t.A.T.u.
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t.A.T.u. (Russian: Тату, Tatu; pronounced [ta-too]), is a Russian pop music duo consisting of Elena Katina, and Yulia Volkova. The group was formed in 1999 by their former producer, Ivan Shapovalov in Moscow. The group in their early years are most known for being marketed as a lesbian couple around the world. In December 2003, they admitted on Russian television that it was only a marketing strategy, and in 2004 they fired their producer. Since then, they have released a second album, toured all over the world and left the record company they were signed to.
History
1999–2000: Beginnings
Prior to the group being formed, Volkova and Katina were both members of the Russian children's music group called Neposedi, which was where the girls started their singing careers.
1999, Ivan Shapovalov, along with Alexander Voitinskyi made plans to create a musical girl group in Russia. Many stories have been told about Shapovalov's plans to create the group, and he admitted to UK's The Sun newspaper in February, 2003 that his idea came from surfing underage porn websites and discovered that most pedophiles wanted underage lesbian porn.
I saw that most people look up pornography on the Internet and of those, most are looking for underage sex. I saw their needs weren’t fulfilled. Later, it turned out, I was right. This is the same as my own desires. I prefer underage girls. [1]
Auditions were set up, and by the end of their auditioning, they had about 10 girls to choose from. Among those girls were Volkova and Katina. They both stood out among the girls, but the producers decided to go with Elena Katina as the first member. They had her record two songs. The first was named "Yugoslavia" and was about the Kosovo War, which Voitinskyi had written about his friends and family who had died in the war. The second song was called "Белочка" (Belochka, "Squirrel"). After the song was published, Shapovalov insisted that they search for another member, and soon decided on Yulia Volkova, to complete the duet which would become t.A.T.u.
The name t.A.T.u. comes from a collocation of "ta" and "tu" (pronounced as 'tuu'), the two forms of the Russian feminine demonstrative pronoun "ta" in its nominative and accusative cases. It can be translated as "that female [does something to, supposedly loves] that female [over there]", though literally, "she her". Originally, t.A.T.u. was named ТАТУ (TATU), in Russia. However, when they planned to sell records internationally (around August 2002), they found out that there was already an Australian band with the name, so they changed the spelling to t.A.T.u. outside of Russia.
The duet began to record songs with their producers, and eventually, Voitinskyi left the project. Shapovalov decided to sign with Elena Kiper to make her the co-producer, as she had written a few of the songs for t.A.T.u., including their first hit, "Я сошла с ума".
2000-2001: Fame in Russia
Their first single was released in the year 2000, titled "Я сошла с ума" (Ya Soshla S Uma, "I've Lost My Mind"). The song describes the turmoil in a girl's soul because she is in love with another girl and is confused, as well as asking her parents to forgive her. Elena Kiper has been credited to the song, and has said that the idea of the song was hers. She fell asleep at her dentist's office, and had a dream in which she kissed another woman. Kiper woke up, saying the words "я сошла с ума."
Shapovalov decided the song needed a music video, so they created one. The video they created shows the girls dressed up in Catholic school uniforms (which are common fetish items), standing in the pouring rain screaming out to a crowd of on-lookers, kissing passionately, and pacing back and forth in between a drab looking building and a chain fence, as if the girls are imprisoned in some sort of cage. The video ends in an ironic twist when the girls go around the corner of the building, and off into the distance as the rains clear, and the viewer sees that the girls are now free, and it is the on-lookers who are captives inside the fence. Kiper and t.A.T.u have stated that the ideas for the video (and the groups image) was influenced by the 1998 Swedish film Fucking Åmål.
November 2000, t.A.T.u, an unknown act, brought their first-ever video to MTV Russia, for their first single. Despite its controversial and provocative character, MTV was brave enough to put it on air. The video went on to win awards, such as the People's Choice at the MTV Russia Music awards. The music video also sparked many news bits on homosexuality.
t.A.T.u.'s management told the girls to only sign autographs for people related to the group, no one else, and to only give brief answers to the press, if any answers at all. They were told strictly, to not speak about their sexual activities, living together and their personal lives. Because of this, t.A.T.u. instantly became known for acting irreverently towards the press. With their satirical comments, evasive answers, and flippant attitude towards their indecent behavior, t.A.T.u. have confounded many people, misleading many of them and rubbing them the wrong way. "People either love us or hate us," Katina said, "but no one ignores us."
