Ahead of this month’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Eurovoix has had the opportunity to talk with Georgia’s representative, Sandra Gadelia.
What was it that made you decide to try and represent Georgia at Junior Eurovision?
I wanted to have more experience.
What was your favourite week during Ranina and why?
Every week was important because we had different kinds of songs from different genres.
How hard was it to keep the secret that you’d won the Georgian selection?
Not at all, because even my friends and relatives didn’t know about it, it was a big surprise for everyone.
What does your song ‘You Are Not Alone’ mean to you?
My song is really close to my personality.
What do you enjoy doing besides singing?
Dancing, playing piano and cycling.
Who is your idol, and what would you say to them if you had the chance to meet them?
Jess J, I would hug her and tell her that I love her.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Funny, kind and hardworking.
Eurovoix would like to thank Sandra Gadelia for her time, and wish her the best of luck at the contest.
Who is Sandra Gadelia?
Ten-year-old Sandra Gadelia was born in 2010 in Tbilisi, Georgia. She began singing at a young age and will be Georgia’s 14th participant at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. Her idols are Jessie J, Scorpions, and Louis Armstrong.
Sandra was selected to represent her country after winning Ranina, Georgia’s Junior Eurovision selection show. She will be singing “You Are Not Alone”, a song written and composed by Giga Kukhianidze and Temo Sajaia. Giga Kukhianidze has a long history of involvement in Georgian Junior Eurovision entries having written the nation’s entries in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Image Source: Giorgi Tsaava
Georgia has won the contest on three occasions, making them the country with the most victories throughout the history of the contest. Georgia debuted in JESC in 2007 with Mariam Romelashvili and her song “Odelia Ranuni”, where she placed 4th with 116 points. Their first win was just a year later in 2008, with the trio Bzikebi and their song “Bzz”. Their second win was in 2011 with the group Candy and their song “Candy Music”. Most recently in 2016, eleven-year-old Mariam Mamadashvili performed her song Mzeo in JESC 2016 host city Malta, and took the victory with 239 points.
