Wars, Crises, and the Eurovision Song Competition

While Georgia has already gotten a provisional meausres order from the ICJ and there is some movement in terms of restarting a diplomatic process after this summer’s war between the two countries, the people of Georgia have decided to bring in the real arbiter of European politics: the Eurovision song competition. This yearly song competition is no stranger to high drama (ex.: last year’s competition was in Serbia, right around the time Kosovo declared independence.).  And this year, what with the War with Georgia, the pipeline politics, etc., it is being hosted by Russia (since they won last year’s competition).  

Anyway, if that wasn’t enough to get you to tune in, according to AFP:

Georgia has chosen a disco song poking fun at Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as its entry for this year’s Eurovision song contest in Moscow.

Georgia initially considered boycotting the song contest in the Russian capital because of its war with Moscow last year, but ultimately chose instead to use Eurovision to make a light-hearted political statement.

“We don’t wanna put in,” performed by group Stephane and 3G with its none-too-subtle play on the prime minister’s surname, was chosen late Wednesday by a panel and phone-in vote to represent Georgia.

With a chorus of “We don’t wanna put in/The negative move/It’s killin’ the groove,” the song is unlikely to get a warm reception in Moscow, which is hosting the contest after Russia won last year’s competition in Serbia.

OK, the lyrics are about what you’d expect from a Euro-disco song but, still, who would have expected Georgians finding a way to make fun of Putin on a TV show being broadcast from Moscow?  And I wonder how the voting will go?  I’m telling you, more political scientists need to pay attention to this Eurovision thing.  Where are my empiricists when I really need them?