Online Desk : Austria clinched a historic win at the Eurovision Song Contest on Sunday, thanks to a powerful and genre-defying performance by Johannes Pietsch, known on stage as JJ.

His song “Wasted Love” earned 436 points, propelling Austria to its first Eurovision victory since Conchita Wurst`s iconic win in 2014.

With a haunting falsetto and a visually striking black-and-white performance styled after vintage 4:3 television, the 24-year-old Austrian-Filipino countertenor captivated viewers and juries alike. Israel finished in second place, followed by Estonia in third.

"This is beyond my wildest dreams! It`s crazy!" an emotional JJ said after the show. "I wanted to give people a glimpse into my soul, into how I felt when we wrote the song."

Wasted Love blends classical vocal techniques with pop and techno, creating a bold and deeply personal soundscape. JJ described the track as rooted in his experience with unreciprocated love: “I had too much love to put out there; not much came back.” His message, however, is one of hope: “Stay strong—there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”

Born in Austria and raised in Dubai, JJ’s path to Eurovision was shaped by a unique mix of influences. He discovered classical music while studying in Vienna, balancing opera roles and talent shows. His sound merges the discipline of Bach and Mozart—introduced to him by his Austrian father—with the pop power of Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, played by his Filipina mother.

Earlier this year, JJ teamed up with 2014 winner Conchita Wurst for a duet. Wurst, who called JJ a “worthy successor,” offered guidance ahead of the competition. “When JJ sings, it’s as if time stops,” she said.

JJ is currently studying at Vienna’s University of Music and Arts (MUK), where his blend of opera and pop is seen as part of a broader artistic evolution. Andreas Mailath-Pokorny, MUK`s rector, praised his “cross-genre and cross-disciplinary” approach as both innovative and versatile.

Despite his classical training, JJ says he wants the freedom to experiment. “It surprises people that a man can sing so high,” he told AFP last month. “We wanted to bring something new, something unexpected.”

Beyond the win, JJ celebrated Eurovision as a global platform that embraces diversity and inclusion. “Music is a unified language that everyone speaks and understands,” he said, highlighting the contest’s significance for the LGBTQ community.

Austria’s only previous Eurovision wins were Udo Juergens’ 1966 classic Merci, Cherie and Wurst’s 2014 anthem Rise Like a Phoenix. With Wasted Love, JJ has added a bold new chapter to that legacy—one sung from the heart, with no love wasted.