Sawt Falasteen - Austria's JJ wins Eurovision 2025 with opera-techno fusion

After votes from national juries around Europe and viewers from across the continent and beyond, JJ gave Austria its first victory since Conchita Wurst's triumph in 2014 with "Rise Like a Phoenix".

After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into Sunday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel on 357 and Estonia on 356.

"Thank you to you, Europe, for making my dreams come true," said 24-year-old countertenor JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch.

"Love is the strongest force in the world. Let's spread more love," he said.

"This is absolutely insane. My dreams came true. This is out of this world."

"Wasted Love" saw him hit the high notes while mixing opera and techno.

His Eurovision song, about the experience of unrequited love, blends lyricism and balladry, before ending with a techno flourish.

His performance was broadcast in black and white, in the 4:3 ratio of the monochrome television era, captivating viewers around Europe.

"What a fantastic success! My warmest congratulations on your victory," said Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker, adding: "JJ is making Austrian music history."

- Celine Dion no-show -

The 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland.

An estimated 160 million people across Europe and beyond were expected to tune in for the annual TV spectacle, where kitsch, glam and spectacular staging go hand in hand.

Twenty-six countries were in contention, with 11 having been eliminated in the semi-finals during the week.

Basel had been abuzz all week with rumours that Celine Dion might make an emotion-laden appearance as she battles an incurable health condition.

The Canadian music icon, now 57, launched her international career by winning Eurovision 1988, while competing for Switzerland.

But in the end, she did not appear on stage.

Sweden had long been the bookmakers' hot favourite to win in Basel with the comedy trio KAJ's sauna song "Bara Bada Bastu".

But they finished fourth ahead of Italy, Greece and France as JJ scooped up the microphone-shaped trophy.

Albania, Ukraine and Switzerland rounded out the top 10.

- Israel protests -

As the televotes came in, Israel held the top spot until, right at the very end, the public votes for Austria gave the Alpine nation the right to host Eurovision next year.

Israel's participation in Eurovision 2025 prompted a series of protests in Basel over the war in Gaza.

Israel's entrant Yuval Raphael survived the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war, hiding beneath bodies as Hamas gunmen attacked a music festival, killing hundreds.

During the performance of her song "New Day Will Rise", loud whistles could be heard and two people tried to get on stage.

"At the end of the Israeli performance, a man and a woman tried to get over a barrier onto the stage. They were stopped. One of the two agitators threw paint," a Eurovision spokesman told AFP.

They were taken outside and handed over to police, he added.

Elsewhere in Basel, pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed briefly with riot police. Blows were exchanged and officers deployed tear gas.

- 'Ich Komme' -

The songs in contention were a showcase of Europe's different musical scenes.

They included a Portuguese guitar ballad, a Maltese diva, Lithuanian alternative rock, an Italian singalong, a Greek power ballad, ethereal Latvian choral folk and German booming beats.

Estonia's wobbly-legged Tommy Cash finished a close third with his cod-Italian "Espresso Macchiato" song.

Finland's Erika Vikman -- who gained momentum during Eurovision week with the orgasmic "Ich Komme" -- was hoisted in the air on a spark-emitting golden microphone, triggering a big response in the arena.

Poland's Justyna Steczkowska, 52, set a new record between Eurovision appearances, returning 30 years after her first appearance in the competition.

The Netherlands' competitor Claude broke into tears after performing his song "C'est La Vie".

French singer Louane, who lost both her parents as a teenager, performed her song "Maman", with falling pieces of cork representing the sands of time.

And Malta's Miriana Conte finished her diva big number "Serving" by bouncing up and down on an exercise ball.

And 36,000 partygoers were watching a live transmission at the football stadium across the road, holding a mass singalong of "Waterloo" by Swedish superstars ABBA, who won Eurovision 1974.

T.Ibrahim--SF-PST