Photo: Ninuca Kakabadze

Tbilisi calling! After impatiently waiting, we finally have the last song for this year’s contest in Liverpool. Georgia’s IRU has now unveiled the music video for her Eurovision 2023 song “Echo”.

“Echo” is a power ballad with synth influences written by Giorgi Kukhianidze, Iru Khechanovi and Beni Kadagidze.

IRU — “Echo” (Georgia Eurovision 2023)

In her song, IRU sings about love. She says of the lyrics: “The message of the song is the fight of love and the manifest of faith. Echo is my inner voice and manifestation of love and peace”.

The music video has a strong team behind it. It was directed by Zaza Orashvili. The production designer is Shako Popiashvili, while Marika Kurdubadze created different costumes for the video. The choreography was done by Giorgi Toriashvili.

Who is Iru Khechanovi?

Iru Khechanovi is a 22-year-old Georgian singer. She earned the right to represent Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 after winning the fifth season of The Voice Georgia.

In 2011, Iru represented Georgia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest as part of the girl-group Candy. Their sugar-loaded track “Candy Music” won the competition, scoring 108 points.

Georgia at Eurovision

Georgia has enjoyed mixed fortunes at Eurovision. The 2010’s started well, with Sopho Nizharadze and Eldrine each placing ninth in 2010 and 2011.

In the years following, Georgia switched between non-qualifications and grand final placings on the right-hand side of the scoreboard. One exception was 2015, when the fierce Nina Sublatti placed 11th with her oximated electro-pop anthem “Warrior”.

More recently, Georgia has not qualified for the grand final in their past five appearances. Tamara Gachechiladze narrowly missed out on qualifying with an 11th-place semi-final finish, while 2018 act Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao finished last in their semi-final. Georgian Idol winners Oto Nemsadze and Tornike Kipiani also failed to qualify from their semi-finals. A similar fate met Circus Mircus in 2022.

“Echo” lyrics – IRU (Georgia Eurovision 2023)

Lyrics: Iru Khechanovi, Beni Kadagidze; Music: Giorgi Kukhianidze

Echo
Days in a row
I’m thinking, I know
I’ve got a big faith
My love is my crown
Will be better way
Will be better day now
It is not a secret

Life is love
Thing is known
(It’s) Like in dreams

Going through the life together
Going through the life together
Like in dreams

Days in a row
I’m thinking, I know
I’ve got a big faith
My love is my crown
(It) Will be better way
(It) Will be better day now
It is not a secret

Days in a row
I’m thinking, I know
I’ve got a big faith
My love is my crown
Will be better way
Will be better day now
It is not a secret

Going through the life together
Going through the life together

Days in a row
I’m thinking, I know
I’ve got a big faith
My love is my crown
(It) Will be better way
(It) Will be better day now
It is not a secret

Days in a row
I’m thinking, I know
My love is not a fake (one)
This feeling is lord
(It) Will be better way
(It) Will be better day now
It is not a secret

My soul’s like a fortress
I feel I’m progressed
Words getting worthless
(Coz) Love is a wordless

Ooooooooohhhhhhhh
When life is loved
Loooooooooveeeed

Days in a row
I’m thinking, I know
I’ve got a big faith
My love is my crown
(It) Will be better way
(It) Will be better day now
It is not a secret

What do you think of IRU’s “Echo”? How will Georgia do at Eurovision 2023? Share all your thoughts in the comments below.

223 Comments
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Poul Rissen
Poul Rissen
1 year ago

I usually like Georgia’s entries, they are always fresh, different, and experimental. What I love about this song is the mystic element (those gibberish sounds she makes… love it!). Other than that, the song is good but it clear to me that they had to make it very fast (given the time they had since Iru won the Voice). If they had had more time, the song would have been superb. At this point now, the song lacks something to make it super wow, and Iru sound very loud and very loud songs are generally not appreciated in the contest… Read more »

Max
Max
1 year ago

This is bombastic. Lyrics aside, the song and the aesthetics of the video are super promising and make me confident Georgia will qualify and maybe even come Top10 in Liverpool.

