Austria’s JJ has claimed victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with his dramatic operatic ballad “Wasted Love”, following a nail-biting finale filled with standout performances, political tension, and an on-stage protest. Held in Basel, Switzerland, the Eurovision 2025 competition marked the 69th edition of the contest and proved to be one of the most memorable in recent years.
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Everything You Need to Know About Eurovision 2025:
A Triumphant Return for Austria
Austria’s JJ won the contest with 436 points, earning 258 points from the juries and 178 from the public televote. His haunting countertenor voice and emotionally charged delivery of “Wasted Love” captivated viewers across Europe and beyond. This marks Austria’s third Eurovision win overall and its first since Conchita Wurst’s iconic “Rise Like a Phoenix” in 2014. The song was written by himself alongside Teodora Špirić and Thomas Thurner, with the former songwriter being best known as Teya who represented Austria in 2023 with the song “Who the Hell is Edgar?” in collaboration with Salena, whilst it was produced by Pele Loriano, Thomas Thurner, and Wojciech Kostrzewa.
JJ’s performance stood out for its striking blend of vulnerability and theatricality, complete with soaring falsetto notes and a minimalist, emotionally raw stage presentation that drew the audience into his heartbreak narrative. The black and white visual saw JJ tells a story from beginning to end that matched the theatrical vocals and dramatic song, where we watched him performing on a sailboat and surviving dangerous waves that would likely make him shipwrecked, but the boat survives, and so does he.
“Wasted Love” was praised for its originality and emotional depth, with many drawing comparisons to last year’s winner Nemo, who also blended classical technique with modern music styles.
Meet JJ: The Rising Star from Austria
JJ, born Johannes Pietsch in Vienna in 2001, is no stranger to the stage. The Austrian-Filipino grew up in Dubai before returning to Austria in his teenage years—2016 and has since become a fixture in the classical music world. Fans may remember him as a finalist on the Austrian TV talent show Starmania in 2021, where he wowed viewers with his extraordinary range and stage presence. Prior to that, he took part in the ninth series of The Voice UK where he made it to the knock-outs after joining coach will.i.am’s team.
Currently, JJ performs at the Vienna State Opera and has appeared in productions such as Die Zauberflöte, Von der Liebe Tod, and Tschick. He also studies classical music at the Music and Art Private University of Vienna (MUK), further honing his craft. Eurovision 2025 marks his biggest stage yet, and his win is a significant moment not only for his career but for Austria’s cultural presence on the global stage.
Israel’s Yuval Raphael Overcomes Protest to Claim Runner-Up Spot
Coming in second place was Israel’s Yuval Raphael with her powerful ballad “New Day Will Rise”. Written by Keren Peles and produced by Tomer Biran, the song features lyrics in English, Hebrew, and French, and includes a line from the Tanakh—the Hebrew Bible—specifically from the biblical Song of Songs: “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.” Raphael’s performance was shaped by her personal connection to the October 7, 2023, attack at the Nova music festival in southern Israel, where she was among the survivors.
However, her grand final performance was marred by a distressing on-stage incident when two pro-Palestinian protesters rushed towards her on stage, after her performance had finished, at the St Jakobshalle arena. Sky News reported that the singer was left “shaken and upset” following the disruption. A backstage crew member was struck with paint during the incident but was not injured, according to event officials.
A spokesperson for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR confirmed the altercation, stating: “At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage. They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured. The man and the woman were taken out of the venue and handed over to the police.”
Basel police later confirmed the individuals had been taken into custody and subsequently released. A police spokesperson explained: “The organiser handed the two people over to the police. The police checked the two people and then released them. It is now up to the organiser to decide whether to press charges.”
Despite the disruption, Yuval Raphael completed her performance and went on to receive a total of 357 points, securing second place overall. She placed first in the public televote and 15th in the jury vote, all amid continued debate surrounding Israel’s participation in this year’s competition.
Increased Security and Political Tensions
The incident occurred against a backdrop of heightened political tensions and visible displays of protest throughout the event. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place near the centre of Basel during the evening, alongside a smaller counter-protest in support of Israel.
Ahead of the final, Israel’s National Security Council had reportedly advised Israeli civilians in the area to keep a low profile for safety reasons. Within the arena itself, Palestinian symbols were visible among the audience—a marked shift from last year’s contest in Malmö, Sweden, where certain flags had been restricted.
