi Calling explains the possible controversy surrounding the lyrics of the country's likely entry.
Georgians may use the Eurovision Song Contest to poke fun at neighbouring Russia after losing last year's war between the two countries if one potentially provocative song is chosen by the Georgian public as their entry for 2009. Eurovision, of course, will be held this year in Moscow, where the song Put-In Disco would probably not get much of an enthusiastic welcome. […]
[…]
[…] its chorus goes like this: “We Don’t Wanna Put In/The negative move/It’s killin’ the groove.” What you actually hear ,of course, is “we don't wanna Putin” […]
Today, the same blog announced that We Don't Wanna Put In by Stefane and 3G had been chosen as the country's entry.
The slyly anti-Russian song We Don't Wanna Put In has been chosen as Georgia's entry to the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow – if the event's organisers allow one of the entries to denigrate the host country's prime minister, of course. […]
The Oiko Times says Georgia might be forced to change the lyrics while Posh & Becks of Eurovision thinks that Georgia is playing with fire.
Anyone wanna take bets on how long it will take before the EBU take actions against Georgia? There is no chance in hell that they will be allowed that lyrics after everything that has been going on between Georgia and Russia. The song is called “We don't wanna put in” and is a disco stomper. […] Dangerous. Get it? Put in. Putin. We don't want Putin.
Other Eurovision observers were quick to comment on their blogs. Unzipped: Gay Armenia says the song is likely to prove controversial.
Georgia decided to send Stephane & 3G with “We don't wanna Put in”. Clever and funny ‘playing with words’ :) While the song itself is pretty typical, it's quite catchy and funny. And it's possible to sing along […].
This song, if approved by Eurovision officials, will get a very tough reception in Moscow, with likely boo-ing in the auditorium. No chances for 12 points from Russia to Georgia (this was alleged by many as a possible political gesture from Russia's side.) […]
There have been regular attempts at protest songs at Eurovision in past: some – successful, others – not. Perhaps, the most successful recent attempt, which Georgians want to repeat, was that of Ukraine two years ago with Verka Serduchka ‘playing with words’ while singing ‘Lusha Tumbai’ (='Russia Good Bye’). […]
The blog says that the song might go down well in Western Europe and some former-Soviet states, but warns that it could also backfire. Regardless, JawnBC says Eurovision is at least getting interesting.
I'm listening, trying to figure who wrote this archetypal bad English. Then *ding* the light went on.
We don't wanna put in, negative mood is killing the groove. Or We don't want Putin.
There's a rule against political songs in the Eurovision. But with their recent war–and the Contest being held in Moscow–I bet the Georgian public couldn't resist.
This is likely not the last to be heard about the song.
19 comments
Seems like they changed the lyrics for the performance too. In the original audio recording and lyrics there’s no reference to “shoot in…”
http://www.eurovision-georgia.ge/participants/3g/music.aspx?LanguageID=2
And from looking at the performance they’re not taking it seriously at all. It’s intended only to mock.
Kind of funny, though, but definitely not keeping in with the spirit of Eurovision…
BTW: They changed the lyrics from the original audio recording for the live performance.
Now there’s reference to “shoot in…” at the beginning and not just at the end.
And check out the mimicking of a gun at the end as well as the slowly rising Nazi salute.
To be honest, I don’t even think they’re expecting to perform in Moscow…
what is your problem? you call this simple song of Disco a NAzi and whatever Russians are doing to my counntry lately very lovely thing? I definately doubt if you think about anything but hateing this song while posting your comments here!
Is MR. Putin somehow Saint, over in Russia and most certainly is in ur Armenian heart!?So that no one can mention anything that might bring some stupid people’s association with this Fascist Putin?
What do you expect from Georgians? i wonder what did you eperct from a country that had a war because of this little Fascist Putin! he and his government are NAzis and Skin-heads not Georgians or this Song!
I am proud that georgian nation chose this song and Hope we will not go in ESC at all if the text is not approved!
Correction, the reference to “shoot in” is in the original audio, but not in the published lyrics. It’s just that it was more noticeable in the video…
The International media have picked it up:
Georgia’s Eurovision song pokes fun at Russian politics
http://en.rian.ru/world/20090219/120222304.html
Putin jibe picked for Eurovision
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7899014.stm
Georgians take swipe at Putin with Eurovision entry
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKTRE51I2Y220090219
Georgia doesn’t want to “put in” at the Eurovision in Moscow
http://observers.france24.com/en/content/20090219-georgia-doesn-want-put-in-eurovision-moscow-putin
Georgian group to sing anti-Russia song in Eurovision
http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=97435
this song is not antirussian . simply this song is very very original and i want this song turn winner. i love georgiaaa and i ove this song . “put in” for russian is “вбрасывать” :*:*:*:*:*:* “We Don’t Wanna put in
The negative move,
Is killin’ the groove.”
i lovee georgiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa