Eurovision hopefuls Minus One make it to Saturday’s final

Cypriot rock ban Minus One performed their song Alter Ego on Tuesday night in the first Eurovision semi-final in Stockholm in Sweden making it to Saturday’s final.

The members of Minus One are: Francois Micheletto, Constantinos Amerikanos, Harrys Pari, Antonis Loizides and Chris J.

Minus One appeared 11th on Tuesday night’s semi going up against favourite Russia, Greece and San Marino. The second semi-final will be held on Thursday.

Commentators were largely supportive of Cyprus’ participation with comments such as “Cyprus produces two delightful things I enjoy: halloumi and this performance.”

One user said “if my country doesn’t win (Hungary) I want Cyprus they rocked that stage #Eurovision” and another who posted “Congratulations to Cyprus! Nice song, good performance and the singer is hot.”

The two semi-finals feature 36 countries. Ten countries from each will then join the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, who always qualify automatically, in the final. In total, 43 countries will take part in the Eurovision, including Australia this year.

Justin Timberlake is said to be the featured act in the final.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.