Austria's JJ wins Eurovision 2025 with opera-techno fusion
After votes from national juries around Europe and viewers from across the continent and beyond, JJ gave Austria its first victory since bearded drag performer Conchita Wurst's 2014 triumph.
After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into Sunday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel -- whose participation drew protests -- on 357 and Estonia on 356.
"Thank you to you, Europe, for making my dreams come true," 24-year-old countertenor JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, said after his triumph in the Swiss city of Basel.
"Love is the strongest force in the world. Let's spread more love," the Austrian-Filipino singer said.
" Wasted Love" saw him hit the high notes while mixing opera and techno.
His Eurovision song, about the experience of unrequited love, blends lyricism and balladry, before ending with a techno flourish.
His performance, broadcast in black and white in 4:3 ratio, captivated viewers around Europe.
"What a fantastic success! My warmest congratulations on your victory," said Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker, adding: "JJ is making Austrian music history."
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt also issued a message of congratulations to JJ on Facebook.
"What an incredible moment -- Filipino pride on the European stage!," it said.
Celine Dion no-show
The 69th Eurovision Song Contest was held at Basel's St. Jakobshalle, packed with 6,500 excited ticket-holders dressed to the nines while 36,000 others watched a live transmission in a nearby stadium.
An estimated 160 million people across Europe and beyond were expected to tune in for the annual TV spectacle, where kitsch, glam and spectacular staging go hand in hand.
Twenty-six countries were in contention, with 11 having been eliminated in the semi-finals during the week.
Basel had been abuzz all week with rumours that Celine Dion might make an emotion-laden appearance as she battles Stiff Person Syndrome.
The Canadian superstar, now 57, launched her international career by winning Eurovision 1988, while competing for Switzerland.
But in the end, she did not appear.
"We have been in contact with her through various channels and regret that ultimately it was not possible to include her in the show," Eurovision organisers told AFP.
"We send her all our best wishes and, above all, good health."
Sweden had long been the bookmakers' hot favourite to win in Basel with the comedy trio KAJ's sauna song "Bara Bada Bastu".
But they finished fourth ahead of Italy, Greece and France as JJ scooped up the microphone-shaped trophy.
Albania, Ukraine and Switzerland rounded out the top 10.
Israel protests
As the televotes came in, Israel held the top spot until, right at the very end, the public votes for Austria gave the Alpine nation the right to host Eurovision next year.
Israel's participation in Eurovision 2025 prompted a series of protests in Basel over the war in Gaza.
Israel's entrant Yuval Raphael survived the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war, hiding beneath bodies as Hamas gunmen attacked a music festival, killing hundreds.
During the performance of her song "New Day Will Rise", loud whistles could be heard and two people tried to get on stage.
"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," a Eurovision spokesman told AFP.
They were taken outside and handed over to police, he added.
Elsewhere in Basel, pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed briefly with riot police. Blows were exchanged and officers deployed tear gas.
Ahead of the final on Saturday, Spain's public broadcaster defied the organisers to air a message in support of Palestinians -- despite being warned to avoid references to the Gaza offensive.
'Ich Komme'
The songs in contention were a showcase of Europe's different musical scenes.
They included a Portuguese guitar ballad, a Maltese diva, Lithuanian alternative rock, an Italian singalong, a Greek power ballad, ethereal Latvian choral folk and German booming beats.
Estonia's wobbly-legged Tommy Cash finished a close third with his cod-Italian " Espresso Macchiato" song.
Finland's Erika Vikman -- who gained momentum during Eurovision week with the orgasmic " Ich Komme" -- was hoisted in the air on a spark-emitting golden microphone.
Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, 52, set a new record between Eurovision appearances, returning 30 years after her first performance.
The Netherlands' competitor Claude broke into tears after performing his song "C'est La Vie".
French singer Louane, who lost both her parents as a teenager, performed her song "Maman", with falling pieces of cork representing the sands of time.
And Malta's Miriana Conte finished her diva big number "Serving" by bouncing up and down on an exercise ball.
