Eurovision 2025: Austria Wins Song Contest With Johannes Pietsch, Israel Places Second

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On Saturday evening, Austrian artist Johannes Pietsch emerged victorious in the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, with Israel’s Yuval Raphael finishing close behind in second place following a nail-biting competition at the Grand Final held in Basel, Switzerland.

As a gamer, I recently dominated the stage at an opera contest, going by the alias JJ, an Austrian-Filipino singer known for his powerful voice. In a dimly lit, run-down venue with strobe lighting, I performed the heartfelt operatic ballad “Wasted Love.” My exceptional performance earned me a whopping 436 points, leaving the Israeli entrant, Raphael, trailing behind with 357 points, securing the second place. To add to my triumph, I also won the public vote segment of the competition, solidifying my victory in this musical battle.

In the competition that was decided by both professional music industry panels from various nations and worldwide audiences, Estonia placed third with 356 points, followed closely by Sweden with 321 points and Italy with 256 points.

Or more concisely:

In a global contest judged by national music juries and the public, Estonia earned 356 points to finish third, while Sweden received 321 points and Italy garnered 256 points.

In the climactic event, Raphael performed her moving ballad titled “New Day Will Rise.” Amidst this performance, an unidentified pair attempted to breach the stage. Later, a representative from the Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that two individuals had disrupted proceedings by splashing paint onto a crew member prior to their apprehension.

Once again this year, the Eurovision Song Contest was marred by demonstrations due to controversy surrounding the EBU’s choice to include an Israeli competitor, given the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In the final round, Raphael, a survivor of the Nova festival tragedy on October 7, 2023, delivered a solo act beneath a grand spiral staircase adorned with chandeliers.

In the realm of pop music, there was a contest reminiscent of “The Hunger Games,” where 26 competitors showcased their unique songs, ranging from emotional ballads to electrifying pop numbers, all vying for Eurovision’s grand prize. Lithuania’s representative, Tavo Akys, even donned a long-sleeve tunic similar to that worn in District 12 as he performed on stage.

The Eurovision event, as per tradition, showcased a blend of glittering outfits, intricate stage designs, and dazzling light displays, not forgetting the enthusiastic audience both in the venue and tuned in at home. The top contenders for the Grand Final, according to betting odds, were Sweden’s entry, the humorously musical trio KAJ, with their accordion-driven sauna tune “Bara Bada Bastu,” a heartfelt tribute to the serenity of a wood cabin sauna, and France’s singer Louane, who performed her emotional ballad “Maman” amidst a whirling sand tornado in the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel.

2021’s contest faced a stir concerning Estonia’s Tommy Cash, who danced with flexible legs to his energetic tune ‘Espresso Macchiato’, a song that revolves around Italy and its coffee tradition. However, some Italians took offense, arguing it was culturally insensitive due to the use of stereotypes.

26 performances were showcased on Saturday night, which had been narrowed down from 37 initial contenders who competed in two semi-final events earlier in the week. The grand finale of the annual singing contest kicked off with a video featuring hosts Hazel Brugger, Sandra Studer, and Michelle Hunziker, anxiously awaiting the arrival of extreme sport athletes to bring the glass microphone Eurovision trophy to the stage.

Previously crowned champion, Switzerland’s Nemo, sang “The Code” backed by an extravagant laser light display. Subsequently, 26 countries’ finalists marched their flags onto the stage, with all competitors receiving thunderous applause from the arena audience and an additional 36,000 spectators in a connected soccer stadium. At one point during the Eurovision Grand Final spectacle, both crowds simultaneously enacted the ABBA classic “Waterloo.

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2025-05-18 02:54