RIGA (AFP) - Russia's multi-million record selling lesbian duo t.a.T.u, was being tipped to steal the show at Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest in Latvia, but faces tough competition among the 25 other contestants.
On the eve of the contest the provocative and nonchalant pair headed most of the provisional ratings provided on Internet sites dedicated to the annual pop-song fest, with their song "Ne ver, ne bojsia, ne prosi" (don't believe, don't be afraid, don't ask."
But gamblers were also putting their money on Spain's Beth and her song "Dime", Ireland's Mickey Joe Harte with "We've got the world" and Slovenia's Karmen who will sing a potential holiday season hit "Nanana".
Germany's Lou and Ukraine's Olexander also rose in the ratings after taking the stage for rehearsals.
Songs in English are the traditional staple fare at the contest, a bonanza of pop variety songs, some instantly forgettable, which will be watched by 6,000 in hall and 100 million television viewers worldwide.
France's Louisa Baileche, with her intimate song "Monts et Merveilles", Belgium's Urban Trad with its song written in an imaginary language and Norway's Jostein Hasselgard with her catchy melody "I'm not afraid to move on" stand out.
The 26 participating artists will perform on an ultra-modern 35-metre (115-foot) high, 1,200-metre-square (13,000-square-foot) stage, decorated with curves, astronomic spheres and mobile projectors at Riga's Olympic Skonto Hall.
"I hope that on Saturday everyone will understand why we have called this evening a 'magic rendez vous'" Brigita Rozenbrike, the executive producer of the competition told reporters on Friday.
The show, the 48th version of the event will be shown live on television from 1900 GMT on Saturday.
The winner will be elected by television viewers from the 26 participating countries, who will not be allowed to vote for their own country's performer.
The winning country will be asked to host the contest next year.
Latvia, a country of 2.35 million people on course to join the European Union (news - web sites) in a year's time, hopes to put itself in the international spotlight through the event, following in the footsteps of Baltic neighbour Estonia, which hosted the contest last year.
"Eurovision is a great chance for Latvia to put herself on the mental map of other countries' inhabitants," was the message from President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who will attend the event with Prime Minister Einars Repse.
It is an "opportunity for Latvia to rejoin the rest of Europe, before even entering the European Union and NATO (news - web sites)," Uldis Grava, the president of Latvian television, the show's main organiser, said.
The 48th Eurovision Song Contest will involve performers from Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Britain, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine.
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