Controversy Around Political Messaging
Further controversy emerged during the live broadcast when Spain’s national broadcaster, RTVE, aired a message of solidarity with Palestine, stating: “When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine.”
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) later addressed the matter, clarifying: “We can confirm that we have spoken to RTVE regarding this matter and made it clear that commentators are expected to maintain neutrality within the broadcasts of the Eurovision Song Contest.”
The Spanish broadcaster had previously received a warning from the EBU following political statements reportedly made during earlier coverage, as reported by Israeli broadcaster Kan.
Political Tensions Remain at the Forefront
Israel’s involvement in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest was under scrutiny from the outset due to the ongoing war in Gaza. There had been public calls for Israel to be excluded from the contest, similar to Russia’s ban following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, was one of the most vocal critics, saying countries involved in conflict should not be allowed to take part in international cultural events.
According to Reuters, Sánchez stated during a conference in Madrid on Monday: “We cannot allow double standards, not even in culture. I believe that no one was shocked three years ago when Russia was asked to withdraw from international competitions after it invaded Ukraine and not participate, for example, at Eurovision. Therefore, Israel should not do so either.”
RTVE has requested an audit from the EBU to clarify the origins of the televote, while Belgium’s VRT has also urged the organisation to provide “full transparency” regarding the voting process. They are not alone in raising concerns—broadcasters from Iceland (RÚV), Ireland (RTÉ), Slovenia (RTVSLO), Finland (Yle), and Belgium’s French-speaking RTBF have all echoed calls for a review or audit of the televoting system. Some have cited suspicions of irregularities, such as unusual online voting patterns and potential bot interference. In response, the EBU has announced it will open discussions with its member broadcasters to reflect on the 2025 contest and explore possible reforms ahead of the 2026 edition.
Despite the tensions, EBU director general Noel Curran, back in 2024, defended Israel’s inclusion in the competition, reiterating that Eurovision is “a non-political event” and that all participating broadcasters had met the contest’s rules.
A Strong Top Five and a Mixed Night for the UK
Estonia took third place with Tommy Cash’s quirky and unpredictable “Espresso Macchiato”, while Sweden’s sauna-themed “Bara Bada Bastu” by KAJ finished fourth, and Italy came in fifth with the interesting “Volevo essere un duro” by Lucio Corsi.
The United Kingdom’s entry, “What The Hell Just Happened?” by country-pop trio Remember Monday—comprising Holly-Anne Hull, Lauren Byrne, and Charlotte Steele—finished in 19th place with a total of 88 points. While the group delivered a confident and catchy performance, they did not receive any points from the public televote. However, they fared better with the juries, which contributed to their overall score.
This marks the second consecutive year the UK received zero televote points, following Olly Alexander’s 2024 entry “Dizzy,” which also earned no televote points but finished 18th with 46 jury points. Although Remember Monday placed one position lower, in theory, they did better than Olly Alexander by earning more total points overall.
Backstage, Holly-Anne Hull reportedly misplaced her wedding ring moments before performing, adding an unexpected touch of real-life drama to the night. Thankfully, it was safely recovered later.
Following the result, Remember Monday released the following statement:
WOW – what a ride! Three best mates walked onto the world’s biggest music stage and came out with a Top 10 Jury score, massive streaming numbers, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Charlotte, Holly and Lauren
Performing at Eurovision was one of the most surreal and emotional moments of our lives. The love we’ve felt from fans, our incredible team, and everyone who streamed, voted, and believed in us has been overwhelming.
This is just the beginning for Remember Monday. We’ve got new music coming your way, a UK & Ireland headline tour this year, a summer packed with festivals, and we’ll be hitting the stage at Wembley Stadium for the Summertime Ball… no big deal!
We’re so grateful for the platform, the media support, and every single new fan who’s joined us on this wild journey. Eurovision? Completed it. Let’s go!
JJ Brings Eurovision Back to Austria
With his win, JJ not only secures Austria’s place in Eurovision history but also brings the competition back to the country for the 2026 edition. His victory continues a strong run of recent Eurovision winners who have leaned into theatrical, emotionally complex performances—a growing trend in the post-Måneskin era of the contest.
As fans celebrate Austria’s third Eurovision crown, JJ’s name joins the ranks of Conchita Wurst and Udo Jürgens as one of the country’s iconic champions. For now, the countdown begins for Eurovision 2026—and all eyes turn to Austria once again.
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