Nutsa Buzaladze, Georgia’s Eurovision 2024 representative, recently performed in Israel and shared insights about her connection to Israel, her experiences from Eurovision and the tragedy she experienced during it.

Last week, Georgia’s representative for Eurovision 2024, Nutsa Buzaladze, arrived in Israel for a special performance in Ashdod for the Georgian Jewish community. The day after, we met her in Tel Aviv for an exclusive interview.

You surprised us with your visit to Israel. What brings you here?
“Yes, I was surprised too! The Georgian Jewish community in Israel organized an annual show in Ashdod, and I was invited to perform there. As you know, there are many Georgian Jews living in Ashdod, and the municipality organizes a concert for them every year. Yesterday we had a wonderful performance with many guests, and it was simply amazing.”

Weren’t you afraid of the reactions and the security situation? We are still at war after all.
“To be honest, I was a bit scared, but I couldn’t say no because of my friends here. If they feel safe and decide that the show is secure, then I came to perform for them. We also had increased security.”

Eurovision Journey and Personal Tragedy

You performed with the song “Firefighter” at the last Eurovision. How did you feel after Georgia reached 21st place, but also qualified for the final after 8 years?
“It was very important for us to qualify for the final because we hadn’t succeeded in doing so since 2016. The 21st place is of course disappointing, but the real success is that the song and performance are still alive, and people all over the world love and sing along with me.”

You tried to represent Georgia already in 2017 and came second in the national selection that year. Has Eurovision always been a dream of yours?
“Since I was a child, I dreamed about it. Over time, the dream faded a bit, but when the Georgian national broadcaster approached me, I knew I wanted to represent my country and invest all my energy.”

You went through a personal tragedy during the Eurovision period when you lost your brother. How did you manage to continue with rehearsals for Eurovision?
“It was very difficult. On stage, no one really knows what’s happening in your personal life, so I continued despite everything. My family and fans helped me, and I know my brother would have wanted me to continue.”

Behind the Scenes at Eurovision

This year’s Eurovision was very different from its previous editions. How was the atmosphere behind the scenes this year, and what did you think about the “boos” the audience shouted at our representative, Eden Golan?
“The atmosphere was very tense. People came with different opinions, but I think the most important thing is that we respect each other. It’s sad that there isn’t always mutual respect, but I hope we’ll reach a day when we can live in peace.”

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Eurovision 2025: This will be Georgia’s 17th participation in Eurovision. Georgia joined the competition in 2007 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2010 and Eurovision 2011 after finishing ninth twice.