The Voice Georgia 2023 is in full swing

Georgia is no stranger to using an established television competition as a national selection process. For the past two years, the Caucuses nation used Georgian Idol. Of course, Georgian Idol was their version of the Idol franchise, started by Simon Fuller. This year, Georgia chose to avail themselves of a completely different format, choosing to use The Voice, created by John de Mol. This is the fifth season for The Voice Georgia, but the first time it is being used as the nation's selection process.

The series started with the blind auditions, after which, each of the four teams had a total of eight contestants. Following the battle rounds, each of the teams have been whittled down to six participants, all eager for the coming live shows.

Of the 24 contestants remaining, three are former Idol 2020 contestants: Dato Rusadze, Tako Kakalashvili, and Erekle Turkadze; and Iru Khechanovi is a 2011 Junior Eurovision winner from the girl group "Candy."

Coaches

The coaches for The Voice Georgia are an eclectic group that have as much in common as they are different. The panel of coaching chairs includes; two returning coaches, two Eurovision alums, two former Idol judges, as well as two coaches named Dato; and all four coaches have been X-Factor judges.

Stephane Mghebrishvili garnered international attention in 2009, when his group, Stephane and 3G were selected to represent Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, Russia with the song "We don't wanna Put in." The EBU cited issues with the apparent political nature of the lyrics and asked for them to be changed. When Stephane and 3G, together with the broadcaster GPB, refused, they simply chose to withdraw from the contest. Although Stephane and 3G member Tamara Gachechiladze would go on to represent Georgia at the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv, Ukraine with "Keep the Faith."

Stephane is one of the returning coaches, having coached in every season but the third. He has also been a judge on the X-Factor Georgia, and was on the Georgian Idol panel that selected Oto Nemsadze for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel with the song "Keep on Going."

Dato Porchkhidze is a prolific composer having written over 600 songs for various television and film productions. In the '90s he rose to prominence with the group "Face."

He's also one of the returning Voice coaches, having participated in seasons one and two, in which his proteges won both seasons. He was also a judge on the X-Factor Georgia in 2016.

Sophio Toroshelidze, professionally known as Sopho, participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Dusseldorf, Germany with the nu metal band Eldrine and the song "One More Day." The song finished 9th in the Grand Final.

Sopho also served as a judge on the X-Factor Georgia in 2014 with fellow coach Stephane.

Dato Evgenidze is a vastly experienced composer, producer and performer. Not only was he a judge on X-Factor Georgia, also with fellow coach Stephane, but he was also on the Idol panel that selected Tornike Kipiani as the Georgian participant to Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam, Netherlands with the song "Take me as I am."

When the 2020 contest was canceled, GPB chose to send Tornike again in 2021 with the song "You."

Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Georgia has participated in Eurovision 14 times since their debut in 2007, with the best result in 2010 and 2011 (9th place), and the worst results in 2014, 2018 and 2022 (came in last in their Semi-final).

The only year Georgia didn't participate was in 2009. They decided to send the song "We Don't Wanna Put In" to Moscow 2009, but because of a controversy surrounding the song's lyrics, the EBU banned the song from participating unless the lyrics were changed. The Georgian broadcaster refused to change the lyrics, and withdrew from the contest.

Georgia has managed to qualify for the Grand Final 7 out of 14 times.