Internewscast Journal
  • Home
  • US News
  • Local News
  • Health
  • People
  • Guest Post
  • Support Our Cause
Internewscast Journal
  • Home
  • US News
  • Local News
  • Health
  • People
  • Guest Post
  • Support Our Cause
Home Local news Austria Eagerly Awaits JJ’s Return Following Eurovision Victory with ‘Wasted Love’
  • Local news

Austria Eagerly Awaits JJ’s Return Following Eurovision Victory with ‘Wasted Love’

    Austria is awaiting JJ's homecoming after he wins Eurovision Song Contest with 'Wasted Love'
    Up next
    Professor Velandai Srikanth .
    AI: A New Ally in the Fight Against Dementia
    Published on 18 May 2025
    Author
    Internewscast
    Tags
    • 039Wasted,
    • After,
    • Alexander Van der Bellen,
    • Austria,
    • awaiting,
    • Christian Stoecker,
    • Contest,
    • Entertainment,
    • Eurovision,
    • Homecoming,
    • JJ039s,
    • Johannes Pietsch,
    • Lifestyle,
    • Love039,
    • Martin Green,
    • Rebecca Laes-Kushner,
    • song,
    • Tommy Cash,
    • Udo Jürgens,
    • wins,
    • with,
    • world news,
    • Yuval Raphael
    Share this @internewscast.com
    FacebookXRedditPinterest

    BASEL – Austrians were preparing on Sunday to joyfully welcome home JJ, a classically trained singer who brought victory to the country in the 69th Eurovision Song Contest. JJ impressed audiences with “Wasted Love,” a song that merges operatic, expansive vocal ranges with a modern techno flair.

    The 24-year-old countertenor, renowned for performing at the Vienna State Opera, was expected to arrive at Vienna’s airport in the afternoon, with plans to hold a press conference later in the evening.

    Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, marked Austria’s third triumph in Eurovision history, following in the footsteps of the famous bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst in 2014 and Udo Jürgens in 1966.

    “This is beyond my wildest dreams. It’s crazy,” said the singer when being handed the microphone-shaped glass Eurovision trophy after his win in the Swiss city of Basel on Saturday night.

    “All of Austria is happy”

    Austria’s leaders were among the first to congratulate JJ. On Sunday morning, the country’s president, Alexander van der Bellen, celebrated JJ in a video posted on X.

    “What a success! What a voice! What a show!” he exclaimed. “All of Austria is happy.”

    Chancellor Christian Stoecker wrote on X: “What a great success — my warmest congratulations on winning #ESC2025! JJ is writing Austrian music history today!”

    The Vienna State Opera also expressed joy over the win. “From the Magic Flute to winning the Song Contest is somehow a story that can only take place in Austria,” opera director Bogdan Roscic told the Austrian press agency APA.

    Several Austrian cities were quick to show their interest in hosting next year’s contest. Innsbruck Mayor Johannes Anzengruber told APA that “not everything has to take place in Vienna. … Austria is bigger than that,” and the towns of Oberwart in Burgenland and Wels in Upper Austria also threw their hats into the ring.

    JJ himself said Saturday night he hoped that Vienna would get the next ESC which he would love to host together with his mentor, Conchita Wurst.

    A nail-biting final

    Israeli singer Yuval Raphael came second at an exuberant celebration of music and unity that was shadowed by the Gaza war and rattled by discord over Israel’s participation.

    JJ won after a nail-biting final that saw Raphael scoop up a massive public vote from her many fans for her anthemic “New Day Will Rise.” But she also faced protests from pro-Palestinian demonstrators calling for Israel to be kicked out of the contest over its conduct of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

    At a post-victory press conference, JJ said the message of his song about unrequited romance was that “love is the strongest force on planet Earth, and love persevered.

    “Let’s spread love, guys,” said JJ, who added that he was honored to be the first Eurovision champion with Filipino heritage, as well as a proudly queer winner.

    Eclectic and sometimes baffling

    The world’s largest live music event, which has been uniting and dividing Europeans since 1956, reached its glitter-drenched conclusion with a grand final in Basel that offered pounding electropop, quirky rock and outrageous divas.

    Acts from 26 countries — trimmed from 37 entrants through two elimination semifinals — performed to some 160 million viewers for the continent’s pop crown. No smoke machine, jet of flame or dizzying light display was spared by musicians who had three minutes to win over millions of viewers who, along with national juries of music professionals, picked the winner.

    Estonia’s Tommy Cash came third with his jokey mock-Italian dance song “Espresso Macchiato.” Swedish entry KAJ, which had been favorite to win with jaunty sauna ode “Bara Bada Bastu,” came fourth.

    Several highly praised singers who had been tipped to win fell short, including French chanteuse Louane and soulful Dutch singer Claude.

    The show was a celebration of Europe’s eclectic, and sometimes baffling, musical tastes.

    The war in Gaza clouded the contest

    This year’s contest was roiled for a second year by disputes over Israel’s participation. Raphael — a survivor of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on a music festival in southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war — was met by a mix of cheers and boos as she sang.

    Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR said a man and woman were stopped as they tried to climb over a barrier to the stage at the end of her song. It said a crew member was hit by paint thrown by the pair. Raphael’s team said she was left “shaken and upset.”

