Austria won its third Eurovision Song Contest after a glittering grand final in neighboring Switzerland, with singer JJ earning the continent\u2019s votes for the operatic pop anthem \u201cWasted Love.\u201d <\/p>\n
The song, which showcases the classically trained Austrian-Filipino singer\u2019s remarkable vocals and was staged in a dramatic style that evoked a shipwreck, dazzled the crowd in Basel and saw Austria triumph for the first time since Conchita Wurst\u2019s victory in 2014. <\/p>\n
Israel came second in the leaderboard, with Yuval Raphael \u2013 a survivor of Hamas\u2019 October 7 attacks \u2013 winning support for her performance of \u201cNew Day Will Rise.\u201d Estonia was placed third, while San Marino earned the last-place spot. <\/p>\n
\u201cI had a pretty tough year, and I wanted to write about my personal experience with wasted, unreciprocated love,\u201d he said, adding that if he won Saturday\u2019s final, he would \u201cprobably break down, start crying and then call my family.\u201d <\/p>\n
The Eurovision grand final is a defining event on the LGBTQ+ calendar and attracts interest across the continent, showcasing some of Europe\u2019s most talented, eccentric and varied performers. <\/p>\n
Taking to the stage on Saturday were a Latvian ethno-pop six-piece, whose bewitching track melded a folk chant with fairytale imagery; a Ukrainian glam rock-inspired group; a gimmicky Estonian artist who caricatured Italian coffee culture; and an Albanian double act whose haunting track \u201cZjerm\u201d became a fan favorite. <\/p>\n
A rumored appearance by Celine Dion, who won Eurovision for Switzerland in 1988 and who, along with ABBA, is the contest\u2019s most celebrated alumni, failed to materialize. <\/p>\n
Though organizers insist Eurovision is an apolitical event, the contest has long been embroiled in the continent\u2019s tensions. Russia and Belarus were banned following Moscow\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, and the participation of Israel has been opposed by segments of the fanbase due to the country\u2019s ongoing war in Gaza. <\/p>\n
The Israeli contestant Raphael \u2014 who was attending the Nova music festival when Hamas launched its cross-border attacks in October 2023 \u2014 sang to an arena where Palestinian flags were flying, following a rule change by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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