photo: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett With the ten finalists from the 2nd semifinal, we are complete. All the finalists are known. The 10 countries getting through to the Grand Final tonight are: Latvia Austria Netherlands Norway Israel Greece Estonia Switzerland Georgia Armenia
San Marino is represented by Megara. This morning, a discussion arose around the rehearsals: it was a missed opportunity not to have the group rehearse at 11:11, since that was the title of the song. Little has changed since the first rehearsal. Pink and black are still the colors, including of the graphics. Expectations are low: a 35th place in the odds. Georgian Nutsa Buzaladze is surrounded by a lot of fire. What else can you expect with a song called “Firefighter”. She is mostly standing in a circle with, of course, a red background. The circle seems to depict the sun. Here too, few changes compared to the previous rehearsal. Georgia is currently 18th at the bookmakers and seems set to break the curse of not reaching the finals. Belgium rehearsed third today. We already know the act: Mustii stands in a circle of microphones, dressed in a white, gem-studded outfit. At one point, he steps out of the circle and removes his blouse. It now seems as if he continues singing with a bare torso, but his torso is also adorned with gemstones. The criticism of Mustii’s singing has by now subsided, and we are curious to hear how it will sound today when the video comes out on Youtube. Belgium is currently 12th with the bookmakers. Some things only become apparent when more photos are released. 5miinust x Puuluup make clever use of the available cubes. There is a lot of attention to the instruments used during Estonia’s act. Estonia is currently 21st with the bookmakers. It will be close whether the Estonians make it to the final with (of these) narcotics we (certainly) know nothing. EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Also, little news to report from Israel, although now we see different colors of lighting in the photos: blue and yellow. The clothing is still white and Eden Golan stands in a glowing circle singing her song Hurricane. The song is one of the few ballads in this year’s festival. The bookmakers expect an 8th place.
Latvia is represented by Dons with his song “Hollow”. Dons, dressed in a suit with a sleeveless blue jacket, stands alone on stage inside a sort of circle, also in blue with pink and orange. On the LED screens, we see gently blinking lights, as well as circles and other figures. For San Marino, the Spanish group Megara will perform. They sing “11:11”. Just like during the national final, the members of Megara are again dressed in pink and black, but now with a slightly different pattern. The LED screens also display black and pink; we see a forest and dragons; a mix between Snow White and The Addams Family. According to eurovision.tv, the dance moves don’t quite match what we expect from a rock band. And of course, there are fireworks: smoke and large fireballs. Nutsa Buzaladze will represent Georgia with a song about her Firefighter. Nutsa starts on a black platform, dressed in a golden mini dress with boots. She stands there alone in red light. Behind her is a glowing circle. However, after the first verse, four dancers in black appear. Throughout the song, the LED screens display fireballs. There is also a lot of, a great deal of fire on stage. It’s becoming a tradition. EBU/Corinne Cumming Then it’s Mustii’s turn. He will represent Belgium with his song “Before the party is over”. During the performance, Musti wears a white shirt that is open. He wears a top with inlaid sparkling stones. He builds the act slowly: at the beginning, he stands in a circle of microphones on a rotating platform. He is not only surrounded by smoke but also smoke appears on the LED screens. At the end of his performance, he steps forward. Then the choir, consisting of Eurovision fans who could send in their singing, can be heard. Especially this part seems to make a big impression.
