Eurovision 2025, held in Basel, Switzerland, has concluded with a victory for Austria. The country was represented by artist JJ with the song “Wasted Love.”
JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, is an Austrian-Filipino performer known for his exceptional countertenor voice—a vocal range that reaches soprano heights. His track “Wasted Love” blends elements of opera and electropop, creating a unique and emotional atmosphere that captivated audiences across Europe.
After a two-year break, Montenegro returned to Eurovision for the first time since 2022. However, none of the countries from the former Yugoslavia managed to qualify for the final, a situation not seen since 2013.
Croatia was represented by Marko Bošnjak with the song “Poison Cake,” whose stage performance was inspired by dark fairy tales—including a cauldron as part of the set design. However, he failed to qualify for the final.
Slovenia and Croatia were both eliminated in the same semifinal, while Serbia and Montenegro were knocked out in the second semifinal.
Serbian singer Princ performed the ballad “Mila,” and Montenegro’s Nina Žižić took the stage with “Dobrodošli.” Žižić performed second, and Princ was second-to-last, 15th in the lineup, but even their stage positions weren’t enough to secure a spot in the final.
The only country from the region to reach the final was Albania. The band Shkodra Elektronike performed the song “Zjerm”—which means “fire” in Albanian. The song carries a powerful message about passion, unity, and the strength of the people, and it earned eighth place in the final.
North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina did not participate this year either, continuing their extended break from the contest.
