German, Swiss, and UK consulates collaborated for an Eurovision viewing party in the historical German consulate last night. Sinem and I stopped by the party for a while. Before the party, I was in the Marmara Cafe, at the entrance of the Marmara Hotel, right in the Taksim Square. Before walking to the consulate, I met my high school friend Veli, who was visiting İstanbul with his son. After meeting them, the Cafe became an intellectual hotspot (!) I saw İlber Ortaylı, Hilmi Yavuz, my dean, Itır Erhart, and her father, Mansur Beyazyürek.
Highlights from the 2025 Eurovision
Austria claimed victory at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, with 24-year-old countertenor JJ (Johannes Pietsch) performing the operatic ballad “Wasted Love”123.
The win was a nail-biter, with Austria overtaking Israel in the final moments of voting. JJ’s emotional performance, filmed in black and white and set on a rickety boat, resonated with audiences and juries alike, earning Austria its third Eurovision win (previously in 1966 and 2014)13.
JJ’s song explores unrequited love and hope through adversity. He described the message as: “You always come out of every situation on a positive note. Hope dies last”1.
| Place | Country | Artist | Song | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austria | JJ | Wasted Love | 436 |
| 2 | Israel | Yuval Raphael | New Day Will Rise | 357 |
| 3 | Estonia | Tommy Cash | Espresso Macchiato | 356 |
| 4 | Sweden | KAJ | Bara Bada Bastu | – |
| 5 | Italy | Lucio Corsi | Volevo Essere Un Duro | – |
delivered a heartfelt ballad as a survivor of the October 7, 2023 attacks, finishing second after a surge in public votes3.
brought humor with “Espresso Macchiato,” featuring memorable lyrics and a playful performance3.
placed fourth with the sauna-themed “Bara Bada Bastu,” a fan favorite for its quirky tribute to Swedish culture37.
made history with the first live harmonica solo at Eurovision since 19983.
staged a flamboyant act, ending her song “Ich Komme” atop a giant phallic microphone emitting sparks3.
had to revise her disco track “Serving Kant” due to a lyric resembling profanity, performing the edited version with a wink to the audience3.
The contest was marked by significant political controversy, especially regarding Israel’s participation amid the Gaza conflict. Pro-Palestinian protests took place outside the venue, and an on-stage disruption occurred during Israel’s performance, though no injuries were reported13.
Over 70 former contestants signed an open letter calling for Israel’s exclusion1.
Malta’s song lyrics also sparked debate, leading to a last-minute change13.
A record number of acts performed in their native languages, making it the most linguistically diverse Eurovision since 19991.
The UK’s entry, Remember Monday, finished 19th and received zero public points for the second year running, despite a strong jury showing3.
Switzerland’s Zoë Më suffered a dramatic fall in the rankings after receiving zero public points despite a strong jury score3.
French artist Louane delivered a moving tribute to her late mother, while Dutch singer Claude reflected on migration and family3.
The show featured an interval performance by 2024 winner Nemo, performing “Unexplainable”6.
Despite rumors, Céline Dion did not appear, though she sent a video message for the semi-final3.
The 2025 contest was praised for its spectacular staging, diverse musical styles, and the return of playful Eurovision eccentricity13.
Themes ranged from love and loss to migration and environmentalism, with both serious and cheeky performances3.
Eurovision 2025 will be remembered for JJ’s emotional win for Austria, a fiercely competitive and unpredictable vote, and a contest that balanced dazzling entertainment with real-world tensions and heartfelt stories123.
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