Alex
Alex
1 year ago

This is epic. Thank you Armenia and georgia for making this year interesting.
Georgia, Armenia, Sweden, Finland, Czechia and Spain stand out this year.

Miliyoly
Miliyoly
1 year ago

My English is not that good but cmon, even i can see the nonsense in the lyrics…

Callum Swords
Callum Swords
1 year ago

The lyrics are somewhat incoherent but personally I find every other aspect of this SPECTACULAR

paars
paars
1 year ago

Just remember: this STILL manages to be a cut above 2022’s artist.

Zander25
Zander25
1 year ago

I think Georgia won the “troll of the year” this year with that lyrics, they just go with awkward sentences and put in a beautiful rhythm.

CRAIG
CRAIG
1 year ago

A chorus in there somewhere would have been nice….

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago

What’s wrong with the lyrics?

Garbo
Garbo
1 year ago

They is not good grammar and are no make sense.

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago

They are deliberately naive; a sort of brut poetry.

West
West
1 year ago

Maybe they had some placeholder lyrics and forgot to write some real ones, so they used the placeholder ones.

Lera
Lera
1 year ago

I truly hope they either fix the lyrics’ grammar and proofread them in general, or use lyrics in Georgian instead. No one has the obligation to speak “perfect English” (I certainly don’t), but, if you are participating in a large-scale contest like Eurovision, the lyrics’ correct use of the chosen language reflects the importance that the artist and the delegation place on quality. If you choose to use a language you are not native of (or sufficiently fluent in), why not pay a professional proofreader to review the lyrics beforehand? It truly isn’t that difficult.

Moonstar
Moonstar
1 year ago
Reply to  Lera

Well said. It’s just common sense., isn’t it?

Krzysztof
Krzysztof
1 year ago
Reply to  Lera

The whole process is just baffling. Surely there has to be someone within the Georgian team that actually speaks English and should have the courage to say ‘hey, this is not good’. In fact, it’s even more surprising when you think of how many people had to sign off on this. It’s not like Iru just e-mailed the song to EBU and it’s surprise to the whole delegation.

Krzysztof
Krzysztof
1 year ago
Reply to  Krzysztof

‘a surprise’ even. My English is getting Iru-oximated now.

AlexisMateoFan45
AlexisMateoFan45
1 year ago

Considering how little time they had to write, produce and led alone just come up with the ENTIRE track after Iru won The Voice, it’s honestly really impressive and well polished. Sure, the lyrics sound like they just wrote whatever to get the melodies down first and never got around to fixing it, but that’s a very minor thing (is known) that can get taken care of rather quickly.

She got the song, the voice, the aesthetics, just hire a decent translator and Georgia’s getting back into the TOP 10

Garbo
Garbo
1 year ago

After hearing the song I feel like progressed, but I don’t have a big faith. Will be better way in Liverpool or will be better day? Thing is known. Love is a wordless.

ChristopherP
ChristopherP
1 year ago
Reply to  Garbo

Feeling is lord.

lol
lol
1 year ago

so many haters in the comments, nobody can deny this is a major step up for Georgia and Irus almost certainly qualifying and could possibly come top 10

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago

I suspect that Iru knows what she’s doing with the lyrics more than she’s being given credit for. “Words getting worthless/ Love is a wordless” is right there, right where I’d expect a statement of purpose to me.

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago
Reply to  Zanoni

*to be

(lol my words are getting worthless)

Lera
Lera
1 year ago
Reply to  Zanoni

Love is a wordless what?

Marlinken
Marlinken
1 year ago

I’d put this in the same category of “contrivedly strange” girl-pop as Israel and Armenia. Armenia is, by a long way, the most interesting of the three of them but they’ll probably all cancel each other out in May.

MartyMcCu
MartyMcCu
1 year ago

Very Good song from Georgia, maybe this should be sung in Georgian. Top 10 for sure.

Chris Lipe
Chris Lipe
1 year ago

I love this song. Especially the lyrics. It’s a vibe. Beautiful stuff. Top ten!

