Austria Wins the Song Contest 2025
The sensation is perfect: Austria has won the Eurovision Song Contest again, eleven years after Conchita's triumph in Copenhagen. The 24-year-old countertenor JJ secured the trophy on Saturday evening in Basel with his popera ballad "Wasted Love". This allowed Austria to secure victory for the third time in the world's largest music competition.
For a long time, it looked as if Austria would have to concede to favorite Sweden this year, which had been consistently seen in first place by the betting offices in the weeks leading up to the contest. However, with a commanding victory among the international expert juries and a solid result with the public, JJ pushed forward and secured the win for Austria with 436 out of 888 possible points.
Sweden, on the other hand, ended up in 4th place in the final tally. Israel surprisingly secured 2nd place with 357 points, while Estonia's humorist Tommy Cash snagged a podium finish with "Espresso Macchiato". The second entry Austria had in the Eurovision Song Contest this year, the Viennese duo Abor & Tynna, ended up in 15th place for Germany.
ESC Winner JJ: "Love is the Strongest Force!"
"Love is the strongest force. Let's spread the love!" ESC winner JJ exclaimed directly after the announcement of the voting in the euphoric St. Jakobshalle in Basel. "I couldn't have imagined this in my wildest dreams," he told moderator Hazel Brugger after another performance of his song.
"I wanted to give people an insight into my innermost feelings that I had while writing the song," said JJ. He was glad that so many could identify with it. "There is no wasted love. We must use love, it is the strongest force on this planet." What does he wish for right now? "I want to go to my bed," laughed the singer. "I just want to sleep, I'm so tired." And his final message to the home audience: "Folks, we won the thing. I'm bringing it home!"
Magnificent ESC in Basel Comes to an End
Thus, a magnificently organized Eurovision Song Contest for Austria comes to an end with a magnificent result. The moderation trio of the Basel ESC already represented a real force. Alongside show lady Michelle Hunziker and moderator Sandra Studer, cabaret artist Hazel Brugger skillfully led through the evening as the third in the group. Together, they created one of the most successful, amusing ESC presentations of recent years. Overall, the grand finale marks the conclusion of a Eurovision Song Contest that rectifies the blemish left by the scandalous event in Malmö on the spirit of the competition last year.
Back then, large demonstrations in the city and wild protests in the hall against Israel's participation, as well as the exclusion of the Netherlands due to misconduct by singer Joost Klein, severely scratched the self-image of the ESC. Basel, however, presented itself as a well-organized, atmospheric event, despite a small pro-Palestinian demonstration parallel to the finale, where a bustling city celebrated the spirit of togetherness.
(APA/Red)
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