Georgia caused a stir in February when it selected a song titled "We Don't Wanna Put In" as its entry, performed by Stefane & 3G. The group has denied any political overtones, though the phrase "put in" appears to be a grammatically unsound pun referring to Putin at a time when Russian-Georgian relations are at a historic low following the countries' five-day war in August.
Several prominent Russian entertainers have complained that the song is a deliberate smear of Russia, this year's Eurovision host.
The contest's oversight committee said in a statement on the Eurovision web site that the song violated a statute in the contest's charter stating that songs must not bring the contest "into disrepute" and banning "lyrics, speeches [and] gestures of a political or similar nature."
The committee has given Georgia until March 16 to select a new entry or "change the lyrics of the selected song" so that it complies with the rule, the statement said.
Set to a disco beat, the song's lyrics include the chorus: "We don't wanna put in/ The negative move/ Is killing the groove" and "I'm trying to shoot in some disco tonight." It also proclaims that, "I like all Europe countries."
The song was picked after a public vote and the decision of a jury headed by Stephen Budd, a top British music producer who has worked with acts including Franz Ferdinand and Madonna.
The song's video and lyrics remained unchanged on Georgia's Channel One web site as of Tuesday evening.
The popular song contest will be held in Moscow in May. Russia picked its entry last weekend, Ukrainian singer Anastasia Prikhodko.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
