Politics and music aren't supposed to mix at the outrageous annual Eurovision Song Contest, but Georgia is already causing a fuss with its official entry, perceived as a jab at Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Georgia announced on Wednesday its official representative at the contest: Stephane & 3G (a male singer-producer backed by a female trio of singers), who are slated to perform a track titled We Don't Wanna Put In, a none-too-subtle play on the name of the Russian prime minister.

The chorus of the disco-flavoured tune includes the lyrics "We don't want to put in/the negative mood/it's killing the groove."

With each year's host site chosen based on the previous year's winner, Moscow was tapped as soon as Russian pop star Dima Bilan won the 2008 edition. The city will host the 2009 edition of the competition on May 12-16.

Georgia — which broke off diplomatic relations with Russia last summer after the two exchanged military fire over the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia — initially chose to withdraw from the latest instalment of the kitschy pop-music extravaganza, staged each year by member countries of the European Broadcasting Union.

"But then we received letters from representatives of virtually all the countries that take part in this prestigious competition; they all asked us to change our decision and send our singers," said Ratia Uznadze, director of international projects for Georgia's Channel One television.

Controversies have peppered Eurovision competitions over its more than half-century existence, including a kerfuffle over a puppet contestant representing Ireland and a fiasco over a largely English-language song picked to represent France.

Eurovision organizers tend to frown on political content in the entries.

Nevertheless, a spokesperson for the contest has said organizers will take a closer look at and reserve comment on the 43 competing songs until mid-March.

One of the most-watched events of Europe's television calendar each year, the Eurovision final typical draws close to 100 million viewers who vote for their favourites via telephone or text message (though voters are prevented from choosing their home country's official representative).

Notable Eurovision winners in the past include Swedish megagroup ABBA, '60s chanteuse Lulu, pop band Katrina and the Waves from the U.K., diva Céline Dion on behalf of Switzerland and Finnish monster rockers Lordi.

With files from the Associated Press