Austria emerged victorious at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, after a dramatic last-minute voting twist that saw singer JJ leapfrog Israel to claim the crown.
The 24-year-old counter-tenor, who normally performs at the Vienna State Opera, captivated audiences with Wasted Love—a stormy electro-ballad about unrequited love. His emotional performance earned him 436 points, sealing Austria’s third Eurovision win.
“Thank you so much for making my dreams come true,” said JJ, clutching the iconic glass microphone trophy. “Love is the strongest force in the world. Let’s spread more of it.”
Israel finished second with 357 points, narrowly ahead of Estonia’s Tommy Cash, who scored 356. The UK’s entry, Remember Monday, came in 19th place with 88 points, and once again received zero points from the public.
A family affair
JJ was surrounded by family during his win—including his 85-year-old grandfather and a four-month-old niece. In a heartwarming moment, his younger sister broke past security to embrace him on stage.
This marks Austria’s third Eurovision triumph, following Udo Jürgens’ Merci, Cherie in 1966 and Conchita Wurst’s Rise Like a Phoenix in 2014. JJ credits Conchita as a major inspiration for his own Eurovision journey.
Eurovision 2025 – Top Five Performers:
Austria: JJ – Wasted Love
Israel: Yuval Raphael – New Day Will Rise
Estonia: Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato
Sweden: KAJ – Bara Bada Bastu
Italy: Lucio Corsi – Volevo Essere Un Duro
Sweden’s entry by KAJ, a comedic homage to sauna culture, had been among the frontrunners, but ultimately finished fourth. Their hit has topped Swedish charts for 12 consecutive weeks.
Classic Eurovision chaos
The night wasn’t all politics and heartbreak—Eurovision delivered its signature flair, with outrageous performances and theatrical flair.
Malta’s Mariana Conte rewrote her disco number Serving Kant to remove a controversial line. Though censored, she winked knowingly, encouraging the crowd to fill in the blanks. She placed 17th.
Estonia’s Tommy Cash delivered double entendres in full force with Espresso Macchiato, featuring the memorable line: “Life is like spaghetti—it’s hard until you make it.”
Finland’s Erika Vikman turned heads with Ich Komme, a celebration of sexual pleasure. Her act ended with a giant, spark-shooting phallic microphone, propelling her to 11th place and a spot in Eurovision legend.
Some entries tackled heavier themes. Portugal’s Napa addressed economic migration, while Latvia’s Tautumeitas explored climate change—earning 12 points from the UK jury.
One of the evening’s most poignant moments came from the Netherlands’ Claude. In C’est La Vie, the 21-year-old paid tribute to his mother’s courage in relocating their family from the Democratic Republic of Congo. His performance ended with a powerful mirror dance featuring his childhood self. Photo by Hallo Halle, Wikimedia commons.