Malmö Messages: yesterday’s pressconference

photo: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett

Yesterday, after winning the tickets to the final, the 10 winners headed to the winners’ pressconference. We of Eurovision Universe were present at this press conference.

Cyprus

Silia Kapsis said it was a huge opportunity to be here. She was super proud and super happy. About her country of birth, Australia, she said she was proud as well that the Australians showed their culture. It was her goal to make her country proud and after this, to grow as a pop artist.

Serbia

Teya Dora said it was crazy; the rehearsals, the performance; it was all super exciting and she was happy. She wants to make her country proud and give the best she can, with the best placement. She loves it that so many people watched her performance. And about Konstrakta, who was in the introduction film, she loved her amazing energy.

Lithuania

Silvester Belt thanks the audience. To all the bullies from the past he has a message: “I know you are struggling. And to the little boy I was: I love you so much”. The biggest challenge this week was sleeping. About singing in the Lithuanian language he said: “only Lithuanians wanted me to sing in English. Everybody else said I should sing in Lithuanian.”

Ireland

Bambie Thug said they are completely dissociated after this succes, but also that they are super proud. They have a small team and they are en independent artist, yet they reached this. And also, they are the first non binary artist in the contest. Bambie revealed that they met the rules of the EBU: texts like Ceasefire and Free Palestine were not allowed, so Crown The Witch was the only text left. On the question what made them special, Bambie answered “What makes me special is that I’m a queer”.

Ukraine

Alyona Alyona explained that she and Jerry Heil raised fund to rebuild Ukrainian schools. She called for donation. Half of the money is there, but you can donate via United24. “Children are our future”, Alyona Alyona stated. Jerry also stated that it was great to be in Malmö now. It was a super possibility to say thank you for your help. And yes, they felt pressure, because they felt Ukraine expected something from them.

Croatia

The performance was way better than the rehearsals. Before going on stage, Baby Lasagna tried to empty his mind, but before him Poland performed; that song got stuck in his mind. About his first place in the odds he said that odds are just numbers, it’s not over ’til it’s done. He felt comfortable in Malmö as Eurovision is, in his opinion, the next level of professional, with all the sound- and camerawork. The energy to him was fine.

Slovenia

Raiven said she was grateful. She was unsure about the result and doubting all the time. That meant going to the final was a huge surprise for her. When it comes to making music and visuals she went with her instinct. “The staging is really me, and I am very satisfied with it”, she said. About the fact that she was called Eurovision’s opera diva, she said that it is great to hear that people checked her background.

Finland

It was our own Kal (!!) who had the opportunity to ask windows95man a question. Due to the lyrics of the song “No rules”, Kal was interested to know which of the many rules of Eurovision had to go in his opinion. “More nakedness! For everybody!”, windows95man replied without any hesitation. Windows95man also told that he got help in preparing for the show. Before the show the men do some physical exercises.

Portugal

Iolanda from Portugal thinks that music can be whatever you like. She wrote the song in her grandmothers house. Her message is that you can do a lot with not so much money. She designed the act with the stage director and the choreographer. She also added that she believes music connects.

Luxembourg

“I nearly had a heart attack”, Tali explained, “It was brutal, but the camera was approaching and I thought…. maybe”. In Tali’s opinion Eurovision is a beautiful contet that unites. She was thrilled and was hoping to inspire other countries to return to Eurovision. “Music is my life, my therapy, my everything”, Tali stated.

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Martijn

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Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 7