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Local Spain
18-05-2025
- Local Spain
Austria's JJ wins Eurovision 2025 with opera-techno fusion
After votes from national juries around Europe and viewers from across the continent and beyond, JJ gave Austria its first victory since bearded drag performer Conchita Wurst's 2014 triumph. After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into Sunday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel -- whose participation drew protests -- on 357 and Estonia on 356. "Thank you to you, Europe, for making my dreams come true," 24-year-old countertenor JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, said after his triumph in the Swiss city of Basel. "Love is the strongest force in the world. Let's spread more love," the Austrian-Filipino singer said. " Wasted Love" saw him hit the high notes while mixing opera and techno. His Eurovision song, about the experience of unrequited love, blends lyricism and balladry, before ending with a techno flourish. His performance, broadcast in black and white in 4:3 ratio, captivated viewers around Europe. "What a fantastic success! My warmest congratulations on your victory," said Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker, adding: "JJ is making Austrian music history." The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt also issued a message of congratulations to JJ on Facebook. "What an incredible moment -- Filipino pride on the European stage!," it said. Celine Dion no-show The 69th Eurovision Song Contest was held at Basel's St. Jakobshalle, packed with 6,500 excited ticket-holders dressed to the nines while 36,000 others watched a live transmission in a nearby stadium. An estimated 160 million people across Europe and beyond were expected to tune in for the annual TV spectacle, where kitsch, glam and spectacular staging go hand in hand. Twenty-six countries were in contention, with 11 having been eliminated in the semi-finals during the week. Basel had been abuzz all week with rumours that Celine Dion might make an emotion-laden appearance as she battles Stiff Person Syndrome. The Canadian superstar, now 57, launched her international career by winning Eurovision 1988, while competing for Switzerland. But in the end, she did not appear. "We have been in contact with her through various channels and regret that ultimately it was not possible to include her in the show," Eurovision organisers told AFP. "We send her all our best wishes and, above all, good health." Sweden had long been the bookmakers' hot favourite to win in Basel with the comedy trio KAJ's sauna song "Bara Bada Bastu". But they finished fourth ahead of Italy, Greece and France as JJ scooped up the microphone-shaped trophy. Albania, Ukraine and Switzerland rounded out the top 10. Israel protests As the televotes came in, Israel held the top spot until, right at the very end, the public votes for Austria gave the Alpine nation the right to host Eurovision next year. Israel's participation in Eurovision 2025 prompted a series of protests in Basel over the war in Gaza. Israel's entrant Yuval Raphael survived the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war, hiding beneath bodies as Hamas gunmen attacked a music festival, killing hundreds. During the performance of her song "New Day Will Rise", loud whistles could be heard and two people tried to get on stage. "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," a Eurovision spokesman told AFP. They were taken outside and handed over to police, he added. Elsewhere in Basel, pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed briefly with riot police. Blows were exchanged and officers deployed tear gas. Ahead of the final on Saturday, Spain's public broadcaster defied the organisers to air a message in support of Palestinians -- despite being warned to avoid references to the Gaza offensive. 'Ich Komme' The songs in contention were a showcase of Europe's different musical scenes. They included a Portuguese guitar ballad, a Maltese diva, Lithuanian alternative rock, an Italian singalong, a Greek power ballad, ethereal Latvian choral folk and German booming beats. Estonia's wobbly-legged Tommy Cash finished a close third with his cod-Italian " Espresso Macchiato" song. Finland's Erika Vikman -- who gained momentum during Eurovision week with the orgasmic " Ich Komme" -- was hoisted in the air on a spark-emitting golden microphone. Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, 52, set a new record between Eurovision appearances, returning 30 years after her first performance. The Netherlands' competitor Claude broke into tears after performing his song "C'est La Vie". French singer Louane, who lost both her parents as a teenager, performed her song "Maman", with falling pieces of cork representing the sands of time. And Malta's Miriana Conte finished her diva big number "Serving" by bouncing up and down on an exercise ball.
Local Spain
17-05-2025
- Local Spain
Eurovision: Who are the contenders for the crown
Here are penpix of the top six contenders, according to bookmakers: SWEDEN: Hot stuff The act representing Sweden is actually a comedy trio of dour-looking Finns, marking a departure from the polished, glossy spectacles Sweden usually presents. The three men from Finland's Swedish-speaking community -- Kevin Holmstrom, Axel Ahman and Jakob Norrgard -- aim to win a record eighth trophy for Sweden, with a quirky eulogy to the joy of saunas. "Bara Bada Bastu" (Just have a sauna), features a comic and catchy chorus, and an accordion throughout. The trio wear suits in a mock sauna surrounded by dancers in towels and woolly hats, and armed with bouquets of birch branches, used by sauna enthusiasts to whip up their blood circulation. AUSTRIA: Vocal crescendo "Wasted Love", sung by Austrian-Filipino counter-tenor Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, fuses pop and lyrical elements in a crescendo that flows into techno sounds. The 23-year-old grew up in Dubai before discovering classical music in Vienna, where he is currently honing his skills between talent shows and small roles at the opera. In his Eurovision song, about the experience of unrequited love, he pivots from high soprano notes into a blend of lyricism and balladry, before ending with a techno flourish. His falsetto voice recalls that of German great Klaus Nomi, and evokes Austria's classical music heritage. JJ's Eurovision performance is filmed in black and white, in the 4:3 ratio of the monochrome television era. FRANCE: Finally? Well-known in France, 28-year-old singer and actress Louane has infused a sense of hope that her country could win Eurovision for the first time since 1977. Louane, whose real name is Anne Peichert, shot to French stardom in 2013 when she participated in the TV talent