We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Georgia. Nutsa Buzaladze Nutsa Buzaladze is a talented singer-songwriter from Georgia, born on January 28, 1997. She started her music journey when she was just 5 years old by joining a children’s group in Tbilisi, her hometown. Nutsa quickly showed her musical skills by playing in a band, singing, playing the guitar, and even learning piano by the time she was 8. Her big break came in 2011 when she competed in Georgia’s Got Talent, setting the stage for her solo career. Nutsa gained international fame in 2014 by winning at the New Wave Music Festival in Latvia, representing Georgia. Throughout her career, Nutsa has been part of various music contests and worked with famous artists like Hadise. In 2017, her song “White Horses Run” almost won Georgia’s choice for Eurovision. She released her first album, “Nutsa22,” in 2019, featuring popular songs in both Georgian and English. Nutsa continued to impress by participating in music shows around the world, including American Idol in 2023. Recently, on January 12, 2024, it was announced that Nutsa will represent Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Sweden with the song “Firefighter”. The New Wave Music Festival In 2014, Nutsa Buzaladze won the New Wave Music Festival. The New Wave Music Festival in Latvia is a prestigious international contest that showcases the talents of young musicians from around the globe. Held annually in the beautiful city of Jūrmala, the festival has become a launching pad for emerging artists since its inception in 2002. Over the course of several days, participants compete by performing a variety of songs, ranging from national hits to international classics, in front of a panel of esteemed judges and a live audience. The festival is known for its vibrant atmosphere, stunning coastal setting, and the opportunity it provides for young talents to connect with industry professionals. Winners of the New Wave gain significant exposure, opening doors to international careers in music. Besides the competition, the festival features performances by established stars, adding to its allure. Over the years, New Wave has solidified its reputation as a key event in the music calendar, celebrating new talent and the universal language of music. Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest “Firefighter” is the 16th Georgian entry in Eurovision. The country debuted in 2007 with Sopho Galvashi and her “Visionary dream”. The best scoring songs for Georgia were Sofia Nizharadze with “Shine” and Eldrine with “One more day”. Both songs were 9th in the final, Sophia in 2010 and Eldrine in 2011. The last time Georgia reached the final was in 2016 with Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz and their song “Midnight gold”. In 2009 Georgia withdrew: Stephane & 3G won the national selection with the song “We don’t wanna put in”. They had to change the lyrics due to a reference to Vladimir Putin, but they refused to do so. Sophia Nizharadze The Bookmakers Georgia is currently 18th in the odds to win the contest. In the odds to reach the final the country is 10th with 64%, against Denmark with 44% in an 11th place. So if the bookmakers are right, the spell of not reaching the final will be broken. The song And this is the song:
“Firefighter” is the title of the Georgian entry. Nutsa Buzaladze was already chosen some time ago to represent Georgia in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. Her song is written and composed by Ada Skidka and Darko Dimitrov. Dimitrov pens the Georgian entry for the first time. However, he has written the North Macedonian entry on 6 occasions, the Serbian one 3 times and also 1 Montenegrin Eurovision Song. His biggest success was “Proud”, sung by Tamara Todevska; the song became 7th overall and the jury winner of 2019. This is how “Firefighter” sounds:
© EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett About Quick Facts NameNutsa Buzaladze Born28 January 1997 Nationality🇬🇪 Georgian National SelectionInternal selection 2024Evroviizis erovnul konkurss 2017 In Eurovision2024 Malmö SongFirefighter (2024) Biography Nutsa Buzaladze (Georgian: ნუცა ბუზალაძე; born 28 January 1997) is a Georgian singer-songwriter. Born in Tbilisi, Buzaladze embarked on her musical journey at the tender age of 5, joining a children’s performance group. Her early years also saw her taking the lead as vocalist and guitarist in a band, followed by piano lessons from age 8. Her path to a solo career began in 2011 with a participation in Georgia’s Got Talent. Achieving international fame in 2014, she represented Georgia and clinched victory at the New Wave Music Festival in Jūrmala, Latvia. Buzaladze further showcased her talents in various competitions such as The Voice of Turkey, Two Stars Georgia, and Georgian editions of Your Face Sounds Familiar and Dancing with the Stars, collaborating with renowned artists like Turkish singer Hadise. 