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria. It was the 57th Austrian entry. Reason for us to go back to all the Austrian entries in history! For Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, part 7, we look back at the start of the 21st century. Alf Poier participated for Austria, but there were also some unsuccesful entries. And there was a 3-year gap. 2000 – The Rounder Girls – All To You Austria’s 2000 entry “All To You” was internally selected by broadcaster ORF. The song was written by American songwriter Dave Moskin. Moskin gave the three-piece vocal group The Rounder Girls an up-tempo, gospel-influenced pop track. Performing last in the Stockholm final, the trio, with members from Austria, the US and the UK, delivered slick harmonies and choreography. They finished 14th out of 24 countries with 34 points. The Rounder Girls were a seasoned soul/gospel ensemble, and their Eurovision appearance raised their profile, though Austria’s middling result meant the country sat out the contest in 2001. 2002 – Manuel Ortega – Say A Word “Say A Word” by Manuel Ortega won Austria’s “Song.Null.Zwei” 2002 national final out of ten songs. this entry was an upbeat pop song with a catchy, boy-band style hook. It was composed by Alexander Kahr with lyrics by Robert Pfluger. At Eurovision 2002 in Tallinn, Ortega performed third and Austria placed 18th (26 points) in the final. Manuel Ortega, a young pop singer, had scored a summer hit in 2001 and was nicknamed “the Austrian Ricky Martin” for his Latin pop flair. His Eurovision song’s fun choreography and positive message reflected that image, though the result was a lower mid-table finish. 2003 – Alf Poier – Weil der Mensch zählt ORF organized the “Song.Null.Drei” 2003 selection. Petra Frey (ESC 1994) was the runner up. Comedian-singer Alf Poier triumphed with “Weil der Mensch zählt”. Poier penned this satirical song himself. Musically it’s a quirky folk-pop tune delivered in Styrian dialect. The performance, complete with cartoonish animal props, was a parody of Eurovision’s over-the-top style. At the Riga contest, this offbeat entry surprised many by scoring 6th place with 101 points. Alf Poier, an Austrian stand-up comedian known for absurdist humor, thus earned Austria’s best Eurovision result in over a decade. His comedic approach and catchy refrain turned him into a fan favorite that year. 2004 – Tie Break – Du bist Austria’s national final “Song.Null.Vier” chose Tie Break’s “Du bist” for Eurovision 2004. Waterloo & Robinson (ESC 1976!) were the runners up. Note that a song, written by popstar Falco, participated too. So posthumously, Falco did a Eurovision attempt!Written by composer Peter Zimmermann, “Du bist” is a tender schlager-style pop ballad performed in German. Tie Break, a trio of fresh-faced male singers (a boy band formed via a talent search), delivered tight harmonies in Istanbul’s final. Thanks to Austria’s top-10 result the year before, they pre-qualified directly for the final. Tie Break finished 21st out of 24 with 9 points. The group had gained national fame through the selection process, but on the Eurovision stage their gentle ballad struggled to stand out in a field dominated by more dynamic acts. 2005 – Global.Kryner – Y así In 2005, “Song.Null.Fünf” was held and the crossover folk band Global.Kryner won with “Y así”. They narrowly beated Alf Poier. The controversy was that Austria changed the rules of the voting on the very last moment. Would the original voting procedure be used, Alf Poier would have won. Band members Edi Köhldorfer (composer) and Christof Spörk (lyricist) combined Latin salsa rhythms with Austrian alpine polka to create this unique “salsa-polka-pop” song. Global.Kryner was a six-member ensemble known for blending folk and jazz influences. They opened the Eurovision semi-final in Kyiv with an energetic performance featuring yodels and Latin dance breaks. However, “Y así” did not advance to the final, placing 21st of 25 in the semi-final with 30 points. The group had earned acclaim in Austria and Germany, but their daring genre fusion proved too quirky for the Eurovision televote that year. 2007 – Eric Papilaya – Get A Life – Get Alive After a brief Eurovision hiatus, Austria returned in 2007 by internally selecting Eric Papilaya. His entry “Get A Life – Get Alive” – composed by Greg Usek with lyrics by Austin Howard. It was the official anthem of Vienna’s Life Ball AIDS charity event. This song is an upbeat pop-rock anthem with an inspirational message and flashy staging. Papilaya performed with a giant red ribbon on stage. Papilaya, a rock vocalist who rose to fame on the TV talent show Starmania, gave a spirited performance in Helsinki’s semi-final. Unfortunately Austria did not qualify for the final; he placed 27th (four points) in the semi. The entry drew media attention for its charity theme, but it wasn’t enough to overcome tough competition in 2007. 2011 – Nadine Beiler – The Secret Is Love Austria returned to Eurovision in 2011 through the national selection “Düsseldorf – wir kommen!”. The competition featured ten songs. However, well-known artists Alf Poier and Petra Frey failed to pass the online preselection. As a result, Nadine Beiler won the final with her soulful ballad “The Secret Is Love”. She co-wrote the song with veteran producer Thomas Rabitsch. Musically, the entry combines elements of gospel and pop, while it clearly highlights Beiler’s strong vocal range. Previously, Nadine Beiler had gained national fame by winning the television talent show Starmania in 2007 at the age of 16. Therefore, expectations were already high when she took the stage in Düsseldorf. Her Eurovision performance began a cappella and gradually built towards a powerful climax. Consequently, Austria qualified from the semi-final in seventh place with 69 points. In the grand final, Beiler finished 18th, scoring 64 points. Nevertheless, this result marked Austria’s first appearance in a Eurovision final in seven years and therefore signalled a credible and positive comeback.

