The race is heating up in Georgia. After weeks of qualifying rounds, just 16 artists remain in The Voice Georgia. The show is being used to select the country’s singer for Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool.
The blind auditions kicked off in December, with the live quarter-finals following in January. Now it’s time for the semi-final, taking place this Thursday 26 January. The 16 remaining acts will perform once again with the hope of progressing to the grand final on 2 February.
It’s up to the public to decide who will make it through — they’ll be able to choose their favourite acts via telephone voting.
The Voice Georgia season 5
Coaches
The line-up of coaches includes a couple of Eurovision connections.
Firstly, Sopho Toroshelidze. She is the lead vocalist of Eldrine, the band that represented Georgia at Eurovision 2011.
Stephane Mgebrishvili almost made it to Eurovision. The Georgian musician was part of Stephane & 3G, who originally prepared to take their song “We Don’t Wanna Put In” to Moscow in 2009. But the EBU said no. They felt the key lyric of the nu-disco track sounded a little bit too much like “We don’t wanna Putin” and was therefore in violation of one of the core rules of the contest forbidding political song lyrics.
The other two coaches are Dato “David” Evgenidze and Dato Porchkhidze. They are both renowned Georgian composers.
Semi-finalists
Ahead of the semi-final, get to know each of the remaining 16 acts with some of their performances so far.
You might spot a few familiar faces:
- Saba Chachua – Junior Eurovision 2013 as part of Smile Shop
- Iru Khechanovi – Junior Eurovision 2011 winner as part of Candy
- Tako Kakalashvili – Finalist of Georgian Idol
- Giorgi Putkaradze – Winner of Slavianski Bazaar
- Likuna Tutisani – Semi-finalist of X Factor Georgia
- Dato Rusadze – Semi-finalist of Georgian Idol
- Tina Datikashvili – Semi-finalist of Big Stage Georgia
- Tsotne Barbakadze – Semi-finalist of Big Stage Georgia
Sali Cincadze – Team Sopho
Saba Chachua – Team Stephane
Lika Siradze – Team Sopho
Dato Rusadze – Team Stephane
Anka Tatarashvili – Team Stephane
Mari Toronjadze – Team Sopho
Tina Datikashvili – Team Sopho
Likuna Tutisani – Team Stephane
Iru Khechanovi – Team Dato Porchkhidze
Kakha Aslamazishvili – Team Dato Evgenidze
Erekle Turkadze – Team Dato Porchkhidze
Alegro – Team Dato Evgenidze
Tsotne Barbakadze – Team Dato Porchkhidze
Giorgi Putkaradze – Team Dato Evgenidze
Giorgi Datiashvili – Team Dato Evgenidze
Tako Kakalashvili – Team Dato Porchkhidze
During the quarterfinals, Tina Datikashvili, Likuna Tutisani, Iru Khechanovi and Giorgi Putkaradze won the public voting in each of their respective teams.
Consider them front runners as we head into the semi-final.
Georgia at Eurovision
Georgia has had mixed fortunes at Eurovision. Despite a couple of top-ten placings in 2010 and 2011, their more recent efforts haven’t been so successful. The country has failed to qualify to the grand final for the last five contests. Tamara Gachechiladze, Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao, Oto Nemsadze, Tornike Kipiani and Circus Mircus all failed to make it past the semi-finals.
Whoever is chosen through The Voice Georgia to wave the Georgian flag in Liverpool will be hoping to end this streak and finally take the country back to Saturday’s show.
What do you think of The Voice Georgia semi-finalists? Who would you like to see represent Georgia at Eurovision 2023? Leave your thoughts below!
Lika is the favorite here
It’s hard to predict how well Georgia will do this year. Malta did well with a similar format in 2019 and 2020 with Michela and Destiny so hopefully Georgia can do the same thing.
OH YEAH!! 😀 It’s cool when JESC alumnis take part in Eurovision!! <3
They will do well if they send Iru to Eurovision
Georgia never lacks for good singers, but I hope whoever wins the voice gets a good song that could get Georgia back to the final for the first time since 2016. It’s been way too long.
JESUS, Giorgi Datiashvili is amazing!!! I am crying, such an Artist!
Giorgi Kukhianidze says he will write the song if Iru wins.
He composed I Believe that Iru co-wrote, the song that got Georgia third place in JESC.
Tsotne barbakadze Sings awesome, i hope he will get in finals and then we see it!
#tsotneforeurovision ??
and he is cute <3
My prediction is that Tako Kakalashvili will win.
My votes for the guy who sang Jesus Christ Superstar ?
Or maybe the opera dads, if they get a good bombastic opera ballad.
YESSSS!!! Giorgi Datiashvili pls <3
Iru Khechanov will be the most likely winner He will definitely take Georgia to the Eurovision final #Irueurovision???
I don’t doubt that the idol winner will be great live. Georgia never really struggles vocally at ESC. It’s the song I’m worried about.
Iru Khechanovi, she somehow gives to me the most Eurovision vibes. 🙂
Sending The Voice/X Factor/Supertalent winner straight to Eurovision is the worst way you elect the entry for Eurovision.
You meant like Netta?
+
Likuna tutisani??
Tina Datikashvili please
Likuna is my favorite so far
How many singers will go in final?
The winner will go in Eurovision but will the song be selected too during the final or the song will be release after depending on who has won?