As the adults finalize their selection for Eurovision 2023 on Thursday evening’s The Voice of Georgia, Georgia’s kids have begun preparations for Junior Eurovision 2023 by announcing this season’s hopefuls for the sixth season of Ranina.
Ranina, the popular Georgian children’s talent show that has been Georgia’s method of selection for Junior Eurovision since 2017, returns for a sixth season, and Georgia’s 1TV announced via their Facebook page the ten young performers who will be tested during the show’s four tours, semi-final and final.
According to 1TV, the competitors, age and hometown are as follows:
- Anaroza Gaprindashvili, 9, Sagarejo
- Gabriel Lomsadze, 11, Tbilisi
- Anastasia Gerishvili, 9, Tbilisi
- Datuna Kereselidze, 11, Tbilisi
- Anastasia Vasadze, 11, Tbilisi
- Demetri Okriashvili, 13, Tbilisi
- Anastasia Masurashvili, 11, Sagarejo
- Soso Gagua, 13, Samtredia
- Mariam Gomiashvili, 12, Tbilisi
- Tamar Tomashvili, 12, Tbilisi
Past Ranina winner and Junior Eurovision 2022 representative Mariam Bigvava, who came in 3rd with “I Believe,” also posted a message of support on Ranina’s facebook page.
The song will be internally selected and is usually revealed after the winner of Ranina has been announced.
Ranina is a grueling contest, with ten contestants every year performing a range of styles across various “tours.” An annual highlight is the Shavnabada tour, where each contestant is asked to lead the famed Georgian choral group. Other “tours” usually include a kids’ movie or TV show theme, musicals, duets with Georgian Eurovision contestants or famous Georgian singers, and an acapella challenge with a group like The Quintessence.
Ranina typically has four tours or rounds, with the kids scored by three judges every round. The four or five with the highest scores move on to the Semi-Final, and the top three move on to The Grand Final.
The winner of this season of Ranina will likely travel to France as they have first option on hosting due to Lissandro’s “Oh maman!” winning Junior Eurovision 2022.
Mariam Bigvava posted Georgia’s best result since 2017 and in the Ranina era by coming in 3rd with “I Believe.” Georgia came in 2nd with the Jury vote, though 12th with the online vote.
Georgia holds the most Junior Eurovision wins, having taken the trophy in 2008, 2011, and 2016.
