(rpt with digital headline for rcom only)

By Isabelle Yr Carlsson

COPENHAGEN, May 5 (Reuters) - The Eurovision Song

Contest, a music kitsch-fest watched by some 200 million people,

kicks off in Malmö, Sweden on Sunday with its "turquoise carpet"

gala, in what fans say is a wide-open year with half a dozen

countries having a shot at the title.

Bookmakers have Croatia, Switzerland and Ukraine as the top

three favourites to win, while streaming data from Spotify ( SPOT )

suggests a strong chance for the Netherlands, Italy or host

nation Sweden.

"This year is so exciting because there are four or five

countries who really have a good shot at winning," William Lee

Adams, editor of Eurovision fan site Wiwibloggs, told Reuters.

"Eurovision is so boring when you have one clear favourite

months in advance. But this year there is so much left to play

for."

Croatia's contestant Baby Lasagna (real name Marko Purišić,

28) this week overtook Switzerland as bookmakers' favourite with

song "Rim Tim Tagi Dim" about a young Croatian who leaves his

home aspiring to become a "city boy" with better opportunities.

The song contest, which has been held since 1956, has

increasingly embraced inclusivity and acceptance among the

LGBTQ+ community. That's the theme of Swiss rapper and singer

Nemo, 24, who will perform "The Code" - a drum-and-bass, opera,

rap, and rock song about their journey of self-discovery as

non-binary.

Ukraine, which won the contest two years ago months after it

was invaded by Russia, is represented this year by duo alyona

alyona, 28, and Jerry Heil, 32, with "Teresa & Maria", a

folk-inflected pop song with a strong dance beat and fast-paced

rap. The winner normally hosts the following year, but last

year's contest was held in Britain because of the war.

Another top contender is Joost Klein, 26, of the Netherlands

with his song "Europapa" which mixes tunes of pop with happy

hardcore. Klein, who lost his parents at a young age, says the

song is about an orphan who travels around Europe trying to find

himself, as his father taught him to believe in a Europe without

borders.

Also in the running is Italy's Angelina Mango, 23, with her

song "La Noia" which translates to "Boredom". Host country

Sweden is seen as having a chance for back-to-back wins,

represented by Norwegian twin brothers Marcus and Martinus

Gunnarsen performing their song "Unforgettable".

Four-time winner Israel, represented by Eden Golan, 20, is

also ranked by bookmakers in the top 10. Her song "Hurricane"

was Israel's third proposed entry after the European Broadcast

Union rejected two songs over lyrics deemed political.