ADVERTISEMENTCurtain up for Johannes Pietsch.
Better known by his stage name JJ, the 24-year-old native of Vienna will represent Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel in tonight’s second semi-final.
JJ has already made a name for himself with his exceptional range, heartfelt performances and distinctive voice that reaches soprano heights.
With his song ‘Wasted Love’, a genre mix of pop, opera and a bit of techno, the countertenor is proving to be very popular with betting companies and is currently ranked as the co-favourite to take the title.
JJ is also one of our favourites to win this year, with Euronews Culture describing his Eurovision popera anthem as “an increasingly heartfelt (and very high-pitched) complainte” that morphs into “an explosive EDM that once again shows off JJ’s remarkable (frankly, ludicrous) range, which also proves that being adrift in the emotional abyss and having a bop needn’t be mutually exclusive.”
You can read our full predictions here.
In between hectic rehearsals, JJ took time to talk to Euronews Culture about what the song means, making classic music for the masses and flying the flag for Austria.
Euronews Culture: Johannes, you are representing Austria, a country that is internationally renowned for its classical music. And you’re singing an opera song – how much of your roots as a countertenor are actually involved in this performance? How has your previous musical life prepared you for this moment?
JJ: There’s a lot in it because I’ve incorporated the two musical worlds I grew up with – so 100 per cent of my “artistic self” is in the performance.
Was that like a common thread that led you to this moment?
From the day I started singing classically for the first time, there was a common thread. From the moment I found the combination that made it work with both pop and opera. Even during my studies, people said: “Hey, I think that would give you a realistic future.” From that day on, it has continued like that – and now I’m on the ESC stage.
And the ESC stage is the biggest stage there is in Europe. What does it mean to you to be able to perform there? After all, “Wasted Love” is your very first song. Isn’t that jumping in at the deep end?
Yes, definitely. It’s absolutely crazy that the first song I’ve ever released is being presented in such a format. I would never have expected that in my life, it’s insane. And the fact that I get to represent Austria is even crazier. I’m used to being on stage, but on the classical stage – and now to perform on such a large scale with such a wide reach, I find it absolutely insane. I see a thousand times the audience that I normally see at the State Opera on the ESC stage.
ADVERTISEMENTIt’s not just a large audience, it’s also a very diverse audience from many European nations. In a way, you are also representing Austria culturally. Is there a message about your country that you want to convey internationally?
Yes, definitely. Unfortunately, classical music is slowly dying out, if I may say so. My message would be to give classical music a chance, as it is actually one of the origins of the music we listen to today. And it has really special moments that can move people. All the pop songs you hear today have classical elements in them. That’s why you have to give the origin a chance.
At the moment you are the bookies’ second favourite for the title, behind Sweden. Do you even look at these rankings?
Well, I don’t actually look at the odds. I get several screenshots from my friends and family every day. Along the lines of: “Hey, hey, your odds have gone up by one percentage point!” So I don’t personally look at it. But I feel incredibly honoured that people have so much faith in me and my artistic self.
ADVERTISEMENTBut I’m sure that also means a lot of pressure. Do you have any tricks or mental patterns that help you to calm down?
Yes, I always imagine that this is the last performance of my life. And of course you always want the best at the end. And that’s why I always try to give it my all. I also always try to deliver the best performance I’ve ever given.
And the expectations of others? So you tend to focus on yourself?
Exactly. Of course I think other opinions are important. But first and foremost, I focus on myself, on what feels right and what suits me best.
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Let’s stay with you. In ‘Wasted Love’ you also sing about your own painful experiences with love. Isn’t there something particularly vulnerable about giving an insight into your own emotional world on the big stage?
Yes, exactly. The audience will also have an insight into my soul through the stage performance. It will be very intimate. And I will review the moment again, how I felt at the time, so that I can feel the full emotion. But, yes, fortunately I’m no longer burdened by what I’m singing about because I’ve already processed it. But I will still put myself back into the role I was in back then.
Do you think about the fact that so many people are watching you?
ADVERTISEMENTNo, I don’t see the 160 million or so people watching. But there’s still a lot of pressure, with all the lights and what’s happening on stage. I’m concentrating on the performance, I won’t really be able to notice the people that much because I’ll have too much around me to pay attention to anyway.
Did you used to watch the Song Contest more often before your current performance?
Yes, since Conchita Wurst’s victory in 2014. That was actually the first year that my family and I started watching the Song Contest regularly. Before that, I already had the ESC on my radar, but I never watched it because in Dubai, where I grew up, we didn’t have German TV – and didn’t really notice any of it.
And then Conchita’s performance caused such a stir that it was also reported in Dubai, where I grew up. And there it was a huge taboo subject if you were part of the queer community.
ADVERTISEMENTAnd then our attitude within the family was: yes, we have to look at this now because we support the community. My parents said: hate is really what you don’t need in this world – and we are now watching out of solidarity. And from that year on, we liked it so much that we watched the Song Contest every year.
Many Austrians sat in front of the TV and watched Conchita Wurst win the ESC back then. Can you take inspiration from the “blueprint” for the victory back then? What do you think made the song successful back then? Did you perhaps copy something from it?
Yes, in the sense of just being who I am. Conchita didn’t pretend for anyone or anything, she was always “true to herself”. I think that’s the most important thing. If you pretend, then you lose yourself at some point. And you should just be who you are. That’s just the way you are.
ADVERTISEMENTWhat can people expect from your stage show?
It will be very intimate. I’ll be alone on stage. It’s going to be a lot of storytelling, a bit like the music video. The elements from it – with a boat in the rain. That will also be part of the stage performance. It will be something that I think will catch people and hopefully move them emotionally. Now I’m just thinking about what it will be like when the techno part comes in the song. That will be really bombastic.
A somewhat hypothetical question: When you look back on your performance in a few years’ time, what would you like people to remember?
That’s an interesting question. I would say my person. Not as an artist, but how I conveyed my emotions. I think people have been quite moved by that and I’m also honoured that people can relate to my song. So, yes, I would say the emotions of my performance, in my song.
ADVERTISEMENTDo you want to create a special feeling?
Yes, hope. I mean, the song is quite sad, but then there’s the hope that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. And if you have a short, bad phase, it means that you can overcome it because… it really is never the end of the world. You always come out of every situation on a positive note. Hope dies last.
The Eurovision final takes place this year in Basel, Switzerland, on 17 May.