On December 19, 2000 the duo released their single ("Я сошла с ума" in CD-format to the public, at a press conference in Russia).
On May 16th, 2001, after releasing the hit "Я сошла с ума," and touring around Russia, and its surrounding countries, t.A.T.u. was signed to an even larger name. Universal Music Russia with cooperation of Neformat, signed the girls to a contract that would call for five records.
The group released their debut album on May 21, 2001. 200 по встречной (200 Po Vstrechnoy, 200 On The Counter) included 9 tracks, and 2 remixes. At the same time, the girls released their second video and single, titled "Нас не догонят" (Nas Ne Dogonyat, "Won't Catch Up With Us"). It countered the claim that t.A.T.u was just a one-hit wonder. After one week of heavy rotation on MTV Russia, it went straight to #1 in MTV “Russian Top 10” (weekly chart show with Russian only videos competing with each other) and #7 in MTV Top 20 (leaving behind Jennifer Lopez, Eminem and Backstreet Boys). The single received major success at radios as well, A listed on 1st National Radio "Russian Radio" and 7 other national radios in Russia.
During late 2001, t.A.T.u. recorded a video for their third single, "30 минут" (30 Minut, 30 Minutes). The single was released later in September. In August, the girls were scheduled to begin recording their songs in English. However, the girls did not speak English fluently, and studied very hard with the aid of an English Department professor from Moscow State University, so the recording was delayed. The girls continued to tour all over Europe, winning many awards for their album, and their hit single.
2002–2003: International success
Starting January in 2002, t.A.T.u. began recording their English album in England, then in the United States. That April, it was announced that Elena Kiper left the group as co-producer. Beata Andreeva, a former MTV VJ soon took her place. Later that month, the girls recorded "Простые движения" (Prostye Dvizhenya, Simple Movements), and the video was released in May 2002. The video showed, according to the girls, "how simple moves are always in our lives, like drinking water, reading a book," which is what Katina does during most of the video, or masturbating, which is what Volkova does during the video.
In June, t.A.T.u. appeared on MTV's TRL in New York. They also recorded the video for "All the Things She Said", which was identical to the video for "Я сошла с ума", except the singing parts, which were re-recorded. The directors used the existing clips for the rest of the video. In September, the single All The Things She Said is released. The girls have become very busy with press and performances all over the world. In addition, their single "All the Things She Said" was used as the entrance theme of WWE Diva Victoria from late December 2002 to May 2004.
After enormous success in Russia, t.A.T.u. released 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane in 2002, an English-language version (co-produced by Trevor Horn) of their Russian debut album. The debut English-language album sold over five million copies around the world.
In order to play up to the lesbian angle of their image, most of their performances usually included at least one instance in which they kissed passionately. This act was usually censored whenever the duo appeared on American television programs. However, due to much speculation and suspicions, the public began to realize that their live performances, which featured the girls caressing, fondling, kissing, and looking at each other longingly, was just an obligation and became commonplace for t.A.T.u. Their raunchy routine at concerts -- with precise, play-by-play stage directions, such as when to move about, how to act at this particular moment, what to say, how to behave, even how to partially strip -- has stayed the same over two years. But the girls didn't seem to object, and the discipline paid off, despite the public's doubt. Most of their scenes were very fraught with sexuality.
The main scandal of t.A.T.u was that they were underaged when they started out - doing and saying considerably explicit things. For instance, both girls were featured on the cover of the Maxim magazine Russia for the January 2003 issue. It featured Volkova topless and wearing a skimpy bikini bottom. Elena wore a sportswear lingerie. Both girls were 17 at the time of the photoshoot. Other photoshoots included the September 2003 issue of FHM Russia, where both girls were topless and Elena had her hands covering Yulia's breasts, on the cover.
