We finally reach the top 10! And at number 10 is a country that usually plays second fiddle to their Greek mainland cousins, it’s Eurovision’s other Mediterranean island country – Cyprus. They’ve gone with something completely different to their usual entries this year and taken Eurofans by (positive) surprise. The testosterone comes off this band in waves and they’ll bring a lot of energy to the Eurovision stage – could this finally be Cyprus’s year?

I say “finally” as Cyprus has the distinction this year of being the competing country that has entered the most times without a win. Normally that (dis)honour falls to Portugal, who to be fair to Cyprus, are well ahead in the number of contests entered, and it will be back to being Portugal when they return next year. While Greece has in recent times always seemed the more likely of the two countries to finish higher or win, this year it’s very clearly Cyprus’s turn to come on top. There’s a chance that this could see their best finish yet at Eurovision.

The band are about as far as you can get from the usual male crooners or female popstrels that Cyprus has tended to enter in recent years. Minus One are a proper rock band and have been together since 2009. The song they’ve entered is a rockie/indie number but underneath that appearance, it’s actually well matched with Eurovision, not least as Minus One co-wrote and composed this with Swedish composer Thomas G:Son, who has composed no less than 12 other Eurovision entries since 2001, including 2012’s winner for Sweden, “Euphoria”. So maybe it’s no surprise that this chimes so well with the Eurofans!

You could consider that a bad or good thing, but I think Minus One definitely bring something different and I think given that the other male bands of Georgia and Montenegro won’t make it to the final, they will definitely stand out. Their live performance will be critical though – not long to go before first rehearsals start!

Live at London Eurovision Preview Party:

Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest:

First entered: 1981

Appearances (excluding this year): 32

Best result: 5th in 1982, 1997 and 2004

Last year’s result: 22nd