Zanoni
Zanoni
1 year ago
Reply to  Chris Lipe

Fancy seeing your name here. It’s BB. And yeah, I think I like this one, maybe even the lyrics.

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago

I liked everything about this song except for the lyrics :/

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
1 year ago

Sorry I can’t with the lyrics

Sabrina
Sabrina
1 year ago

The lyrics are indeed super weird, but musically this is one of the most interesting and well thought tracks of the year. Here hoping the staging brings visuals on a similar fashion to the music video. My favorite Georgian entry since “Warriors”!

Dida
Dida
1 year ago

Her voice is pitchy and quite irritating, while the song itself is kinda weird. But the video is ok…

Stephanie
Stephanie
1 year ago

This is really weird… but in the best possible way. Well done!!!

Ultima Thule
Ultima Thule
1 year ago

Well, the best song Georgia sent in the last several years. Which isn’t a hard thing to do. However, similar to Israeli song maybe because of the hype, it felt underwhelming.

It is a qualifier I guess, but I feel that these overproduced pop songs will all negate each other in the finals and some will also definitely flop, who fails to bring it vocally and thematically live.

She is a good singer so I don’t expect Georgia to flop. Top 15 in the final is the max probably, which should be regarded as a success.

oscar
oscar
1 year ago

the niche category of ‘good entries with awful lyrics’ is really filling up this year…

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago
Reply to  oscar

Pretty much, the lyrics are its Achilles heel

Kosey
Kosey
1 year ago

Oooh this is really good. I love the vocal and the instrumentation is nice and deep. Plus the chorus is super catchy. A really great way to end things for this year. Georgia I think you will be up there with my favorites.

poe-tay-toe chips
poe-tay-toe chips
1 year ago

Eh, they’re trying to make something “professional”, but it’s just not my cup of tea since i find it a bit generic/boring. That’s fine. It’s 2nd semi tho so this could still qualify.

Teddi
Teddi
1 year ago

This year is definitely Nordic year absolutely . They slayed. Sweden, Norway and Finland, probably all three of them will end up in Top 5 in Grand Final with one of them winning. I’d also say that beside these three countries I also like Croatia. And with that said it’s a wrap for me. The rest is mediocre and very pale. But I do like UK and Moldova. I don’t know how they’ll place but I hope they also place good this year.

Stephanie
Stephanie
1 year ago
Reply to  Teddi

Seriously?

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago
Reply to  Teddi

Unnecessary comment imo

Chupacabra
Chupacabra
1 year ago

Most people in Europe not fluent in English, so they won’t notice the bad English. Only Irish, British and Australian televoters might get bothered by the bad lyrics. So Georgia will do well.

Poul Rissen
Poul Rissen
1 year ago
Reply to  Chupacabra

Maybe this is the case, however, even if televoters don’t pay attention to or understand the lyrics (or most of it), still they get some words that create an “image” of the song, what it is talking about. The Georgian song fails in that. Otherwise, it’s a good, well-produced, powerful song, and I loooove the weird sounds used in it (the clock sounds, the “gibberish” lyrics, etc). Good luck to Georgia!

Lera
Lera
1 year ago
Reply to  Chupacabra

It has truly basic English grammar mistakes. I think most speakers of English as a second language will definitely notice them, or at least some.

Réi
Réi
1 year ago

THIS ATE SO HARD??????MY NEW FAV

Razzmatazz
Razzmatazz
11 months ago
Reply to  Réi

?

Chupacabra
Chupacabra
1 year ago

Left side of scoreboard

Alaska
Alaska
1 year ago

Of all this year’s over-produced songs devised in mass production pop music factories, this one is by far the most solid, coherent and, why not?, interesting musically/artistically. I agree with most people here: Georgia might get its best result ever. I can even see it winning, depending on how the performance will be staged. Good luck!

Scott
Scott
1 year ago

Where others have tried hard to be creative and unique but have ended up being quite jarring and lacking flow- Georgia has succeeded. It works musically and certainly theatrically – the staging has so much potential- but the lyrics-…. if ever an entry needed a rework it’s this- just for being able to understand what she is singing – it’s this entry. Other than that – this is top 10 material and I wish it very well.

