He’s a two-time Idol winner and Georgia’s representative for Eurovision 2019. And over the weekend Oto Nemsadze was in Madrid to perform “Keep On Going” at the PrePartyES 2019. While there, he crossed paths with our very own Deban. Here’s what went down.
Since its selection, people have claimed that “Keep On Going” carries a political message. What does Oto think? “This is a patriotic song because we have a problem. The problem is that people don’t need any barbed wires or artificial barriers with each other in the 21st century. So, we call Europe and the world to stand together”.
“I don’t think, that it’s political because I’ve barbed wires in my country. That’s true, I’m not lying and I’m not creating such kind of history or story. This is a true story. That’s not political because, the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are my brothers and sisters, and I want to see and get them.”
“I want to say that we have barbed wires in my country and I don’t want them to see anymore. I hate them. I don’t want to see anywhere not only in my country, all over the world. So, I’m against this and politics isn’t my job. Journalists ask me this question and I want to say that Oto Nemsadze is against any political messages or something like them”.
Oto is also quite famous in Ukraine, having finished second on its version of The Voice. What does he think of the situation surrounding Maruv and the country’s subsequent withdrawal? “I heard about it and it’s a sad story for me and Ukrainian Eurovision fans. But to be honest, I don’t know why this happened”.
This year’s Georgian selection took place through the global Idol format. However, Oto had previously won an earlier series of the show, before it was connected with Eurovision. “I’m the only one who won Idol twice. The reason why I came back, it was a ticket to Eurovision. I participated in many contests during my lifetime, and Eurovision will be the last one. That’s why I am here”.
Oto is married to Sopho Medzmariashvili, an actress in Georgia. She performs mostly in theatrical productions in Tbilisi. When Oto proposed to her, he went all out. Graffiti, flowers, a band, cameras — it was all there. We asked him about her.
“I love her. For the first time, I saw her three years ago. She was dancing during my concert in Batumi, near the Black Sea. After we met each other in a night club and talk much much more. We love each other and I love her more than myself.”
Does he have a message for wiwibloggs readers?
“Singing on the stage doesn’t mean for me only to sing vocally well. For me, it means by heart. I will give you everything what I have inside and I hope you’ll enjoy.”
Oto Nemsadze will perform in the first semi-final on 14 May.
What do you think of the “Keep On Going”? Do you think Oto has a chance of making the final? Let us know all in the comments below!
So he really dislikes barbed wire fences, basically. I think we can all relate to that.
So nice interview, Georgians seems love Ukraine and vise versa, thats cute 🙂
I think his song is good, maybe a bit specific, but very decent and talanted, good luck Oto!
Good voice but horrible song, pure noise. No one in Eurovision will vote for that atrocity
It will qualify. Its good:)
I love this song. It sounds like a Georgian Gregorian Chant. I hope he’s a catalyst to help remove barriers in Georgia. Good luck from Texas.