Newsletters
In a dramatic finale that saw multiple lead changes during the four-hour spectacle, Austria claimed victory at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night, as classically trained singer JJ captivated audiences with his exceptional countertenor voice.
Johannes Pietsch, who performs under the name JJ, secured the win with 436 points for his performance of "Wasted Love," overtaking Israel in the final moments of voting. The victory came as a surprise to many who had expected Sweden, the pre-contest favorite, which ultimately placed fourth.
"United by music" served as this year's Eurovision motto, though the competition was not without controversy.
As confetti rained down, an emotional JJ performed his winning ballad for a second time, incorporating a techno remix that had the audience on their feet.
"I hope to awaken interest in classical music among Eurovision viewers," JJ said in a recent interview, adding that he wanted to make the case for "greater use of operatic vocals in pop music."
JJ's classical background is substantial. He performs in the choir at the Opera School of the Vienna State Opera and has recently appeared in productions of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Benjamin Britten's "Billy Budd."
The nail-biting final vote count saw Austria and Switzerland trading places repeatedly during the national jury voting, which accounts for half of the total score. In an unexpected twist, Israel surged to the lead with 297 viewer votes before ultimately finishing second, 79 points behind Austria. Switzerland, despite their strong jury showing, received zero points from viewers.
This year's contest held special significance for the host nation, as Eurovision returned to Switzerland where it originated 69 years ago. The inaugural 1956 contest was the brainchild of Swiss television executive Marcel Bezençon and was won by Switzerland.
"They've closed streets. They've got a brilliant [Eurovision] village. I think there's going to be a real party atmosphere – they've really lent into Switzerland being where the first Eurovision Song Contest was staged. So, it's come home," director Martin Green told Deadline before the event.
The competition kicked off on May 13 with a prerecorded message from Céline Dion, who won for Switzerland in 1988 with "Ne partez pas sans moi." Dion's appearance via video came amid questions about whether the superstar, who revealed her diagnosis with stiff person syndrome in 2022, would return to the contest that launched her international career.
1 min read
4 min read
