Iriao who are representing Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 have released a cover of last years winning entry “Amar Pelos Dois”.
Georgia’s participants Iriao are the latest of this years participants to release a cover of Salvador Sobral’s “Amar Pelos Dois”. The group who are set to rehearse for the first time tomorrow, have performed a soaring version of the winning entry from Eurovision 2017.
Watch the cover below;
The musical arrangement is by Mikheil Mdinaradze, while the author of the text is Irina Sanikidze. The song will remain true to Iriao’s style and contain elements of Georgian Polyphony. Georgian Polyphony has been named by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The song will also be performed in Georgian, marking only the second time the language has been heard at Eurovision.
Iriao are a Georgian group made up of David Malazonia, Nugzar Kavtaradze, Bidzina Murgulia, Levan Abshilava, Shalva Gelekva, George Abashidze, and Mikheil Javakhishvili. The name “Iriao” is derived from the Georgian phrase “Iriao-uruao”, which is used in the yodelling singing style “Krimanchuli”.
Source: GPB
Georgia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007, they were represented by Sopho Khalvashi and the song “Visionary Dream”. Sopho finished 8th in the final scoring 97 points, the song received 12 points from the televoters in Lithuania. Georgia has only ever missed one contest since their debut, this was in 2009 when Georgia had selected Stephane & 3G with “We Don’t Wanna Put In”, the song proved controversial for its lyrics aimed at the Russian President. The EBU asked for Georgia to rewrite the lyrics of the song or change the song completely. Georgia was forced to withdraw as it continued to state the lyrics were not of a political nature.
