Austria celebrated a remarkable victory at the Eurovision Song Contest, securing its third title during a dazzling grand final held in neighboring Switzerland. The Austrian-Filipino singer JJ captivated audiences with his operatic pop anthem “Wasted Love,” which garnered votes from across the continent. The song not only showcased JJ’s exceptional vocal talent but was also staged dramatically to evoke a shipwreck, leaving the crowd in Basel in awe. This win marks Austria's first triumph since Conchita Wurst's historic victory in 2014.
In the final standings, Israel secured second place with Yuval Raphael, a brave survivor of the October 7 Hamas attacks, earning accolades for her poignant performance of “New Day Will Rise.” The Estonian entry finished in third place, while San Marino unfortunately landed at the bottom of the leaderboard. Prior to the final, JJ expressed his gratitude to CNN, stating, “I feel very, very humbled and honored that the artwork that I’m putting out there is being so well accepted. This is the kind of music that I want to continue making.”
JJ reflected on his recent struggles, saying, “I had a pretty tough year, and I wanted to write about my personal experience with wasted, unreciprocated love.” He humorously added that if he won on Saturday, he would likely “break down, start crying and then call my family.” The Eurovision grand final is not only a musical competition but also a significant event on the LGBTQ+ calendar, drawing interest from across Europe and showcasing a rich array of talented and eclectic performers.
The stage was graced by a variety of acts, including a Latvian ethno-pop six-piece who enchanted the audience with a track that blended folk chants with whimsical fairytale imagery. Among the performers were a glam rock-inspired group from Ukraine, a quirky Estonian artist who humorously caricatured Italian coffee culture, and a haunting track titled “Zjerm” from an Albanian duo, which quickly became a fan favorite. While there were rumors of a special appearance by Celine Dion, who won Eurovision for Switzerland in 1988 and is one of the contest’s most celebrated alumni, she ultimately did not appear.
Despite claims by organizers that Eurovision is an apolitical event, the competition has been intertwined with Europe’s political tensions for many years. In light of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, both Russia and Belarus were banned from participating. Additionally, the participation of Israel has faced scrutiny from segments of the fanbase due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. During the final, Israeli contestant Raphael performed in an arena where Palestinian flags were visible, following a rule change by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
During Raphael's performance on Saturday, an incident occurred as a man and a woman attempted to storm the stage. According to a statement from the EBU, “One of the two agitators threw paint, and a crew member was hit. The crew member is fine and nobody was injured.” This incident underscores the ongoing complexities surrounding the Eurovision Song Contest, where music and politics often collide in unexpected ways.