The lyrics and videos of their songs suggested that the girls were in a lesbian relationship. Although they have never confirmed their sexual orientation, they have suggested that being bisexual is a possibility. "Everyone's so sure we're lesbians, but maybe we are bisexual. Why not?"[citation needed] But the girls have actually milked this ambiguity by slyly refusing to state their sexual orientation while hinting some days that they are lesbian and other days that they are bisexual. Their image was none other than teenage lesbianism meant for "straight male entertainment" (confirmed by former manager Ivan Shapovalov) masquerading as "mere love for each other". Sometimes in interviews they stated that they were in real life in a lesbian relationship, often giving outrageous details of their supposed sex life, but more usually, questions in that direction were evaded by statements, such as "Don't be afraid to be yourself; don't be afraid to love," or that they did not like labels. t.A.T.u are also infamous for contradicting themselves with what they say and do, on their supposed lesbian image. For example, Katina once said during an interview that "there was no image on their lesbianism and it was who they are and what they do" while Katina had earlier acknowledged that what they had to do was an obligation. They still continue contradicting themselves, in song and in interviews, causing the public to suspect that they do not want their true natures to be exposed. Part of their undeniably crafted image was a scripted elusiveness, a defiant refusal to come clean.
2003: Eurovision and confessions
Much of the groups success occurred during 2003. They represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003. The group was considered the favorites to win. They decided to sing Не верь, не бойся (Ne ver' ne boisya, "Don't Trust, Don't Fear"), but due to Volkova's inflamed vocal cords, she did not take part in rehearsals, and their performance was rough at the beginning. After the voting, the girls placed in third. The girls claimed they would have won if the Irish telephone votes had been counted - a technical fault within eircom led to a jury deciding placings (it was also noted as strange that, despite a #1 single in Ireland, they weren't awarded any points by the jury). They later stated, "Eurovision is for beginners ... we were already artists and only attended because our country asked us to attend." Russia protested the Eurovision results, but to no avail. Also, during that same year at their concert in Istanbul they sang Sertab Erener's song "Every Way That I Can" (Sertab Erener was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest that year.), implying that they were having their revenge on the Turkish star.
At the 2003 MTV Movie Awards, t.A.T.u. preformed "All The Things She Said" and "Not Gonna Get Us." To this day, it has been the largest event t.A.T.u. has ever performed at in the U.S. It was speculated that Yulia sang with a back up track, as her voice sounded much like the record, and Elena's sounded live. View their performance.
On September 26, 2003, the group released a compilation CD of remixes, titled Remixes. In November that year, the CD was released in Russia, with two new tracks, and videos. The two new tracks were "Простые движения" (which was previously released), and "Не верь, не бойся".
A month after the release of their remix CD in Russia, Shapovalov made negotiations with Japanese directors Norio Kashima, Susume Kudoh and Shinichiro Watanabe to create an animated movie titled t.A.T.u. Paragate. Shapovalov created most of the screenplay, and the script. The film was going to be made by studio iMovie and cost about 500 million yen (4.7 million USD). The 100-minute film was set to be released in November 2004. However, the release date was changed to December, and then it was cancelled, mostly due to the falling out of the group and Shapovalov.
Анатомия Тату (Anatomy of t.A.T.u.), aired on Russian television on December 12th, 2003. The main point of the documentary was that the t.A.T.u. girls were not at all lesbians, and that it was all just a marketing plan developed by their producer. It also followed the girls in their lives, from religion, to Yulia having a boyfriend, and an abortion.
2004-2005: Reform and hiatus
From January through March 2004, STS TV in Russia aired Тату В Поднебесной (Tatu V Podnebesnoy; t.A.T.u. In Celestial), a thirteen-episode reality show which chronicled the group recording their second album with producer Ivan Shapovalov. However, during many of the episodes the girls did not show up, or speak with Ivan. Most of the episodes were of Ivan working with other artists, as the girls did not actually participate and record a second album as planned. The girls did record a few songs, and a few of them, including songs written by Shapovalov were used for their second albums. Only a few months after the show aired, Katina and Volkova left their manager and producer, Ivan Shapovalov, because they believed that the quality of the music being produced was too low. Universal Music Russia, who the girls were signed to, worked with the girls to appoint Boris Rensky as their new producer. Rensky, ironically was Shapovalov's former business partner before the t.A.T.u. group was formed. Rensky also negotiated a new contract with Universal Music International for 4 new albums, worldwide.
