Russia's Tolmachevy Sisters were booed on Tuesday when it was announced the twins had made it to the final, while experts believe Ukraine could benefit from sympathy votes.
Conchita Wurst, the hirsute alter ego of Austrian performer Tom Neuwirth, will represent his homeland with the Bond theme-like ballad Rise Like a Phoenix.
In Russia, Belarus and Ukraine petitioners have demanded that the 25-year-old drag artist be dropped.
But much like the title of the song, the singer rose, on Friday, to second place in the odds table. Earlier, the frontrunner had been Armenia's Aram MP3, who stirred controversy when it was reported that he had said Wurst's lifestyle was "not natural" — a comment the comedian later claimed was a joke.
Other artists predicted to do well were Sweden's Sanna Nielsen and Dutch duo The Common Linnets, with a somewhat-unlikely Nashville-inspired country song.
- AAP