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December 14, 2025 No Comments
History

🇦🇹 Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest – final episode

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming In this final episode of our series on Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, we cover the years 2019–2025. We’ll look at each Austrian entry’s national selection process (if any), the song’s lyricists and composers, musical style, Eurovision score, and a few facts about the artist. 2019 – PÆNDA – “Limits” In 2019, Austria internally selected singer-songwriter PÆNDA (Gabriela Horn) to perform the song “Limits” at Eurovision. PÆNDA wrote and composed the song herself; a minimalist electro-pop ballad that highlights her ethereal vocals and emotional songwriting. The lyrics describe pushing oneself too far and hitting personal limits. Despite its intimate staging and artistic vibe, Limits failed to advance from the semi-finals, placing 17th in Semi-Final 2. PÆNDA, a native of Styria, is an EDM-pop producer who launched her project in 2016. She blends underground electronic beats with catchy pop elements, and her Eurovision entry appeared on her 2019 album Evolution II.  2020 – Vincent Bueno – “Alive” For Eurovision 2020, ORF internally selected Vincent Bueno to represent Austria. “Alive” is an upbeat pop track with R&B and funk influences. Vincent co-wrote the song with a team including David “Davey” Yang and Felix van Göns. The track’s groovy bassline and falsetto riffs convey a message of liberation. It’s about feeling truly “alive” by letting go of one’s ego. Vincent is an Austrian-Filipino singer who first found fame by winning ORF’s musical talent show in 2008. He also performed in theater productions, showcasing his stage experience. Sadly, Eurovision 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic. As a result, “Alive” never reached the Rotterdam stage and received no final score. 2021 – Vincent Bueno – “Amen” In 2021, Austria kept faith with Vincent Bueno, who returned with the power ballad “Amen”. ORF again internally selected Vincent after 2020’s cancellation. A trio of songwriters – Tobias Carshey, Ashley Hicklin, and Jonas Thander – crafted “Amen”. The entry starts as a gentle pop ballad and swells into a gospel-tinged climax, allowing Vincent to showcase soulful vocal runs. Lyrically, it’s an emotional farewell to a failed relationship, with the title evoking a final prayer or conclusion. Vincent’s performance in Rotterdam featured minimalist staging to match the song’s sincerity. However, “Amen” did not qualify for the Grand Final, placing 12th in its semi-final with 66 points. Vincent Bueno’s experience in show business, he’s a Musical! Die Show 2008 winner and skilled performer, was evident in his poised delivery, even if Austria missed out on the final. 2022 – LUM!X feat. Pia Maria – “Halo” For 2022, Austrian DJ LUM!X (Luca Michlmayr) teamed up with newcomer Pia Maria for the high-energy song “Halo”. ORF internally selected the duo for Eurovision 2022. A songwriting team including LUM!X himself, Italian DJ Gabry Ponte, Norwegian producer Anders Nilsen, Swedish songwriter Rasmus Flyckt, and Canadian singer-songwriter Sophie Simmons wrote “Halo”. The track is a high-BPM dance number with a pulsating beat and a catchy hook. On stage in Turin, LUM!X worked the DJ decks while Pia Maria sang amid vibrant neon visuals. Despite the song’s hit potential, the live vocals were shaky and Austria failed to reach the final. “Halo” finished 15th in its semi-final (42 points). At the time, LUM!X was only 19 and already had viral hits like “Monster.” Meanwhile, 18-year-old Pia Maria was a newcomer making her live TV debut. 2023 – Teya & Salena – “Who the Hell Is Edgar?” Austria took a witty turn in 2023 with “Who the Hell Is Edgar?”, a satirical electropop duet by Teya & Salena. The pair – Teodora “Teya” Špirić and Selina “Salena” Edbauer – were internally selected by ORF. They had written the song together at a songwriting camp. Teya, Salena, Czech producer Ronald Janeček, and Swiss songwriter Pele Loriano co-wrote “Who the Hell Is Edgar?”. It’s an up-tempo track with tongue-in-cheek lyrics about being “possessed” by the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe. This is a metaphor for the struggles of female songwriters in the music industry. The catchy “Poe, Poe, Poe” hook and quirky choreography made it one of that year’s most memorable entries. Teya & Salena’s charismatic performance carried Austria to the Grand Final in Liverpool, where they finished 15th with 120 points. The song also sparked conversations about streaming royalties and sexism – topics cleverly referenced in its lyrics. 2024 – Kaleen – “We Will Rave” In 2024, Austria sent Kaleen (Marie-Sophie Kreissl) to Eurovision with the song “We Will Rave”. ORF held an internal selection with live auditions to choose Kaleen. “We Will Rave” is a techno-pop banger written by Anderz Wrethov, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Julie Aagaard (Kill J), and Thomas Stengaard. Its thumping bass and EDM drops created a rave-like atmosphere on stage. Kaleen delivered a flashy, dance-heavy performance befitting her background as a professional dancer. Austria ultimately struggled in the Grand Final – “We Will Rave” finished 24th (second-last) with only 24 points. Kaleen was already a five-time world dance champion and had worked on Eurovision shows as a choreographer and creative director. Yet 2024 was her first time stepping into the Eurovision spotlight as a singer. 2025 – JJ – “Wasted Love” Austria achieved a historic victory in 2025 when JJ took the Eurovision crown with “Wasted Love”. ORF internally selected JJ (born Johannes Pietsch) to represent Austria. He co-wrote this operatic pop ballad with Teodora Špirić (Teya, see 2023) and composer Thomas Thurner. Orchestral strings and a melody that builds to a powerful climax make the song a perfect showcase for JJ’s soaring countertenor vocals. The lyrics lament lost love, delivered with the emotional intensity of a classical aria. “Wasted Love” captivated the audience, ultimately winning the Eurovision 2025 final with 436 points. At 24, JJ was already performing as a countertenor at the Vienna State Opera and had been a finalist on ORF’s Starmania in 2021. This triumph marked Austria’s third-ever Eurovision win. sources: Eurovision.tv, de.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org

