Austria welcomes JJ back home after winning Eurovision Song Contest

Winner of the Eurovision Track Contest, JJ, from Austria, holds the trophy on stage. He gained with the music “Wasted Love” through the grand finale of the 69th Eurovision Track Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday 17 Might 2025. Picture: AP Photograph/Martin Meissner

VIENEN – Austrian followers enthusiastically welcomed classically skilled singer JJ, or Johannes Pietsch, At dwelling on Vienna Airport on Sunday after he gained the 69th Eurovision Track Contest with “Wasted Love”.

Whereas JJ walked by the gate, a whole bunch of followers cheered, some performed his music and others surrounded the brand new star, hugged him and requested for signatures.

The 24-year-old Contratenor, whose successful music Operational, multi-octave Vocals combines with a techno-twist, and who additionally sings within the Vienna State Opera, held his trophy in a single hand and a big bouquet of roses within the different. He smiled, wiped tears away and mentioned to the gang: “That victory is for you.”

JJ was the third winner of Austria, after bearded Drag Queen Conchita Wurst in 2014 and Udo Jürgens in 1966.

“This goes past my wildest goals. It is loopy,” mentioned the singer when he was handed the microphone glass Eurovision trophy after his victory within the Swiss metropolis of Basel on Saturday night.

On Sunday night, JJ reporters in Vienna mentioned that “I do not assume you understand that you’ve carried out it in any respect till you might be in your deathbed.”

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‘The entire of Austria is completely satisfied’

The president of Austria, Alexander van der Bellen, celebrated JJ in a video posted on X.

“What successful! What a voice! What a present!” he exclaimed. “The entire of Austria is completely satisfied.”

Chancellor Christian Stoecker wrote on X: “What a terrific success – my hottest congratulations on successful #ESC2025! JJ is writing Austrian music historical past at this time!”

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The Vienna State Opera additionally expressed pleasure in regards to the victory. “From the magical flute to successful the music competitors is someway a narrative that may solely happen in Austria,” Opera director Bogdan Roscic informed the Austrian information company APA.

Numerous Austrian cities quickly confirmed curiosity in organizing subsequent yr’s competitors. Innsbruck Mayor Johannes Anzengruber informed APA that “not the whole lot in Vienna has to happen. … Austria is larger than that”, and the cities of Oberwart in Burgenland and Wels in Higher Austria additionally threw their hat within the ring.

JJ himself mentioned he hoped that Vienna would get the subsequent ESC, which he want to obtain together with his mentor, Conchita Wurst.

A nail biting last

The Israeli singer Yuval Raphael got here in second throughout an exuberant celebration of music and unit that was overshadowed by the Gaza Struggle and rattled by Discord in regards to the participation of Israel.

JJ gained after a nail biting last who noticed Raphael selecting up an enormous public temper from her many followers for her anthology “New Day Will Rise”. However she was additionally confronted with protests from pro-Palestinian demonstrators who known as for Israel to be kicked out of the sport in regards to the habits of the battle towards Hamas in Gaza.

Winner of the Eurovision Track Contest, JJ, from Austria performs the successful music “Wasted Love” through the grand finale of the 69th Eurovision Track Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday 17 Might 2025. Picture: AP Photograph/Martin Meissner

Throughout a post-Victory press convention, JJ mentioned that the message of his music about unanswered romance was that ‘love is the strongest energy on planet earth and love.

“Let’s unfold love, boys,” mentioned JJ, who added that he was honored to be the primary Eurovision champion with the Filipino heritage, in addition to a proud queer winner.

Eclectic and generally astonishing

The biggest reside music occasion on the earth, which has been uniting and distributing Europeans since 1956, reached its glitter-through conclusion with a grand finale in Basel who provided banging electropop, quirky rock and shameful Divas.

Acts from 26 international locations – trimmed from 37 members by two elimination semi -final – carried out at round 160 million viewers for the pop -crown of the continent. No smoke machine, jet van flame or dizzying gentle show was saved by musicians who had three minutes to steer thousands and thousands of viewers who, along with nationwide juries from music professionals, selected the winner.

The Tommy Money of Estonia completed third together with his Jokey Mock-Italian dance music “Espresso Macchiato.” Swedish entry Kaj, who was the favourite to win with Jaunty Sauna Ode “Bara Bada Bastu”, was fourth.

The present was a celebration of Europe’s eclectic and generally astonishing musical tastes.

The battle in Gaza clouded the sport

This yr’s competitors was introduced for a second yr by disputes in regards to the participation of Israel. RAPHAEL – A survivor from Hamas’ 7 October 2023, assault on a music pageant in southern Israel that set the Gaza battle in movement – was met by a mixture of cheers and indignant whereas sang.

Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR mentioned {that a} man and girl have been stopped after they tried to climb over a barrier to the stage on the finish of her music. It mentioned {that a} crew member was hit by paint thrown by the pair. The Raphael workforce mentioned she was ‘shaken and upset’.

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The cross-border assaults of seven October by Hamas militants killed 1200 individuals and round 250 have been held hostage in Gaza. Greater than 52,800 individuals in Gaza have been killed within the retaliation offensive of Israel, based on the Ministry of Well being of the territory.

Professional-Palestinian and Professional-Israel protests each passed off in Basel, though on a a lot smaller scale than throughout final yr’s occasion in Sweden.