Austrian singer JJ achieved a stunning victory at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, with a last-minute surge in votes that outpaced Israel’s Yuval Raphael. The 24-year-old counter-tenor, known for his work at the Vienna State Opera, captivated audiences with "Wasted Love," an emotionally charged electro-ballad exploring unrequited affection. "Thank you so much for making my dreams come true," JJ expressed after receiving the iconic glass microphone trophy. He emphasized love's profound significance, stating, "Love is the strongest force in the world; let's spread more love."
JJ earned a total of 436 points, leading the contest against Israel's 357 points and Estonia, who narrowly ranked third with 356 points. The UK's entry "Remember Monday," however, met a disappointing fate, placing 19th with just 88 points, marking another year of public apathy toward the UK entry.
A triumphant moment followed when JJ's younger sister broke past security to celebrate with him, a shining example of familial support as he shared his victory with his relatives, including his 85-year-old grandfather. This marks Austria's third win at the Eurovision, following previous triumphs in 1966 and 2014, inspiring JJ in particular from Conchita Wurst’s landmark performance.
Notably, JJ was among the frontrunners, with Sweden’s KAJ—whose playful song "Bara Bada Bastu" earned fourth place—also capturing the audience’s attention. Reflecting upon his performance, JJ noted his desire to connect with fans through his narrative of heartache, stating, "What I'm trying to commit [to] is that there's no wasted love."
The competition faced its own controversies. Pro-Palestinian protests surrounded Israel's participation, overshadowing Raphael's sensitive performance of "New Day Will Rise," ripe with personal significance after surviving recent terror attacks. An attempted disruption during Israel's performance was swiftly quelled without incident, although Raphael was visibly shaken.
The show maintained its lively and eccentric reputation, with various performers tackling diverse subjects from personal loss to socio-political themes presented in dynamic and flamboyant ways. Noteworthy were performances from Portuguese band Napa discussing economic migration, and French singer Louane, who paid tribute to her late mother in a poignant display.
A particularly memorable moment featured Finland's Erika Vikman, who boldly embraced themes of sexuality in her performance with explosive theatrics. Meanwhile, Malta's Mariana Conte creatively navigated the show’s censorship as she performed her disco anthem "Serving Kant."
As the night drew to a close, despite the highs and lows among participants, the UK still led to another year in the bottom tier. Their act "Remember Monday," performed by a close-knit group of high school friends, fell short of voter engagement, leaving them to embrace their placement with good humor—even as they faced yet another round of "nul points" from the public.
The voting results saw a chaotic landscape where several finalists earned top marks from the juries but experienced wild shifts during public voting. Israel, once holding the lead near the bottom, surged into the spotlight thanks to a massive public score. In contrast, host Switzerland's contestant, Zoë Më, plummeted in the rankings unexpectedly after receiving a zero from the public.
In the culmination of this year’s Eurovision, amidst joy and disappointment, the stage has been set for what will surely be another dramatic chapter in the contest's long history.