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January 4, 2026 No Comments
History
Martijn

🇦🇹 Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest – final episode

📷 EBU/Corinne Cumming In this final episode of our series on Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest, we cover the years 2019–2025. We’ll look at each Austrian entry’s national selection process (if any), the song’s lyricists and composers, musical style, Eurovision score, and a few facts about the artist. 2019 – PÆNDA – “Limits” In 2019, Austria internally selected singer-songwriter PÆNDA (Gabriela Horn) to perform the song “Limits” at Eurovision. PÆNDA wrote and composed the song herself; a minimalist electro-pop ballad that highlights her ethereal vocals and emotional songwriting. The lyrics describe pushing oneself too far and hitting personal limits. Despite its intimate staging and artistic vibe, Limits failed to advance from the semi-finals, placing 17th in Semi-Final 2. PÆNDA, a native of Styria, is an EDM-pop producer who launched her project in 2016. She blends underground electronic beats with catchy pop elements, and her Eurovision entry appeared on her 2019 album Evolution II.  2020 – Vincent Bueno – “Alive” For Eurovision 2020, ORF internally selected Vincent Bueno to represent Austria. “Alive” is an upbeat pop track with R&B and funk influences. Vincent co-wrote the song with a team including David “Davey” Yang and Felix van Göns. The track’s groovy bassline and falsetto riffs convey a message of liberation. It’s about feeling truly “alive” by letting go of one’s ego. Vincent is an Austrian-Filipino singer who first found fame by winning ORF’s musical talent show in 2008. He also performed in theater productions, showcasing his stage experience. Sadly, Eurovision 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic. As a result, “Alive” never reached the Rotterdam stage and received no final score. 2021 – Vincent Bueno – “Amen” In 2021, Austria kept faith with Vincent Bueno, who returned with the power ballad “Amen”. ORF again internally selected Vincent after 2020’s cancellation. A trio of songwriters – Tobias Carshey, Ashley Hicklin, and Jonas Thander – crafted “Amen”. The entry starts as a gentle pop ballad and swells into a gospel-tinged climax, allowing Vincent to showcase soulful vocal runs. Lyrically, it’s an emotional farewell to a failed relationship, with the title evoking a final prayer or conclusion. Vincent’s performance in Rotterdam featured minimalist staging to match the song’s sincerity. However, “Amen” did not qualify for the Grand Final, placing 12th in its semi-final with 66 points. Vincent Bueno’s experience in show business, he’s a Musical! Die Show 2008 winner and skilled performer, was evident in his poised delivery, even if Austria missed out on the final. 2022 – LUM!X feat. Pia Maria – “Halo” For 2022, Austrian DJ LUM!X (Luca Michlmayr) teamed up with newcomer Pia Maria for the high-energy song “Halo”. ORF internally selected the duo for Eurovision 2022. A songwriting team including LUM!X himself, Italian DJ Gabry Ponte, Norwegian producer Anders Nilsen, Swedish songwriter Rasmus Flyckt, and Canadian singer-songwriter Sophie Simmons wrote “Halo”. The track is a high-BPM dance number with a pulsating beat and a catchy hook. On stage in Turin, LUM!X worked the DJ decks while Pia Maria sang amid vibrant neon visuals. Despite the song’s hit potential, the live vocals were shaky and Austria failed to reach the final. “Halo” finished 15th in its semi-final (42 points). At the time, LUM!X was only 19 and already had viral hits like “Monster.” Meanwhile, 18-year-old Pia Maria was a newcomer making her live TV debut. 