2017 marked a significant year with her song “White Horses Run,” securing second place in Georgia’s Eurovision selection. Her debut album, Nutsa22, released in 2019, featured a mix of Georgian covers and original English songs, including the hit “Gelodebi.” This success was followed by a well-received single in Russia. Buzaladze’s career continued to flourish with appearances in All Together Now Russia in 2020 and 2021, performances at Expo 2020 in Dubai, and other prestigious venues. She also competed in Kënga Magjike 2021 in Albania, finishing second, and made it to the top 12 in American Idol 2023. As of 12 January 2024, Buzaladze was selected to represent Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden. She managed to break the spell of not reaching the final for Georgia: she performed at the Grand Final on May 11. Having spent time in Los Angeles to hone her musical skills, she has since made Dubai her permanent home. Entries Firefighter Country🇬🇪 Georgia Year2024 LanguageEnglish LyricsAda SatkaDarko Dimitrov MusicAda SatkaDarko Dimitrov BackingsAndrea MariciDaniele NocchiDante Jonathan GerloNicolas de Souza Results Semi Points: 54Position: 8Running order: 11 Results Finals Points: 34Position: 21Running order: 24 https://youtu.be/He4PGhm7jOw?si=gNJBvzkY6D_NEc07
Former American Idol participant Nutsa Buzaladze will represent Georgia. That is what Georgian public broadcaster 1TV announced today. Nutsa Buzaladze is a Georgian singer and performer, renowned for her exceptional vocal talent and dynamic stage presence. Born in the scenic city of Batumi, Georgia, Nutsa’s love for music was evident from a young age. Growing up in a family with a strong musical background, she was encouraged to pursue her passion, which laid the foundation for her future success. Nutsa’s journey to stardom accelerated when she won the New Wave competition in 2014 in Jurmala, Latvia. This significant achievement highlighted her remarkable vocal range and expressive performance style, bringing her widespread acclaim. Her performances, featuring a mix of heartfelt ballads and energetic tunes, captivated both the judges and the audience, marking her as a versatile and compelling artist. In addition to her success in New Wave, Nutsa gained international recognition through her participation in American Idol. She participated in this contest in 2023 and ended up in the top-12 of the show. Beyond these competitions, Nutsa has released a variety of singles and music videos. Her work often intertwines her Georgian roots with contemporary influences, offering a fresh and engaging sound to her listeners. Nutsa’s music career is also marked by her philanthropic endeavors. She actively participates in charity events and initiatives, using her influence to support various causes. The song Nutsa will present in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest will be revealed in the upcoming weeks. Nutsa Buzaladze with Kylie Minogue during American Idol.
About Quick Facts NameSopho Gelovani Born31 March 1983 Nationality🇬🇪 Georgian National SelectionGeorgian final 2013 In Eurovision2013 Malmö SongWaterfall (2013, with Nodi Tatishvili) Biography Sopo Gelovani (born March 21, 1983 in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR) is a Georgian pop singer. She completed her studies in Spanish at the Ilya Chavchavadze State University’s Faculty of Foreign Languages. She also graduated from the Zakaria Paliashvili State Conservatory, specializing in operatic singing. Since 2000, she has participated in numerous international competitions in countries like Moldova, Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, earning many awards and recognitions. In 2005, she returned from the “Slavianski Bazaar” competition with an award. In 2008, while in Moscow, Russia, she was honored as the best female performer of romance songs. In 2009, she became involved in the community project “Jesotarita”. She gained fame in Georgia as a participant in the casting show Geostar, the Georgian version of Pop Idol. In 2010, she made it to the final and finished second overall. In 2012, she took part in an international festival in Germany, where artists from around the world performed. The festival was dedicated to campaigns against violence and racism. She released a music video for her song “Khorumi”. In December 2012, the Georgian broadcaster SSM decided that Gelovani, along with Nodi Tatishvili, should compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö. They chose the song “Waterfall” by Euphoria’s composer Thomas G:son. Gelovani and Tatishvili reached the ESC final with the song and finished in 15th place. Also in 2013, alongside Nodiko Tatishvili, she represented Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest. They reached the final and were awarded the international press’s choice award for their song “Waterfall”. In 2014, she and Nodiko Tatishvili won the main nomination for Song of the Year for their song “Waterfall” at the Golden Wave awards ceremony organized by Radio Holding Fortuna. In 2017, she participated in the show “Dancing with the stars”. She also secured first place in the project “10+10” (representing Armenia and Ukraine). She took part in another project named “Two Stars”. Sopho and Nodi Tatishvili hosted the Georgian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017. In November of the same year she released the song “France Tango”. It was followed a month later by “ase arasdrots…”. In November 2018 her song and video “Gadamrie” were released. In 2019, Sopho won the Golden Wave award by Radio Holding Fortuna for best radio song. It was for the song “Cold hands”. A new video, “L’amour” was released in March 2020. Together with Nodi Tatishvili she recorded the song “Sad imalebi”, which was released in July 2023. Entries Waterfall (& Nodi Tatishvili) Country🇬🇪 Georgia Year2013 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:son MusicThomas G:sonErik Bernholm BackingsMartin KagemarkJohanna BeijbomLisette Vares Uhlmann Results Semi Points: 63Position: 10Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: 50Position: 15Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/-n3mwx0vQDE?si=vr8e33RXumGNxa0n
