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Austrian-Filipino singer JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, won the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, which was held on May 17, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland.
He won the award after performing his original song, Wasted Love. 26 countries participated to compete against each other in the annual singing competition.
As he accepted his trophy, he told the crowd:
"Thank you so much for making my dreams come true... Love is the strongest force in the world, let's spread more love."
Wasted Love is written by JJ himself, along with Teodora Špirić (Austria 2023) and Thomas Turner. He received a total of 436 points, which included 258 points from the national juries and 178 from the public viewers.
JJ was born in Vienna but grew up in Dubai. According to a report in The National News, his father is Austrian, and his mother is Filipino. He discovered his love for music while growing up in Dubai.
Here are more details on JJ, the rising popstar.
Who is JJ? All you need to know about the Austrian-Filipino singer
According to a report on Eurovision’s official website, Johannes Pietsch was born in Vienna in 2001. He grew up in Dubai and returned to Vienna in 2016. He attended the German International School.
Speaking to The National, he told how his family influenced him to pursue music as his career. He discovered his passion for singing at family karaoke evenings:
"When I was a kid, my parents hosted karaoke parties almost every weekend, and my sisters and I loved to sing along... My father would also make us listen to classical music. So I guess this is also a reason why I sing 'popera' now. It is a privilege to be able to combine both worlds.”
When he returned to Vienna, he studied at the renowned opera school of the Vienna State Opera. After graduating, he has participated in various song contests.
He participated in The Voice in 2020. During his performance, he impressed his coach and the show’s judge, the Black-Eyed Peas star will.i.am (real name William James Adams) with his rendition of The Sound of Music in the blind auditions, according to a report in The Independent.
In 2021, he participated in the musical talent show Starmania, where his extraordinary voice and talent helped him reach the finals. Before winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, he performed at the Vienna State Opera and participated in various productions, such as Die Zauberflöte, Von der Liebe Tod, and Tschick, a report on Eurovision’s official website stated.
Speaking to That Eurovision Site, after his win, he gave a message to the people. The 24-year-old said:
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"Be proud of who you are and where you come from. No matter who you are, there is always someone out there who will love you, and you should really believe in yourself. Dreams really do come true – never give up.”
JJ’s blend of classical training and contest experience has shaped his unique pop-opera style, eventually preparing him for his win at Eurovision 2025.
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