2023 – Teya & Salena – “Who the Hell Is Edgar?” Austria took a witty turn in 2023 with “Who the Hell Is Edgar?”, a satirical electropop duet by Teya & Salena. The pair – Teodora “Teya” Špirić and Selina “Salena” Edbauer – were internally selected by ORF. They had written the song together at a songwriting camp. Teya, Salena, Czech producer Ronald Janeček, and Swiss songwriter Pele Loriano co-wrote “Who the Hell Is Edgar?”. It’s an up-tempo track with tongue-in-cheek lyrics about being “possessed” by the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe. This is a metaphor for the struggles of female songwriters in the music industry. The catchy “Poe, Poe, Poe” hook and quirky choreography made it one of that year’s most memorable entries. Teya & Salena’s charismatic performance carried Austria to the Grand Final in Liverpool, where they finished 15th with 120 points. The song also sparked conversations about streaming royalties and sexism – topics cleverly referenced in its lyrics. 2024 – Kaleen – “We Will Rave” In 2024, Austria sent Kaleen (Marie-Sophie Kreissl) to Eurovision with the song “We Will Rave”. ORF held an internal selection with live auditions to choose Kaleen. “We Will Rave” is a techno-pop banger written by Anderz Wrethov, Jimmy “Joker” Thörnfeldt, Julie Aagaard (Kill J), and Thomas Stengaard. Its thumping bass and EDM drops created a rave-like atmosphere on stage. Kaleen delivered a flashy, dance-heavy performance befitting her background as a professional dancer. Austria ultimately struggled in the Grand Final – “We Will Rave” finished 24th (second-last) with only 24 points. Kaleen was already a five-time world dance champion and had worked on Eurovision shows as a choreographer and creative director. Yet 2024 was her first time stepping into the Eurovision spotlight as a singer. 2025 – JJ – “Wasted Love” Austria achieved a historic victory in 2025 when JJ took the Eurovision crown with “Wasted Love”. ORF internally selected JJ (born Johannes Pietsch) to represent Austria. He co-wrote this operatic pop ballad with Teodora Špirić (Teya, see 2023) and composer Thomas Thurner. Orchestral strings and a melody that builds to a powerful climax make the song a perfect showcase for JJ’s soaring countertenor vocals. The lyrics lament lost love, delivered with the emotional intensity of a classical aria. “Wasted Love” captivated the audience, ultimately winning the Eurovision 2025 final with 436 points. At 24, JJ was already performing as a countertenor at the Vienna State Opera and had been a finalist on ORF’s Starmania in 2021. This triumph marked Austria’s third-ever Eurovision win. sources: Eurovision.tv, de.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org

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January 4, 2026 No Comments
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