About Quick Facts NameNodiko Tatishvili Born05 November 1986 Nationality🇬🇪 Georgian National SelectionInternal selection 2013Georgian national final 2009 In Eurovision2013 Malmö SongWaterfall (2013, with Sophie Gelovani) Biography Nodiko Tatishvili is a Georgian singer. He was born in Tbilisi on 5 November 1986. Nodiko made his debut performance at the Tbilisi Great Concert Hall at the tender age of six, taking the stage as a soloist with a children’s ensemble. By the time he turned eight, he had clinched the title at a national contest. A year later, at nine, he performed with the Iveria ensemble in the musical “Two Dwarfs.” During his voice’s transition phase, Nodiko was involved in the TV project “School of Nutsa,” leading him to collaborate with renowned composers and musicians subsequently. Between 2005 to 2009, he graced various prestigious music festivals and events. In 2009, his talent shone through when he emerged as the winner of the popular Georgian TV show Geostar, earning him the title of GEOSTAR 2009 (akin to Pop Idol 2009). He also took part in the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. His song “No Sun Where You Are Near” didn’t enter the top-3. In 2013, alongside Sopho Gelovani, he proudly represented Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Malmö, Sweden. They reached the Grand Final and ended up in 15th place there. In 2014 he took part in the show Two Stars, along with Gogola Kalandadze. He also took part in Dancing With The Stars. In 2015, Nodiko won an award for Best Pop Song Of The Year. He also started working as a coach for The Voice Georgia for one season. In December 2016 his new song “Color Day” was released. In 2017, he and Sopho Gelovani hosted the national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. He did concerts in Germany and Greece. At the Radio Holding Fortuna Music Awards he was chosen Best Male Artist of the year. On 22 March 2018, Nodiko’s new album “Nodiko Tatishvili” was released. And again one of his songs got a Golden Wave award for Song Of The Year for “Once In The Rainy City”. In December he released a new video “I’ve Been Dreaming”. Half a year later, the video won a Golden Wave award for best video. In 2019, Nodiko teamed up with a band, The Five, for his live performances. With the song “Don’t stop” he won the TV Show in January 2020. In June of the same year he released a new song, “siqvarulis gemi”, followed in February 2021 by “Gemshvidobebi”. In July, the song “Guls” was released. Entries Waterfall (& Sophie Gelovani) Country🇬🇪 Georgia Year2013 LanguageEnglish LyricsThomas G:son MusicErik BernholmThomas G:son BackingsMartin KagemarkJohanna BeijbomLisette Vares Uhlmann Results Semi Points: 63Position: 10Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: 50Position: 15Running order: 25 https://youtu.be/-n3mwx0vQDE
About Quick Facts NameMariko Ebralidze Born1984 Nationality🇬🇪 Georgian National SelectionInternal selection 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongThree Minutes To Earth (with The Shin, 2014) Biography Mariko Ebralidze is a notable Georgian jazz singer who gained international attention when she was selected to represent Georgia at the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, alongside the band “The Shin”, with the song “Three Minutes to Earth”. Ebralidze was born in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. She graduated from the Tbilisi State Conservatoire, where she studied piano. However, her passion for singing led her towards a career in music. She’s been performing professionally since 2008, primarily as a jazz singer. Prior to her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, Mariko Ebralidze had been a respected figure in the Georgian jazz scene for several years. She performed with several big bands and jazz ensembles throughout Georgia and internationally, earning acclaim for her emotive performances and her smooth, sultry vocals. Despite her background in jazz, Ebralidze’s Eurovision entry with The Shin was an experimental piece combining elements of Georgian folk, jazz, and pop music. Although the song didn’t make it past the semi-finals in the contest, it highlighted Ebralidze’s versatility and ability to perform across different genres. Also in May 2014, she released a solo song, “Don’t say goodbye”. In 2017 she teamed up with the band Niutone to do some Christmas performances. She worked together with Otar Tatishvili for several songs and performances. For the Iavnana Charity Foundation, she did a performance in 2021 singing the song “Smile”. Together with Kato Chkareul she performed “Prince Ali” from the movie Aladdin. She did this performance in the childrens show Ranina. Entries Three Minutes To Earth (& The Shin) Country🇬🇪 Georgia Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsEugen Eliu MusicZaza Miminoshvili Backings– Results Semi Points: 15Position: 15Running order: 4 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/0v69AvCQJQY