    The Oct. 7 cross-border attacks by Hamas militants killed 1,200 people, and roughly 250 were taken hostage into Gaza. More than 52,800 people in Gaza have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory offensive, according to the territory’s health ministry.

    Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests both took place in Basel, though on a much smaller scale than at last year’s event in Sweden.

    Hundreds of people marched through Basel just before the competition, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Boycott Israel.” Basel police said Sunday that the protest had not been authorized and that three officers and one protester were injured.

    Earlier on Saturday, a group of Israel supporters had gathered in Basel’s cathedral square to root for Raphael and to show that “Jews belong in public spaces in Switzerland,” Zurich resident Rebecca Laes-Kushner said.

    She said that “this is supposed to be about music, not about hate.”

    The European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, which runs Eurovision, tightened the contest’s code of conduct this year, calling on participants to respect Eurovision’s values of “universality, diversity, equality and inclusivity” and its political neutrality.

    Eurovision director Martin Green told reporters that the organizers’ goal was to ”re-establish a sense of unity, calm and togetherness this year in a difficult world.” He said all 37 national delegations “have behaved impeccably.”

    ——

    Grieshaber reported from Berlin.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

    Share this @internewscast.com
    FacebookXRedditPinterest
    You May Also Like
    Tennessee congressmember wants Mamdani 'denaturalized'
    • Local news

    Tennessee Congressman Seeks to Revoke Mamdani’s Citizenship

    ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) U.S. Congressmember Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, wants…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    What's in the latest version of Trump's big bill now before the Senate
    • Local news

    What’s Included in the Latest Version of Trump’s Major Bill Currently in the Senate?

    WASHINGTON – At approximately 940 pages, the legislation encompasses a wide array…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025

    Karen Read’s Murder Trial to Be Adapted into a Movie: Latest Updates

    BOSTON, Mass. (NewsNation) — Karen Read, recently acquitted of both second-degree murder…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    6 Americans detained in South Korea for trying to send rice and Bibles to North Korea by sea
    • Local news

    Six Americans Arrested in South Korea for Attempting to Deliver Rice and Bibles to North Korea by Sea

    SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Six U.S. citizens were taken into custody…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Thousands mourn top Iranian military commanders and scientists killed in Israeli strikes
    • Local news

    Mass Mourning in Iran for Key Military Leaders and Scientists Lost in Israeli Attacks

    DUBAI – In downtown Tehran on Saturday, thousands gathered to mourn the…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    'Ricky and Alyssa's Law' to make panic buttons in schools mandatory
    • Local news

    “New Law Mandates Panic Buttons in Schools for Safety: ‘Ricky and Alyssa’s Law'”

    In Savannah, Georgia, a shooting incident at Apalachee High School highlighted the…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Las Vegas tourism in decline as visitor count plunges again
    • Local news

    Tourism in Las Vegas Drops as Visitor Numbers Decrease Again

    LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Tourism officials cited economic uncertainty Friday as a new…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Morley receives life in prison after being found guilty of missing man's murder
    • Local news

    Morley Sentenced to Life for Murdering Missing Man

    ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) — Jacob Morley, a man found guilty in 2022…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    At Hermès, woven leather and quiet confidence set the tone for Paris menswear
    • Local news

    Hermès Unveils Sophisticated Woven Leather Styles at Paris Menswear Show

    PARIS – While much of Paris Fashion Week chased spectacle, Hermès chose…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Trump Mobile removes 'Made in the USA' language from site
    • Local news

    Trump Mobile Deletes ‘Made in the USA’ Claim from Website

    (The Hill) – The Trump Organization’s new mobile phone venture, Trump Mobile,…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    4 suspects allegedly stole $93M through COVID fraud scheme
    • Local news

    Four Individuals Accused of Stealing $93M in COVID Fraud Scheme

    Four Southern California suspects were charged with allegedly defrauding the government of…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Monticello native caps off non-profit journey by honoring late mother with hair donation
    • Local news

    Monticello Local Concludes Charity Mission by Donating Hair in Tribute to Late Mother

    CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Everything changed for Monticello resident Sarah Jane German…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Schumer to force reading of 1,000-page GOP mega bill, delaying it by half a day
    • Local news

    Schumer Plans to Delay 1,000-Page GOP Mega Bill with Lengthy Reading

    Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) told Democratic senators Saturday that he…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Missouri Felon Turns Himself In, Admits to Killing Girlfriend After Learning She Was Pregnant: Police
    • Crime

    Missouri Man Confesses to Killing Pregnant Girlfriend, Surrenders to Authorities: Police Report

    Court documents show a Missouri man turned himself in to police, claiming…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Keir Starmer speaking to the media.
    • US

    PM Ignores Calls to Dismiss Influential No10 Head Morgan McSweeney Following Welfare Backlash

    THE PM’S powerful chief of staff Morgan McSweeney is “not going anywhere”…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Senate’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ faces serious headwinds in the House
    • US

    Senate’s Ambitious Bill Faces Significant Challenges in the House

    The Senate’s iteration of the “big, beautiful bill” is encountering…
    • Internewscast
    • June 28, 2025
    Internewscast Journal
    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Guest Post
    • Support Our Cause
    Copyright 2023. All Right Reserverd.