Georgia: The band "Iriao" selected for Lisbon 2018
The Georgian broadcaster GPB has internally selected the band "Iriao" to represent Georgia at Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon
On the last evening of 2017 Georgian channel 1TV surprisingly revealed their representative for Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon: Iriao is the name of the group that will compete for Georgia.
The band Iriao performs music that is a blend of jazz and Georgian traditional music. David Malazonia is the mastermind behind the band and he has been succesfully composing over 30 years for theater and films in both Georgia and Germany, and started Iriao back in 2013.
The band's name comes from the famous Georgian yodling style krimanchuli, where "iriao uruao" is a common phrase.
It is unknown if the song Iriao will perform in Lisbon also will be chosen internally or if the song will be selected in a national competition.
Members of Iriao
- David Malazonia – Composer, Keys, Arranger and Leader
- Nugzar Kavtaradze – Georgian Folk Instruments
- Levan Abshilava – Drums, Percussion
- Shalva Gelekva – Bass
- George Abashidze – Vocal & Misc.
- Mikheil Javakhishvili – Vocal & Misc.
- Bidzina Murgulia – Vocal & Misc.
Georgia in Eurovision Song Contest
Georgia has participated in Eurovision ten times since their debut in 2007, with the best result in 2010 and 2011 (9th place), and the worst result in 2014 (came last in Semi-final 2). Georgia manage to qualify to the Grand Final 7 out of 10 times.
The only year Georgia didn't participate was in 2009. They decided to send the song "We Don't Wanna Put In" to Moscow 2009, but because of a controversy about the lyrics in the song, EBU banned the song from participating, if the lyrics was not changed. GPB refused to change the lyrics, and withdrew from the contest.
