Freedom (Mariam Shengelia song)
| "Freedom" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Mariam Shengelia | |
| Released | 17 March 2025 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:50 |
| Label | |
| Composer(s) | Keti Gabisiani |
| Lyricist(s) | Buka Kartozia |
| Producer(s) | Keti Gabisiani |
| Music video | |
| "Freedom" on YouTube | |
| Eurovision Song Contest 2025 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artist(s) | |
| Languages |
|
| Composer(s) | Keti Gabisiani |
| Lyricist(s) | Buka Kartozia |
| Finals performance | |
| Semi-final result | 15th |
| Semi-final points | 28 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "Firefighter" (2024) | |
"Freedom" is the debut single by Georgian singer Mariam Shengelia. It was written by Keti Gabisziani and Buka Kartozia, with the former also producing it. The song was released on 17 March 2025 and represented Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.
Background and composition
The music for "Freedom" was composed by Keti Gabisiani, and the words were written by Buka Kartozia.[1][2] Lyrically, it carries a message of freedom, hope, homeland and determination, giving faith in the following journey. Images of blue and cloudless skies and calm yet stormy seas also reinforced the emotional charge. It also emphasize a pure and unwavering love for freedom and homeland, while Shengelia also states that she has no other wealth to seek.[3]
Music video and promotion
The music video for "Freedom" was directed by Kakha Bukhrashvili and artistically directed by Shako Popiashvili and Nino Tsulaia, which premiered alongside the entry announcement through the official Eurovision Song Contest's YouTube channel.[1][2]
Critical reception
"Freedom" received largely negative reactions. In a Wiwibloggs review containing several reviews from several critics, the song was rated 3.07 out of 10 points,[4] earning 37th and last out of the 37 songs competing in that year's Eurovision in the site's annual ranking that year.[5] Jon O’Brien from Vulture also ranked the song 37th and last, calling the song a "cacophonous mess".[6] ESC Beat's Doron Lahav ranked the song 34th out of 37, stating that it was "hard to digest", and the song was like "an attempt to merge two different songs".[7] Eva Frantz from the Finnish broadcaster Yle gave the song a 3/10, describing the song as "too sprawling and artistic".[8]
Eurovision Song Contest 2025
Internal selection
On 14 March 2025, Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) announced that "Freedom" performed by Mariam Shengelia would be the Georgian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.[9] Shengelia had previously attempted to represent Georgia in 2020, placing sixth in the second season of Georgian Idol, which was used to select Georgia's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, which was cancelled.[10] The song was selected from 18 applications received by GPB, with another 20 entries also sent in by foreign songwriters.[1][2]
At Eurovision
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 took place at St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 13 and 15 May and the final on 17 May 2025.[11] During the allocation draw held on 28 January 2025, Georgia was drawn to compete in the second semi-final, performing in the second half of the show.[12] The song finished in 15th place in the second semi-final with the second fewest points, thus failing to qualify.[13]
References
- ^ a b c Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (14 March 2025). "Georgia: Mariam Shengalia will fly to Basel with 'Freedom'". ESCToday. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ a b c "Mariam Shengelia to represent Georgia at Eurovision 2025". 1TV. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Mamsikashvili, Rezo (14 March 2025). "Mariam Shengelia will represent Georgia at Eurovision 2025 with "Freedom"". wiwiblogs.com. Wiwiblogs. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Wiwi Jury: Georgia's Mariam Shengelia with "Freedom"". Wiwibloggs. 20 April 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ Vautrey, Jonathan (13 April 2025). "Eurovision 2025: Reviews and rankings by the Wiwi Jury". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 6 June 2025. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
- ^ O'Brien, Jon (13 May 2025). "Every 2025 Eurovision Entry, Ranked". Vulture. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ Lahav, Doron (12 April 2025). "Eurovision 2025 Song Reviews – Part 6 (Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Israel, and Malta)". ESC Beat. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ Frantz, Eva (5 April 2025). "Ranking: Här är alla 37 bidrag i årets Eurovision Song Contest" (in Swedish). Yle. Archived from the original on 14 May 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ "Mariam Shengelia will sing 'Freedom' in Basel for Georgia". eurovision.tv. 14 March 2025. Archived from the original on 18 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (14 March 2025). "🇬🇪 Georgia: Mariam Shengelia to Eurovision 2025 with "Freedom"". Eurovoix. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ "Basel will host Eurovision Song Contest 2025". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. 30 August 2024. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "Eurovision 2025: Semi-Final Draw Results". Eurovision.tv (Press release). European Broadcasting Union. 28 January 2025. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- ^ "Eurovision 2025: The Second Semi-Final Qualifiers". Eurovision.TV. European Broadcasting Union. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.