On Sunday, the airport in Vienna buzzed with excitement as classically trained singer JJ, fresh from his triumph at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest with his hit "Wasted Love," was warmly embraced by a throng of enthusiastic Austrian fans. As he stepped through the arrivals gate, a cacophony of cheers erupted, fans blared his melody through speakers, and others mobbed the newly minted star, enveloping him in hugs and pleading for autographs.
The 24-year-old countertenor, whose winning composition seamlessly fused operatic, multi-octave vocals with a techno flair, and who also holds a position at the Vienna State Opera, stood tall with one hand gripping his gleaming trophy and the other cradling a magnificent bouquet of roses. His face lit up with a radiant smile as he dabbed away tears, addressing the jubilant crowd with heartfelt words: "This victory belongs to you all."
JJ, whose full name resonates as Johannes Pietsch, etched his name into Austrian Eurovision lore as the nation's third winner, following the trailblazing bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst in 2014 and the legendary Udo Jürgens in 1966. "This moment surpasses even my wildest fantasies. It's surreal," JJ exclaimed, clutching the microphone-shaped Eurovision glass trophy awarded to him in the Swiss city of Basel on Saturday night.
Later that evening in Vienna, JJ shared deep insights with reporters, saying, "You might not fully grasp your achievements until your twilight years."
'Austria Rejoices'
Austria's President, Alexander van der Bellen, celebrated JJ's victory with a video message on social media. "What an accomplishment! What a voice! What a spectacle!" he exclaimed. "Austria is elated."
Chancellor Christian Stoecker echoed these sentiments on social media: "A monumental success — heartfelt congratulations on winning #ESC2025! JJ is scripting Austrian music history today!"
The Vienna State Opera also rejoiced in the triumph. "From the realms of 'The Magic Flute' to claiming the Song Contest crown, this is a tale that can only unfold in Austria," opera director Bogdan Roscic told the Austrian press agency APA.
Several Austrian cities hastily expressed their interest in hosting the next Eurovision contest. Innsbruck's Mayor, Johannes Anzengruber, noted to APA, "Not every event needs to happen in Vienna. Austria transcends boundaries," while Oberwart in Burgenland and Wels in Upper Austria also threw their hats into the ring.
JJ himself harbored hopes that Vienna would secure the hosting rights for the next Eurovision, which he aspirations to co-host with his mentor, Conchita Wurst.
A Tense Climax
The contest culminated in a thrilling finish, where Israeli singer Yuval Raphael secured the runner-up spot during a jubilant celebration of music and unity. However, the event was overshadowed by the Gaza conflict and controversy surrounding Israel's participation.
JJ emerged victorious despite a fiercely contested final where Raphael garnered a substantial public vote for her anthemic "New Day Will Rise." Yet, she faced protests from pro-Palestinian activists demanding Israel's exclusion from the contest due to its actions in the Gaza war.
At a press conference following his victory, JJ underscored the message of his song about unrequited love: "Love is the most potent force on Earth, and it prevails." He passionately exhorted, "Let's spread love, everyone." JJ also expressed pride in being the first Eurovision champion with Filipino heritage and a proudly queer identity.
An eclectic and at times perplexing spectacle, the world's premier live music extravaganza, which has simultaneously united and divided Europeans since its inception in 1956, culminated in a dazzling grand finale in Basel. The event, a kaleidoscope of thunderous electropop, whimsical rock, and over-the-top divas, served as the culmination of a journey that saw acts from 26 nations — whittled down from an initial 37 contenders through two exhilarating elimination semifinals — vying for the continent's pop crown before an audience of approximately 160 million viewers. Musicians, each granted a mere three minutes to capture the hearts of millions, spared no expense, employing smoke machines, jets of flame, and mesmerizing light displays in their quest for victory, which was decided by both the viewing public and panels of professional music jurors from participating countries.
Tommy Cash of Estonia secured third place with his humorous, mock-Italian dance anthem "Espresso Macchiato," while the Swedish entry, KAJ, with its buoyant ode to the sauna, "Bara Bada Bastu," which was heavily favored to win, ultimately placed fourth. The evening stood as a testament to Europe's diverse, and occasionally bewildering, musical palate.
The contest was overshadowed by the conflict in Gaza. For the second consecutive year,争议 surrounded Israel's participation. Raphael, a survivor of Hamas' deadly October 7, 2023, attack on a music festival in southern Israel that sparked the Gaza war, received a mixed reception of cheers and jeers as she took to the stage. According to Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR, a man and a woman were apprehended as they attempted to scale a barrier to reach the stage at the conclusion of her performance. A crew member was allegedly hit by paint thrown by the pair, leaving Raphael's team to report that she was "shaken and upset."
The October 7 cross-border attack by Hamas militants claimed the lives of 1,200 individuals, with approximately 250 taken hostage into Gaza. According to Gaza's health ministry, over 52,800 Palestinians have perished in Israel's retaliatory offensive. Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests did take place in Basel, albeit on a significantly smaller scale compared to last year's event in Sweden.
