It’s the time of year when the Post-Eurovision depression is in full swing, but there’s no better cure than to reminisce! Together with ESCDaily Editor, Dennis Van Eersel, we will be discussing each of this year’s competing nations – from their results to how we think they could improve in the future!
Georgia
Predictions, Personal Scores and Results
Anita:
Prediction: Non-Qualifier
Dennis:
Prediction: Non-Qualifier
Results: 16th place, Semi-Final
Did Georgia live up to expectations?
D: Well… expectations were very low and Georgia did not succeed at impressing anyone at Eurovision 2021. I think there were no expectations to start with this year.
A: I agree that we had no expectations for Georgia. It was a clear non-qualifier from the moment it was selected, and it delivered on that. I don’t think it was a bad song actually, but in a competitive field, this was clearly going to be left behind, no matter how good the staging.
How do you personally feel about the song for Georgia at Eurovision 2021?
D: When you select someone with the abilities and raw rock vocals that Tornike has, it is beyond me that you end up with this song for him. A total wasted opportunity in my opinion. Shows us that staying true to yourself and being sincere is always one of the biggest aspects of a successful (or unsuccessful) Eurovision entry.
A: I definitely don’t understand the direction Georgia and specifically Tornike went for this year’s contest. While last year’s song was… awful… at least it was rock oriented. This year’s song was a sweet lullaby that was going to be overpowered by every other song in the line-up. Like I said before, I really don’t think this is a terrible song, but it’s not suited for a competition. Personally, I think the parody versions we came up with during the rehearsal week helped lift the song, but little did we know that he was ready to parody his own song during his actual rehearsal!
D: Yes, it wasn’t just us making parody versions of this song, Tornike seemed fed up with his own song during rehearsals as well. It was the only time we saw a bit of his true self and personality, which the song didn’t bring to light at all.
Could Georgia have done anything different?
D: Like I said, when you pick someone like Tornike you should also go all the way and select a raw rock song that fits his qualities as a singer. I think that’s where it went wrong with Georgia in 2021 and they should have learned from the criticism after their mockery-rock song in 2020 but they interpreted the lesson into going for a completely different genre and they shouldn’t have.
A: When Tornike hit those big notes at the end of the song, it really made you wonder why he didn’t do more of that. He had a lot of potential, but it was completely lost. Georgia succeeded with rock early on in their participation, and it’s a shame we didn’t see them replicate that success. Their staging was actually quite nice, and I particularly enjoyed when the words were projected onto Tornike, but ultimately it all came down to the song choice.
What can Georgia do to ensure success in future years?
D: Georgia needs to read the ‘Eurovision for dummies’ book and start with the basics. Their songs and compositions just haven’t been good enough in recent years and it always starts there. Not with the singer or the concept of the act, first you need a unique song that stands out from the pack, and then you need a singer with impactful staging to give that song the best presentation possible.
A: Georgia is another nation that seems to put their main focus into Junior Eurovision, and they are successful in that format. Unique, catchy songs are always at the forefront, with strong singers to deliver them. I don’t think there’s a shortage of strong singers for Eurovision, but there’s a disconnect with what’s expected of them in terms of the song. Is it that they don’t know what suits the current form of Eurovision, or that they just don’t have the hunger like they once did? I think it could be a mixture of both, but what’s certain is that Georgia really needs to overhaul their process.
Which was better, the live-on-tape performance or the actual performance?
D: Both performances were similar. The concept of these kinds of lullabies are always easy to stage. And when the performances are kinda the same, I always go for the ones in Rotterdam where the audience was present.
A: Both performances were totally subdued. I can’t remember a time where a Eurovision artist has looked so bored, or at least apathetic about being on stage and performing. It’s hard to tell if Tornike is just getting into the mood of the song, or whether he just genuinely doesn’t care. But to a voting audience, that doesn’t really inspire or encourage voting. Both versions of the performance are similar, and realistically either way Georgia was not destined for the final.