Leo M
Leo M
1 year ago

Love the music and the drama but I agree about the lyrics and it’s hard to hear what she’s saying. It’s not the worst this year but not sure if it will qualify

Torkel
Torkel
1 year ago

What I love about this is that its typically Georgia at Eurovision. Kind of experimental and always different from anything else.
I feel like the lyrics dont make any sense at all but maybe I just dont get them…
In any case I’m curious how they stage it cause it has many opportunities to stage this creatively

F__kings
F__kings
1 year ago

Finally Georgia is sending a quality song after so many years of joke/novelty entries. Good luck

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago

Lyrically it’s quite broken. Her voice is amazing obviously and I think on stage this could really come alive.

Personally, this won’t be something I’d like to listen to again. Sorry.

Robert
Robert
1 year ago

Will it reach the final? Yes
Did it leave an impression? No
Best result for Georgië? Possibly
Winner material? No

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert

I agree on all of this.

Chris
Chris
1 year ago

I never liked a Georgia entry throughout the years and I don’t this year either. It really is a very bad year for eurovision almost like the universe conspired for a new Sweden win.

Jonkonfui
Jonkonfui
1 year ago

I find It funny that many people comment on how nonsensical these lyrics are when this IS quite typical in many Eurovision songs in English. They usually range from “bunch of words which( kinda)rhyme put together” to “bunch of cliched words which (kinda) rhyme put together”. I dont care about them all Cause all I want IS to be loved (kinda rhyme) And all i care about IS you You are stuck on me like a tattoo… WoW Shakespeare reborn. I didnt find any Joy anymore (one too many “anys”) From the same old cycle (cycle?) Dont know what made… Read more »

Lumostark
Lumostark
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonkonfui

The issue is not the complexity of the rhymes, nobody cares about that, the problem is Georgia’s lyrics are gramatically incorrect and borderline nonsensical.

Ana Karenina
Ana Karenina
1 year ago

Omg! Yaass queen!! It’s so good it’s like an orgasm!!

Fizz
Fizz
1 year ago
Reply to  Ana Karenina

Darling, How bad your erotical life must have been!!

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Fizz

lmao

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago
Reply to  Ana Karenina

Ok what the hell did I just read? XDD

Fizz
Fizz
1 year ago

She will be fighting over the crown withher sisters of Czechia.
Another awesome vid, tho in the expensive production I hardly could hear what she was singing. Beyond the gorgeous images, I only remenber that her vocals were loud and shouty. I think an qualifier in SF 2!!

Fizz
Fizz
1 year ago
Reply to  Fizz

Qualification, depending on live vocals and staging, mid table in the finals. Congrats Georgia, I always love your entries.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
1 year ago

At last, the 2023 eurovision lineup is complete. What do I think about Georgia? I think it definitely has a chance to make it back to the final for the first time since 2016 it definitely feels like one of the stronger songs for semifinal two, which may or may not be saying much considering that people are considering it to be a weak semifinal. The music and vocals are definitely on point, but I admit the lyrics are the weakest feature because they feel a bit all over the place. I see what they’re trying to convey, but the… Read more »

duxx
duxx
1 year ago

She is not singing, she is just screaming

Truth Speaker
Truth Speaker
1 year ago
Reply to  duxx

You probably watched Spain’s entry.

Nils
Nils
1 year ago

Good job, Georgia!

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
1 year ago

I generally like the song. They can fix the lyrics and they probably will, fans act as if English is official language in all European countries so viewers will really care if the visual aspect will be on point. She will qualify.

Rambo Amadeus
Rambo Amadeus
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

Lyrically, it’s undeniably quite the mess, but I still like the song, so in any case I’ll just write a reworked version for myself so I can properly support Georgia this year. I’m actually not joking, haha.

Lucille
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

Yea the lyrics are messy, but I dont think the average viewer really pays much attention to it..

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

If someone’s English is very poor why not just sing in your native tongue?

Eurovision fan
Eurovision fan
1 year ago
Reply to  Sol Stevia

Perhaps because fans didn’t appreciate Georgia when they were sending songs fully in Georgian two years in a row?

