Austria’s JJ has won the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with “Wasted Love.” An estimated 160 million people from Europe and beyond were expected to tune in.
Austria’s JJ is a winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
Classically trained countertenor JJ of Austria has won the 69th Eurovision Song Contest with his pop-opera song “Wasted Love.”
The Swiss city of Basel was hosting the final of the contest on Saturday night.
Yuval Raphael of Israel came in second with “New Day Will Rise,” and Tommy Cash of Estonia came in third with “Espresso Macchiato.”
Sweden’s entry KAJ had been the favorite in polls with its upbeat sauna song, “Bara Bada Bastu,” but the Scandinavians only ended up taking fourth place.
The German duo Abor & Tynna finished in 15th place with their song “Baller.”
The 26 songs performed in Basel showcased a broad range of European music, including a Portuguese guitar ballad, an alternative rock band from Lithuania, Austrian opera, and a Latvian choir.
The winner was decided by a combination of viewer votes and the votes of a jury. The jury’s votes were recorded based on the untelevised dress rehearsal on Friday.
Despite attempts to focus on the glitz and glamor, politics are never far from the surface.
Israel’s participation in particular has been controversial, with pro-Palestinian protests being held in Basel against Israel’s war in Gaza. Pro-Israel protests were also held.
The Israeli entrant, Yuval Raphael — a survivor of the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks — was performing a song entitled “New Day Will Rise.”
