Austria has claimed its first Eurovision victory in 11 years with the soulful and striking performance of Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ. The 24-year-old Austrian-Filipino countertenor won hearts with his song Wasted Love, earning 436 points at the grand final in Basel. Israel finished second, with Estonia in third.
JJ’s operatic pop track blends lyrical melodies, soaring falsetto notes, and techno sounds. The performance, filmed in black and white with a vintage 4:3 ratio, left audiences mesmerised. “This is beyond my wildest dreams! It’s crazy!” JJ said after his win.
The song reflects JJ’s personal journey through unreciprocated love. “I had too much love to give, and not much came back,” he shared, urging listeners to hold onto hope during tough times. The young singer grew up in Dubai and later moved to Vienna, where he studied classical music while experimenting with modern styles.
Before Eurovision, JJ juggled talent shows and minor opera roles. He acknowledged Austria’s rich classical tradition but expressed a desire to break boundaries with operatic pop. “It surprises people that a man can sing so high,” he said.
JJ’s talent has drawn praise from Austria’s 2014 Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst, who called him an “impressive professional” and offered him advice ahead of the contest. The pair even released a duet earlier this year.
JJ’s musical roots come from his father’s love for Bach and Mozart, while his Filipina mother introduced him to Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. Fluent in German, English, Tagalog, and Arabic, JJ celebrates Eurovision as a platform for all voices, including the LGBTQ community. “Music is a unified language that everyone speaks and understands,” he said.