ChristopherP
ChristopherP
1 year ago
Reply to  Eurovision fan

It’s not like the fans appreciated the two English-language entries that came after either, so I doubt it has anything to with the language.

Also, how will anyone know this is actually in English without looking up the lyrics?

ThePointsMan
ThePointsMan
1 year ago

…and so we should thank they didn’t put “forever” in the chorus to rhyme with “together”.

Lucille
1 year ago

Now that my all the songs are released here is my top 37 slay:

37. San Marino
36. Poland
35. Denmark
34. Azerbaijan
33. Ireland
32. Romania
31. Greece
30. Albania
29. Croatia
28. Belgium
27. UK
26. Cyprus
25. The Netherlands
24. Switzerland
23. Norway
22. Malta
21. Lithuania
20. Germany
19. Ukraine
18. Israel
17. Slovenia
16. Iceland
15. Australia
14. France
13. Spain
12. Latvia
11. Moldova
10. Estonia
9. Italy
8. Sweden
7. Georgia
6. Czechia
5. Portugal
4. Serbia
3. Finland
2. Armenia
1. Austria

Dani
Dani
1 year ago
Reply to  Lucille

6 songs in common in our top 10 🙂 (Czechia, Finland, Austria, Armenia, Portugal and Georgia).

Lucille
1 year ago
Reply to  Dani

No Sweden?
Ur the first person I see who doesn’t have Sweden in their top 10.
Can you believe it?!

Dani
Dani
1 year ago
Reply to  Lucille

Sweden is around my 15th place. It’s a good song, by a very solid performer, but not something that hooks me or touch me emotionally as much as other songs. Still a great effort regardless!

Vicci
Vicci
1 year ago
Reply to  Lucille

Well, me neither…

Chupacabra
Chupacabra
1 year ago
Reply to  Lucille

Real diversity in your top ten great, that Latvia and Estonia far better in your ranking than in odds. I also do enjoy refreshing, whitty, Austrian entry. As Austrian, I cannot vote for it, but it is definitely in my top 3. My bottom 3 same as your’s.

Lucille
1 year ago
Reply to  Chupacabra

Latvia is so underrated honestly, in a just world people would see this as an obvious qualifier.

Efthymios
Efthymios
1 year ago
Reply to  Lucille

I got 7 countries in my top similar to yours! 😀

Lucille
1 year ago
Reply to  Efthymios

That’s great!!
We have similar taste, what’s your winner btw?

Efthymios
Efthymios
1 year ago
Reply to  Lucille

Finland! 🙂 literally followed by Armenia and then France to disclose my top-3!

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago
Reply to  Lucille

Similar top, but I’d swap at least Poland for San Marino and Moldova for Sweden

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago
Reply to  Benito Camelo

And I’d put Latvia in my top 10 too

Vicci
Vicci
1 year ago

Ok, the video is stunning…the song, not that much

Fizz
Fizz
1 year ago
Reply to  Vicci

Same here

Moonstar
Moonstar
1 year ago

The orchestration, production are great, but the English lyrics are poor. The grammar mistakes are unacceptable. We have not heard Georgian many times in Eurovision. I wish people would be proud of their language and give it ago. Please change the lyrics to Georgian, it will leave a lovely footprint in Eurovision history!

Fizz
Fizz
1 year ago
Reply to  Moonstar

in the first 1.25 min into the song I thought she was singing in Georgian. In the later half I found out it was in ununderstandable english.

Tomi
Tomi
1 year ago
Reply to  Fizz

This comment reminded me of My Galileo (2004). Yes, Belarus’ first entry. This is a song I never liked & that I may have listened to at most 2 times back in the day. And I had told myself this: …well, at least it’s sung in the national language. Fast forward to 2014 or maybe 2015,2016. I was browsing The Diggiloo Thrush which compiles the English translation of many songs in the National language. Strangely enough, I didn’t find the Belarusian text of My Galileo. That’s when I discovered the whole truth about Galileo. And that’s at the very least… Read more »

Jghtl
1 year ago

Don’t like it, sorry