Austria’s representative, JJ, emerged victorious at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 held at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel, narrowly defeating Israel after a closely contested vote. JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, is a countertenor and a member of the Opera School of the Vienna State Opera. He aims to promote classical music and operatic vocals within the pop music genre.
The voting process saw Austria and Israel in a tight race, with Austria winning by a margin of just 79 votes, based on both jury and public tallies. The competition highlighted the significant influence of public votes, as evidenced by previous contests where public opinion dramatically shifted rankings.
Notably, this year’s contest also saw significant surprises, including zero points awarded to Switzerland and Britain, which faced similar public voting challenges as in previous contests. The public vote revealed shifting dynamics, particularly with Israel leading in the initial public tally before the final results were announced.
During the event, various performances captivated audiences, including Louane from France, whose emotional ballad "Maman" addressed her late mother. Finland was represented by Kaj, a musical-comedy act performing a humorous song about Finnish sauna culture. The contest also featured Miriana Conte from Malta, who adapted her song following a directive from Eurovision’s organizers regarding the title's vulgar connotation.
Erika Vikman from Finland presented a bold entry titled "Ich Komme," which sparked discussions about female representation and sexuality within the Eurovision framework. Her performance aimed to express female empowerment, despite some backlash regarding its explicit nature.
Overall, Eurovision 2025 showcased a diverse range of musical talents and themes, reinforcing the contest's reputation for blending entertainment with cultural commentary.