show "The Voice". Her ballad, "Maman", addressed to her mother who died of cancer in 2014, exclaims: "In the end, you see, I built my life... I've grown up. From you, I've kept everything that makes me who I am." Her performance has received a big audience reaction in Basel's St. Jakobshalle arena, with falling pieces of cork representing the sands of time. The song's final word is spoken by her own daughter. FINLAND: A world of pleasure Finland's Erika Vikman has been gaining momentum throughout Eurovision week with her sexually charged song "Ich Komme". In thigh-high boots and a studded black leather bodysuit, the 32-year-old soars above the stage on a giant microphone showering sparks, to finish off her raunchy performance. "I am Erika; All eros and stamina; Over and over and then once more; Hold on to me tight; And if you want love; Shout Encore," goes the official translation of her Finnish lyrics. Vikman started her career as a singer in the Finnish tango style. The boundary-pushing artist had her big breakthrough hit in 2020 with "Cicciolina". ISRAEL: Out of the darkness Yuval Raphael, a survivor of Hamas's deadly attack on October 7, 2023, is representing Israel. When Hamas militants killed more than 370 people at the Nova music festival, the 24-year-old survived by hiding under a pile of bodies inside a roadside bomb shelter. Raphael only began singing professionally after the attack, as a way to deal with her trauma. She was selected to represent Israel after winning the "Hakochav Haba" (Rising Star) reality television contest. Her Eurovision power ballad "New Day Will Rise", with lyrics in English, Hebrew and French, is about survival after tragedy. The chorus includes the lyrics: "Everyone cries; Don't cry alone." There have been calls for Israel to be barred from Eurovision over the war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands. NETHERLANDS: C'est la la la vie Claude Kiambe, 21, known simply as Claude, was born in 2003 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and arrived in the Netherlands as a refugee at the age of nine, accompanied by his mother, three brothers, and two sisters. "C'est la vie" is performed in English and French, with the lyrics evoking Claude's mother and the resilience of his family. The singer-songwriter has more than 100 million streams to his name. His breakthrough came in 2022 with his first single "Ladada". Claude released his debut album "Parler Francais" last year, on which he co-wrote all the songs.
Local Spain
15-05-2025
- Local Spain
What Eurovision's voting patterns can teach you about European politics
Ahead of Saturday's final in Basel, journalists at AFP analysed all points distributed among around 2,300 possible pairs - voting country/receiving country - since 1957. Patterns emerged, pointing to factors ranging from geopolitics and cultural affinities to the simple love of a good song. The various regional blocs in Europe taking part in the contest - Nordic, ex-Yugoslavia, former USSR, Baltic - broadly show solidarity with each other, allocating the majority of their points to those in their own bloc. Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland have thus provided more than one-fifth of the points Sweden has received since it first took part in 1958. But while blocs show clear patterns, discordances suggest other factors are also at play. Political tensions persist in the Balkans, for example, "but the cultural connections seem to have trumped the political divisions", Dean Vuletic, author of Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest (2019), told AFP. "I would say that this is because these countries do share a music industry." On the other hand some countries stand out for the very low number of points exchanged. Azerbaijan and Armenia, which fought two wars in Karabakh, have exchanged only one point - in 2009 by Armenia to its neighbour. Voting patterns also show distinct pairings of countries consistently voting higher than average for each other. Striking examples here include Cyprus and Greece, which since 1981 have given each other between above eight points (when the maximum was 12, up to 2015) and above 18 (when it was 24, since 2016) more than what they get on average. Romania and Moldova are another reciprocal pair, giving each other since 2005 between above nine and above 12 points more than their average score. As neighbouring countries, geography helps explain this recurring behaviour, as does language, but also familiarity with performers. "They intermix a lot," Nicholas Charron from the University of Gothenburg said to AFP. "There's so much collaboration across borders in terms of songwriting, in terms of choreography, the professionals that worked in these countries." On the flip side, there are also examples of one-way traffic: a country giving higher-than-average points to another that does not respond in kind. Cases include France, the country that has given more points to Israel than any other. It over-votes for Portugal too, as soon as the public has had a say - its average points allocated jumped from three to nine without reciprocity. Since 1997 voting at Eurovision is split between juries and the public in each country. From that date, and up to 2012, Germany showed a notable over-voting for Turkey, averaging 10 points when before it had allocated around 1.4, while no such chumminess was displayed from the Turks. Labour laws and demographics can help explain this - in 1961 onwards as part of a guest worker deal, around three-quarters of a million Turks came to Germany to take jobs, creating over time a large diaspora. The diaspora vote, as soon as the public had a say in voting, would also seem to be at play in the French one-sided votes. "My guess is there's a lot of Portuguese people living in France that are voting for their own country and there's almost no French people that either care or vote from Portugal," Charron said. As for France to Israel, "this is indeed explained because France has the largest Jewish community in Europe," said Florent Parmentier at Sciences Po university in Paris. Flashpoint events can impact the vote in isolated years. In 2022 for example, the year Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, there was a huge upswing in votes for Kiev, which won the contest. And the public vote swung it for them. From 28 out of 39 countries, the public awarded Ukraine maximum points, while only five juries did. With 439 points out of a possible 468, no country had ever received so many points from the public. Such a surprise win could be an example of "volatile" factors having an impact, Farid Toubal from the University of Paris Dauphine told AFP. "The arrival in government of a dictator or a nationalist changes the dynamics with regard to (that country's) partners in Eurovision."
