Austria's JJ wins Eurovision Song Contest, Entertainment News
Austria's JJ has won the Eurovision Song Contest.
The 24-year-old singer's track Wasted Love took victory in Basel, Switzerland on Saturday (May 17) night following a tense vote, which, although he had topped the jury vote with 258 points, went down to the wire as a huge surge from the public scoring had seen Israel's Yuval Raphael flying up the standings, leaving JJ to need 100 from the public to win.
He bagged 178 more points in the public vote, claiming victory with a total of 436.
Taking to the stage, JJ tearfully said: "I want to thank my entire family, my entire team, thank you so much for making my dreams come true. And especially to you Europe, thank you for making my dreams come true.
"Love is the strongest force in the world, let's spread more love.
"Thank you so much."
He then performed Wasted Love again.
After the jury vote, which saw Austria take a 44-point lead over second-placed Switzerland - who ultimately plummeted to 10th after receiving nothing from the public - JJ was visibly nervous.
He held up his shaking hands and said: "This is insane, thank you so, so much to the entirety of Europe for letting us be the jury winners."
The UK's entry from Remember Monday, What the Hell Just Happened?, scored 88 points from the juries, including a maximum 12 points from Italy, but for the second year in a row received zero from the public, leaving them in 19th place out of 26, one position below last year's entrant Olly Alexander.
Iceland's Vaeb, whose song was called Roa, received zero points from the jury, but ended in 25th place after taking 33 points from the public votes.
The lowest-placed entry was San Marino's Gabry Ponte, who performed Tutta l'Italia.
[[nid:674628]]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
18-05-2025
- AsiaOne
Austria's JJ wins Eurovision Song Contest, Entertainment News
Austria's JJ has won the Eurovision Song Contest. The 24-year-old singer's track Wasted Love took victory in Basel, Switzerland on Saturday (May 17) night following a tense vote, which, although he had topped the jury vote with 258 points, went down to the wire as a huge surge from the public scoring had seen Israel's Yuval Raphael flying up the standings, leaving JJ to need 100 from the public to win. He bagged 178 more points in the public vote, claiming victory with a total of 436. Taking to the stage, JJ tearfully said: "I want to thank my entire family, my entire team, thank you so much for making my dreams come true. And especially to you Europe, thank you for making my dreams come true. "Love is the strongest force in the world, let's spread more love. "Thank you so much." He then performed Wasted Love again. After the jury vote, which saw Austria take a 44-point lead over second-placed Switzerland - who ultimately plummeted to 10th after receiving nothing from the public - JJ was visibly nervous. He held up his shaking hands and said: "This is insane, thank you so, so much to the entirety of Europe for letting us be the jury winners." The UK's entry from Remember Monday, What the Hell Just Happened?, scored 88 points from the juries, including a maximum 12 points from Italy, but for the second year in a row received zero from the public, leaving them in 19th place out of 26, one position below last year's entrant Olly Alexander. Iceland's Vaeb, whose song was called Roa, received zero points from the jury, but ended in 25th place after taking 33 points from the public votes. The lowest-placed entry was San Marino's Gabry Ponte, who performed Tutta l'Italia. [[nid:674628]]
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Straits Times
Pro-Palestinian protesters, police clash in Switzerland during Eurovision
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Basel wave Palestinian flags and set off flares during a protest over Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. PHOTO: AFP BASEL, Switzerland - Pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with riot police in Basel as the Swiss city hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on May 17, AFP journalists at the scene witnessed. Protesters demonstrating against Israel's participation in the contest while it ramps up its war in Gaza clashed briefly with police in the centre of the city shortly before Israel's Eurovision entrant Yuval Raphael took to the stage at the St Jakobshalle venue across town. Blows were exchanged and police used tear gas and rolled in a water cannon truck as they strived to block demonstrators from marching through the centre of the northern Swiss city, thronging with Eurovision fans. According to Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS, the confrontation began when police intervened to stop an altercation after two men rushed towards the protesters waving Israeli flags. Israel's