In our continuing effort to provide blanket coverage of important developments in this year's Eurovision Song Contest...
The Eurovision website says Georgia was asked to revise the lyrics to its entry, "We Don't Wanna Put In," to remove the less-than-subtle dig at Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin by the group Stefane & 3G.
The folks at Eurovision say it's nothing personal, it's just that contest rules state that lyrics must not be political, contain swear words, or convey a commercial message.
Obviously, if you've seen the competition, the rules do not require contestants to have any actual talent, but that's another story.
Read more about the controversy here.
UPDATE: RFE/RL's Georgian Service has confirmed that a decision has been made not to change the lyrics of "We Don't Wanna Put In" and not to select any other song in its place. So Georgia won't be participating in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
-- Grant Podelco
The Eurovision website says Georgia was asked to revise the lyrics to its entry, "We Don't Wanna Put In," to remove the less-than-subtle dig at Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin by the group Stefane & 3G.
The folks at Eurovision say it's nothing personal, it's just that contest rules state that lyrics must not be political, contain swear words, or convey a commercial message.
Obviously, if you've seen the competition, the rules do not require contestants to have any actual talent, but that's another story.
Read more about the controversy here.
UPDATE: RFE/RL's Georgian Service has confirmed that a decision has been made not to change the lyrics of "We Don't Wanna Put In" and not to select any other song in its place. So Georgia won't be participating in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
-- Grant Podelco