Are you ready to see some jazz music displayed on the Eurovision stage? Well, be ready in May, because Georgia has chosen their Eurovision Song Contest 2018 act. Iriao are a seven-piece jazz group who are known in the country for their unique music.
Iriao consists of David Malazonia, David Kavtaradze, Bidzina Murgulia, Levan Abshilava, Shalva Gelekva, George Abashidze, and Mikheil Javakhishvili. The Eurovision rules state that only six people can be on stage during a performance, which means one of the band members will have to sit this one out. This isn’t the first time this has happened, Romania sent the seven-piece pop group, Mandinga, to Eurovision in 2012 with the song “Zaleilah”; they came 12th despite one of the group members sitting out and chilling – watching the show.
We believe Georgia has internally selected Iriao as Salvador Sobral won Eurovision 2017 with his jazz-inspired track “Amar pelos dois”. We’re not sure if Georgia has a chance with Iriao, especially considering the acts that have already been announced; however, we have been proven wrong in the past, and Iriao may just bring an infectious track to the contest.
Watch Iriao Perform Their “Chongurs Simebi Gavubi” On A Stage Here:
All it can take is a good song. They have yet to release their Eurovision song so we sure are waiting patiently. The group is led by composer, David Malazonia, who has worked in Germany for 15 years. He has combined jazz and folk to create this ethereal sound that sure will make Eurovision 2018 different this year. In the last 30 years, David Malazonia has been composing music for theatres, musicians, bands, and TV projects, in both Georgia and Germany. Could this group win the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 for Georgia?
Last year, Georgia failed to make it to the Grand Final. Tamara Gachechiladze shortly missed out on qualifying as she placed 11th in the first Semi-Final with 99 points.
They have quite the competition on their hands. Other acts that have been announced are Laura Groeseneken for Belgium, Saara Aalto for Finland, Waylon for the Netherlands, AISEL for Azerbaijan, Cesar Sampson for Austria, Jessica Mauboy for Australia, and Eugent Bushpepa for Albania.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2018 will be hosted at the Altice Arena, Lisbon, Portugal; with the two Semi-Finals taking place on 8 May and 10 May, whilst the Grand Final taking place on 12 May. A total of 43 other countries will compete.