JJ (singer)
JJ | |
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![]() Pietsch in 2025 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Johannes Pietsch |
Born | Vienna, Austria | 29 April 2001
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2020–present |
Labels | Manifester |
Johannes Pietsch (German pronunciation: [joˈhanəs ˈpiːtʃ]; born 29 April 2001[1]), also known by his stage name JJ, is an Austrian singer-songwriter. He won the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 for Austria with the song "Wasted Love".
Early life
[edit]Pietsch was born on 29 April 2001 in Vienna to an Austrian IT specialist and a Filipina cook. He spent the majority of his childhood in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he was introduced to both pop through karaoke parties with his family and opera through his father. Both have influenced his current pop-opera style.[1] In 2016, the family moved back to Vienna.[2]
Musical career
[edit]In 2020, Pietsch took part in the ninth series of The Voice UK after missing the deadline for The Voice of Germany.[1][3] He advanced to the Knockouts with the help of his coach will.i.am.[3] The following year, he took part in the fifth season of Starmania, where he made it to the first final show.[4] He attends the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna after having attended the opera school of the Vienna State Opera.[5]
On 30 January 2025, "Wasted Love" performed by Pietsch, under the stage name JJ, was announced by ORF as the Austrian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 during the radio show Ö3-Wecker, aired on Ö3. "Wasted Love" was co-written by JJ, Austrian 2023 representative Teodora Špirić and music producer Thomas Thurner, and was released on 6 March 2025.[6] He won in the grand final on 17 May, after receiving a total of 436 points. He won the jury vote with 258 points and received 178 points in the televote.[7] He became the first Eurovision winner of Southeast Asian descent.[8]
Musical style
[edit]Pietsch's musical style combines elements of opera and pop. As a sopranist ("soprano" type of countertenor) with a range reaching into high soprano heights, he explores both genres through an intense and expressive vocal and interpretative approach.[9][10]
Personal life
[edit]Pietsch speaks German, English, French and Tagalog.[5] Pietsch has stated that he is queer[11] and wants to be a voice for the queer community in Austria. At a press conference following his Eurovision victory, he stated that he has a boyfriend.[12]
After the competition, Pietsch expressed "disappointment" over Israel's participation in the event and stated in an interview with El País, "I would like Eurovision to be held in Vienna next year and without Israel. But the ball is in the EBU's court. We, the artists, can only raise our voices on the matter."[13][14][15]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUT [16] |
FIN [17] |
GER [18] |
IRE [19] |
LTU [20] |
NLD [21] |
NOR [22] |
SWE [23] |
UK [24] |
WW [25] | |||
"Wasted Love" | 2025 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 53 | 5 | 36 | 27 | 8 | 53 | 167 | Non-album single |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Christian Ude (30 January 2025). "Johannes Pietsch alias JJ: Junger Countertenor singt für Österreich beim ESC" (in German). Kleine Zeitung. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ "Voix de fausset et gueule d'ange : qui est JJ, l'Autrichien vainqueur de l'Eurovision ?". Le HuffPost (in French). 18 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ a b West, Amy (21 March 2020). "The Voice UK's last Knockout confirms who Will, Meghan, Tom and Olly picked for the live semi-final". www.digitalspy.com. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ "Countertenor: JJ bringt Pop und Oper zum Song Contest" (in German). ORF. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ a b "Countertenor JJ vertritt Österreich beim Eurovision Song Contest". www.derstandard.at (in Austrian German). Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ "JJ – Von der Staatsoper in den ESC-Zirkus" [JJ - From the State Opera to the ESC-Circus] (in Austrian German). Hitradio Ö3. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ "Austria's JJ wins the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel". BBC News. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ Chenou, Marianne (18 May 2025). "Eurovision 2025 : « Flûte enchantée », électro, Dubaï... Qui est JJ, vainqueur du concours pour l'Autriche ?". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ "Meet Austria's artist for Basel - JJ". eurovision.tv. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
- ^ "Austria welcomes JJ back home with cheers, hugs and roses after he wins the Eurovision Song Contest". AP News. 18 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ "ESC-Favorit JJ: "Ich freue mich, die queere Community zu repräsentieren"". queer.de (in German). 18 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
- ^ "Eurovision 2025 winner's press conference with JJ". eurovision.tv. 18 May 2025.
- ^ "Austria's Eurovision winner JJ calls for Israel to be banned from contest". Euronews. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ Gjevori, Elis (22 May 2025). "Austrian Eurovision winner says Israel should be barred from 2026 contest". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ Boker, Ran (21 May 2025). "Eurovision winner JJ: 'I hope next year would be without Israel'". Ynetnews. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ "Discographie JJ [AT]" (in Austrian German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Artistit – JJ". Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Discographie von JJ" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 21, 2025)". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "2025 21-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "JJ – Wasted Love". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Singel 2025 uke 21". IFPI Norge. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 21, 2025". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "JJ | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of May 31, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
External links
[edit]Media related to Johannes Pietsch at Wikimedia Commons
- 2001 births
- Living people
- Austrian male singer-songwriters
- Singers from Vienna
- 21st-century Austrian male singers
- Austrian people of Filipino descent
- Austrian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates
- English-language singers from Austria
- The Voice UK contestants
- Starmania (TV series) participants
- Countertenors
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants
- Queer men
- Queer singer-songwriters
- Austrian LGBTQ singers
- Eurovision Song Contest winners
- 21st-century Austrian LGBTQ people