Austria Triumphs at Eurovision with Message of Love

In a surprising twist at the Eurovision Song Contest held in Basel, Austria emerged victorious with the performance of JJ and his pop-opera entry, Wasted Love. This year, the competition witnessed fierce rivalry, particularly from the Finnish humor trio KAJ, whose entry Bara bada bastu was a fan favorite.

As the contest concluded on Saturday night, Austria topped the leaderboard with a total of 436 points, edging out Israel, which finished second with 357 points. Sweden, initially a strong contender, secured fourth place with 321 points, despite receiving a significant score of 12 points from the juries in Iceland and from the public votes in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, and Norway.

After the results were announced, KAJ expressed their gratitude to their supporters on social media, reflecting on their journey from Vörå to the Eurovision stage. Their emotional message highlighted the importance of teamwork and fan support in achieving such a remarkable outcome.

Austria had maintained a lead after the jury votes from the participating 37 countries were revealed, amassing 258 points. However, public sentiment diverged, favoring Israel. Despite this, when the final scores were tabulated, Austria's lead held firm, marking a notable win with the lowest total score for a Eurovision victor since the current voting system was introduced nine years ago.

JJ, whose full name is Johannes Pietsch, is a 24-year-old singer of Austrian and Filipino descent based in Vienna. This competition marked his first foray into pop music, having previously focused on classical training while working at the Vienna State Opera. At a post-victory press conference, JJ described the moment he learned of his win as surreal, sharing his overwhelming emotions during the announcement. He emphasized a message of love, urging people to promote acceptance and equality.

In a notable observation, JJ became the third consecutive winner of Eurovision to identify as queer, underscoring the ongoing fight for rights and representation within the LGBTQ+ community.

The event also faced external challenges, with protests occurring during the competition. Demonstrators expressed their discontent regarding Israel's participation amidst ongoing conflicts in Gaza, which led to increased security measures and interruptions during some performances.

Eurovision 2025 marked a significant return for Switzerland, the original host of the inaugural contest in 1956, after a 36-year hiatus from hosting duties. The show featured a vibrant array of performances, with hosts guiding the audience through the evening's events, including special appearances from previous contestants and a display of artistic talent.

As the dust settles on this year's contest, the Eurovision community reflects on the celebration of music, the power of love, and the importance of unity amidst diversity.