JJ inspires with a dramatic hit – what place will the ESC bring?

JJ inspires with a dramatic hit – what place will the ESC bring?

On Thursday, March 6, 2025, Austria experienced an exciting moment: the premiere of JJ's highly anticipated song "Wasted Love" for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) was celebrated at the State Opera. This musical venue is not only a stage for high culture, but also the place where JJ regularly performs as a countertenor. His new piece, conceived as a love drama with a powerful beat, is the result of a quick creative collaboration with Thomas Turner and former ESC candidate Teya, who created the song within a day, reported crown.

With a lyrical focus on unrequited love, “Wasted Love” depicts the emotional turbulence of life. “Very wild – and a lot of drama,” is how JJ describes the work, while the influences of icons like Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande are clearly evident in the pop sections. In the operatic passages he is reminiscent of the great voices such as Maria Callas and Anna Netrebko. The 23-year-old is sure: “The change between styles is very quick – and I have now sung it so often that I can do it in my sleep,” he shared. On May 15th he has the opportunity to demonstrate his skills in the second semi-final of the ESC and qualify for the grand final on May 17th.

Background of the song and emotional depth

In a completely different context, the lyrics of “This River” tap into deeper emotional currents. The song deals with the pursuit of meaning and the challenges of life, where the metaphor of a river serves as a lifeline. “Only this river can save me,” expresses the resigned search for hope and comfort. However, these two pieces of music, which are emotionally and thematically very different, show how music can create a universal language of emotions that is shaped by both the vocal performance and the lyrical content. Even in the toughest of times, one often looks for a way out, as evident in the lyrics of "This River," reports genius.