Austria is not kidding when it comes to Eurovision, and they are ready to blow you away with the song they’re sending to Eurovision 2025 in Basel. This year, they are represented by JJ with the song “Wasted Love.”
Since 2017, Austria has been selecting its Eurovision representatives through internal selection, and this year was no exception. JJ was announced as the internally selected artist, and when the song was released, everyone was surprised by his impressive vocals.
Austria has won Eurovision twice—first in 1966 with Udo Jürgens and again in 2014 with Conchita Wurst. This year, it seems they are aiming for their third victory.
Austria at Eurovision 2025: 10 Facts about JJ
1. JJ is from Vienna
JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, was born in Vienna on April 29, 2001.
2. He grew up in Dubai
Even though he was born in Vienna, JJ actually grew up in Dubai, where his parents moved during his childhood. They returned to Austria in 2016.
3. He has Filipino roots
One of JJ’s parents is Austrian and works as an IT specialist, while the other is from the Philippines and is a chef.
4. He studies opera music
You can tell by the way he sings that there are years of experience behind him. JJ actually attends the Music and Arts University of Vienna, and he also attended the opera school at the Vienna State Opera.
5. JJ competed in various music shows
He has experience on stage and with televised shows. JJ competed in The Voice UK and also in the Austrian music TV show Starmania. In both shows, he left a lasting impression, and in Starmania, he even made it to the first final show.
6. He is a friend of Teya
Teya competed with Salena for Austria in Eurovision 2023 with the song “Who the Hell Is Edgar.” She is a close friend of Nemo, last year’s winner, and also a good friend of JJ. Not only is Teya rooting for her friend’s victory, but she is also one of the songwriters behind his Eurovision entry.
7. He is fluent in numerous languages
Besides German, JJ is fluent in English, French, and also Tagalog, honoring his Filipino roots.
8. He likes go-karting
Spotted on his Instagram page: JJ enjoys going go-karting, feeling like a complete diva when speed driving.
9. He debuted at the Vienna State Opera
In 2022, JJ debuted at the famous State Opera with a role in “Von der Liebe Tod.” Obviously, this was just the beginning, as he is actively participating in opera shows nowadays.
10. He knows former Eurovision artists
Not only is he a big fan of the contest, but besides his friend Teya, JJ has also had the chance to meet some former Eurovision artists, including Austria’s winner Conchita Wurst and the UK’s Mae Muller.
Come back for more exciting stories and facts about JJ as we head towards pre-parties and Basel 2025 itself.
He says his staging has never been done before… I think I heard that one before, until now they stole a part of Duncans video and a part of Nemo’s song, so I’m very curious, how innovative they really are ?
They didn’t steal anything. They have both drowning parts, wow, you know how many songs that have? And “The Code” is music wise completely different than “Wasted Love” but I guess to some operatic elements means copying songs. Shows nothing but that you have no understanding and experience with music, honey.
I agree, Annika, this is part of comments ultimately trying to boost Sweden all over this blog; not as mush as personal against other countries but rather diminishing others in comparison to uptalk Sweden. See my comment at the bottom of this thread as for the “rich kid” cleverness. I’ll add that by this “logic” we can also say Nemo copied Italy 2015, which copied France 2011… which copied Sweden 2009… copied Norway 96…Austria 61…& 58…Italy & UK 57 opera styles in Eurovision 57…France 56… which copied early 20th century Enrico Caruso, who copied soprano singers, who copied Early Middle… Read more »
To be perfectly honest, it’s one of the most unbearable songs this year. And it also sounds totally AI.
He is such a fascinating person. Good luck J J.
See you all in Vienna 2026 after Austria wins this Eurovision in May 2025. 🙂
JJ’s voice is special, great. My 2nd favorite after Switzerland, and before San Marino, Malta and Israel as my top 5 for now. The juries and many televotes will appreciate him already for his vocals and the dramatic-“stormy” melody alone, let alone with an intelligent staging which is expected and hopefully in accordance to the vocal and the melody intelligence. Good luck.
“In accordance with”
Johannes has a beautiful voice with an extraordinary range. Those qualities, combined with the song, in my opinion… should win Eurovision this year.
(But people also love their saunas and their espresso macchiatos and their giant microphones I suppose.)
Those second lot of “songs” will probably mop up and divide the Televote, in which case we will have a jury vote winner for the third year in a row.
Or take away votes from Austria because people feel for something different and then the result is that Austria looses. Simple.
I don’t feel genuine emotions when I hear the song, it’s too plastic for me, besides he kills those highnotes but I don’t like the way they sound, I prefer the mic and the sauna, at least they are singing about their own experiences. C’est la vie.
Ok but who are you to say that? You know JJ personally to affirm that he doesn’t sing about his own experiences?
You don’t feel emotions, ok, but it won’t prevent him to win if it’s his fate. C’est la vie.
Sweden wins, they win the televote with a landslide and will get enough jury votes: they have good voices, and the production is excellent , plus fun staging.
JJ’s streaming numbers and YT views are a lot lower than Nemo’s last year. It’s between him and France for the jury vote but in the televote there’s too much competition to end up around place 5, we shall see.
If it’s about Sweden and Austria. Austria is just the opposite to Sweden this year. Of course juries will probobly give more points to JJ. He will probobly wow them, just as the panel at The Voice were wowed. Maybe they won’t get Sweden at all this year or favour Austria because their last win was in 2014. But.. if the juries decide to loosen up and consider a more radio friendly song that’s already been spread globally then they could go for Sweden anyway, or at least Sweden won’t be far behind. But juries will definetely go mostly for… Read more »
I want to bathe sauna and vote for power woman Erika while doing it though.. She’s more entertaining.
Sweden is less artificial, good enough voices to get a reasonable amount of jury votes and not inspired by last year’s winner… Besides Sweden is going to smash the televote, it’s a done deal.
I don’t really feel the wasted love in this clean production, it feels like he’s telling someone else’s story, maybe the live performance will change it.
Well he isn’t he wrote the song because his feelings where unbearable that’s what he said in the interview. I absolutely feel emotions when I listen to the song and I know enough other people who do. Maybe you are just not soft enough for that
No one cares about wannabe Krassimir Avramov. Austria is probably this year’s most astroturfed “favourite”.
You having another lovely weekend there Marcin?
No-one can compare to Krassimir
In Dubai! Wow!
With his roots he is international too, Filipino, Austrian, grew up in Dubai and cherry on the cake he speaks German, English and French.
What a background!
Wish him the best and good luck!
Expat rich kid?
Omg Maria, what he has done to you personally? He is above Poland and Netherlands in the odds and you’re not happy about that or what?
But rich or not, he is still talentuous, the talent is one of the things you can’t buy.
Yeah she really hating on that kid as if her life depends on it.