Vienna, Austria – Austria has officially announced its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025: the exceptionally talented Johannes Pietsch, known artistically as JJ. He will be performing the song "Wasted Love," a captivating blend of pop and operatic vocal styles, showcasing his unique versatility. The song and its accompanying music video were released on Thursday, March 6th, generating significant buzz among Eurovision enthusiasts.
"Wasted Love" distinguishes itself by seamlessly merging contemporary pop production with JJ's powerful operatic countertenor vocals. The song's melodic structure builds from an intimate and emotional beginning to an expansive and soaring chorus. The lyrics delve into the complex emotions of heartbreak and lost love, resonating with listeners on a deeply personal level. The music video, featuring JJ in a minimalist forest setting, amplifies the song's themes of sadness and pain through evocative symbolism. The song culminates in a powerful, electronic-infused finale that highlights JJ's vocal range and artistic vision.
The Austrian broadcaster, ORF, continued its tradition of internal selection for Eurovision, carefully choosing JJ from a pool of seven finalists (one artist presented two songs). His selection was revealed on January 30th during the popular radio program "Ö3-Wecker."
About JJ
JJ, 23, is a rising star in the opera world, currently performing as a countertenor at the Vienna State Opera. Born in Vienna but raised in Dubai, he first gained widespread recognition through his appearance on "The Voice UK," where his rendition of "The Sound of Music" captivated audiences. He further solidified his reputation as a formidable talent by reaching the finals of "Starmania," one of Austria's most prominent music competitions.
"Wasted Love" was composed by Teya, who represented Austria in Eurovision 2023 alongside Salena with the hit song "Who The Hell Is Edgar?". This connection adds an extra layer of intrigue and anticipation for Austria's 2025 entry.
Austria in Eurovision
Austria's Eurovision history is rich and varied, with its debut dating back to 1957. The nation has participated in the contest 55 times, achieving victory on two occasions: in 1966 with Udo Jürgens' timeless ballad "Merci, Chérie," and in 2014 when Conchita Wurst's iconic "Rise Like a Phoenix" swept across Europe. More recently, in 2018, Austria secured a third-place finish with César Sampson's "Nobody but You."
JJ will follow in the footsteps of Kaleen, who represented Austria in Eurovision 2024 with "We Will Rave." JJ is set to perform in the first half of the second semi-final, with the goal of qualifying for the grand final in Basel on Saturday, May 17th.
Additional details
Eurovision 2025 Host City: The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 will be held in Basel, Switzerland.
Ticket Sales: Tickets for Eurovision 2025 have seen very high demand, with the first wave of tickets selling out very rapidly. This highlights the excitement surrounding the event.
JJ's vocal style: The Countertenor vocal style that JJ uses is a rare vocal type for male singers, that allows them to sing in a range that is similar to female singers. This will make him stand out on the Eurovision stage.
JJ's unique vocal talent, combined with the contemporary yet emotionally resonant "Wasted Love," makes Austria a strong contender in Eurovision 2025. Fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting his performance in Basel.
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