National Security Council issued a warning to Israelis in Basel about the demonstration, advising them to 'avoid confrontations with demonstrators and to keep Israeli identifiers low-profile in public spaces'. Amid a sea of Palestinian flags, hundreds of demonstrators, many wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, carried signs stating: 'No Music for Murder', 'Stop Genocide', and 'Singing while Gaza Burns'. Some of the protesters burned giant Israeli and US flags, while others set off red and green smoke in the air. One woman, her face smeared with red, cradled a seemingly bloody bundle representing the children dying in the war raging in the Gaza Strip as police in riot gear looked on. At a time when Israel is dramatically ramping up the brutal war in Gaza, the protesters were demonstrating against the participation of the Israeli act, which is among the favourites in the May 17 final. An activist holding a mock body of a baby protesting in front of riot police in Basel on May 17. PHOTO: AFP Raphael survived the Oct 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza, hiding beneath dead bodies as Hamas gunmen attacked a music festival, killing hundreds. During her performance of her song New Day Will Rise on May 17, loud whistles could be heard in the arena, according to an AFP photographer in the hall. There have been a number of smaller protests against Israel throughout Eurovision week in Basel, and demonstrators interrupted Raphael's act during a dress rehearsal for one of the semi-finals. Earlier this week, Israel's public broadcaster Kan said it had filed a police complaint after filming a protester apparently making a 'throat-slitting gesture' at the country's delegation during the Eurovision opening ceremony parade on May 11. Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, performing New Day Will Rise at the Eurovision final on May 17. PHOTO: REUTERS Israel launched an intensified offensive in Gaza on May 17 aimed at 'the defeat of Hamas', the Islamist militant group that launched a deadly attack on Israel in October 2023. The stepped-up campaign in the war that has already left tens of thousands dead came amid growing international concern over worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where an Israeli aid blockade continues to restrict aid. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
13-05-2025
- Straits Times
Israel's Eurovision contender says she is 'mentally prepared' despite protests
FILE PHOTO: Israel's Eurovision 2025 representative and survivor of the October 7, 2023 attack, Yuval Raphael, attends a press conference after premiering her song 'New Day Will Rise' in Tel Aviv, Israel March 9, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun Israel's Eurovision contender says she is 'mentally prepared' despite protests ZURICH - Israel's Eurovision contestant Yuval Raphael says she had been frightened by pro-Palestinian protests and security concerns surrounding Israel's participation in the competition, but was "focusing on the love" shown by global fans. "I've been mentally preparing for this," Raphael told Reuters in an interview on Monday following her appearance at the contest's "turquoise carpet" opening ceremony on Sunday, which was disrupted by protesters. "Yesterday was frightening, even at times uncomfortable,' she said. "But I'm focusing on the good and the love" shown by global fans, she added. Raphael, 24, was at the Nova music festival during the October 7 attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. She was selected in January to represent Israel in the 2025 contest. Basel police said on Monday they were investigating an incident of a person apparently making a threatening gesture towards the Israeli delegation during Sunday's ceremony. A young man wearing a keffiyeh head scarf - that has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian cause - and holding a Palestinian flag allegedly made a throat-slitting gesture toward Raphael, according to a delegation from Israel's public broadcaster KAN. Israel's military campaign in Gaza in response to the October attack has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the territory. The conflict has prompted officials in countries including Spain, Slovenia and Iceland to question whether Israel should take part in the competition. Raphael's entry, New Day Will Rise, is a pop song with verses in English, French, and Hebrew. She is scheduled to perform in the semi-finals on Thursday, May 15, with the final due on May 17 at Basel's St. Jakobshalle arena. Despite the controversy, Raphael said her goal remains unchanged. "The agenda that I came here with from the beginning is spreading love and hope as much as I can,' she said. 'It's just helping me rebalance," she said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
