Austria wins Eurovision with JJ's operatic club jam 'Wasted Love'

Austria was crowned the winner at Saturday’s grand finale of the Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s most popular singing tournament, beating strong competition from Israel and Switzerland to come in first place on an evening full of glitz and glamour.

BASEL, Switzerland — Austria was crowned the winner at Saturday’s grand finale of the Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s most popular singing tournament, beating strong competition from Israel and Switzerland to come in first place on an evening full of glitz and glamour.

Austria’s song, “Wasted Love” by JJ, was awarded 436 points by a combination of votes from viewers and juries of music professionals from each participating country.

JJ is a countertenor opera singer, and the song makes use of his impressive vocal range. It starts with a swelling orchestral sound that builds to a dance club finish.

JJ from Austria with the title "Wasted Love" will be onstage at the opening of the final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest at St. Jakobshalle on Saturday.Jens Büttner / Getty ImagesDespite widespread rumors and high anticipation for a homecoming appearance by Celine Dion, who won the contest while representing Switzerland in 1988 (artists don’t have to be from the country they represent), the Canadian star was unable to attend. The singer has curtailed her recent public appearances due to a diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome. She had earlier sent a video message, played during Tuesday’s semifinal, in which she said she “would love nothing more” than to attend Eurovision, calling winning the contest “life-changing.”

Every country that competes in Eurovision also votes on the winner, meaning rivalries and regional alliances from the real world spill over into the results.