May 2004, Volkova announced that she was pregnant with her boyfriend Pasha's baby, which delayed work on the second album with their new producer. As the news surfaced around the world, many fans abandoned the girls for using their sexuality as a marketing scheme. On September 23, 2004, Volkova gave birth to Viktoria (Vika) Pavlovna Volkova, and soon after continued work on the album with Katina.
For the rest of 2004, and early 2005 the girls seemed to disappear from everyone, but this was not the case. Katina had been recording demos with Claire Guy and Melanie C for a solo project, but the songs were eventually used for t.A.T.u.. Katina and Volkova had been recording their second album in Russia, England, and Los Angeles. On June 3, 2005, t.A.T.u. returned to the stage, performing a brand new song titled "Обезьянка Ноль" (Obezyanka Nol; Monkey Zero), at the Russian Muz-TV Awards event.
2005-2006: Dangerous and Moving
After nearly three years of their first English album's release, t.A.T.u. released their second English album on October 10th, 2005 titled Dangerous and Moving. Their Russian counter-album, released on October 19th was titled Люди Инвалиды (Lyudi Invalidy; Disabled People). Combined, both albums released 18 brand new songs. The album also features Sting playing bass on "Friend or Foe," which was lyrically written by Eurythmics' Dave Stewart.
The first single released from Dangerous and Moving was "All About Us", written by Billy Steinberg and The Veronicas. The first single for Люди Инвалиды was "Люди Инвалиды". Both videos were shot by Hollywood director James Cox (of Wonderland). The second single was initially going to be "Dangerous and Moving," but it was switched to "Friend or Foe". The video for the song was also directed by James Cox, and was filmed in the Bronson Caves, where the original Batman series was filmed. The video also features Yulia showing off her abilities and skills on the piano. The third single was "Gomenasai," the song written for the Japanese fans. "Loves Me Not" has been announced as their fourth single, but no CD or video have been released. "Люди Инвалиды" is the only single for the CD Люди Инвалиды.
For the release of their new CDs, t.A.T.u. has been on thier Dangerous and Moving Tour, starting early 2006. Guy Chambers wrote a special song for t.A.T.u. titled "Wrapped Around Your Finger." It was supposed to be preformed during this tour, but it has not yet been heard. Before the tour was announced, t.A.T.u's drummer Roman Ratej left to work on his own projects. Soon after he was replaced by Steve Willis, and the group's management added a new bass player, Doman Vajavec.
On April 17, 2006, t.A.T.u. returned to reality TV in Russia with t.A.T.u. Expedition, which was broadcasted on Russian music channel Muz-TV.
In July, t.A.T.u. gave an interview in Mexico where they said that they will record their third album in the beginning of 2007. Nothing is yet said about the release of the new album, but a summer release might be possible.
In 2006, rapper Flipsyde released "Happy Birthday," which samples the piano instrumentation as well as vocals from "Gomenasai" as his second single off of his 2005 album We the People.
On August 30, 2006, t.A.T.u.'s official website announced that the duo has officially left their record company. The agreement, made between the group and Universal/Interscope, ended t.A.T.u.'s contract. To calm down confusion, the website later released a statement saying the girls have not split up, and they still have plans to make a third album in 2007, as well as they are keeping their band members. The official website stated that their compilation cd, The Best will continue to be released, and was released world wide on September 11, 2006. The album contained only one new track titled "Null and Void" (and two new remixes). New updates have shown that t.A.T.u. plan to start their own record company based in Moscow, Russia. It is unknown who the distributor of the company will be (it may in fact be Universal, as there was almost certainly something which prompted Universal to release them from their contract). It has also been speculated that due to talks in late september between Ivan Shapovalov and Universal about a LDPR (Liberal Democratic Party of Russia) supported campaign project, Shapovalov could indeed be reuniting with the t.A.T.u group. A Russian October editorial in "Pravda" entertainment, also hints at a possible reunion between Ivan and t.A.T.u. via the LDPR project (commercial or tour related) in that one of Vladimir Zhirinovsky's deputies is reported to have made significant sponsorship agreements with a stage management consulting firm initially contacted for hire by Troy MacCubbin, a member of the t.A.T.u group.
Discography
- 200 по встречной (May 21, 2001)
- 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane (December 10, 2002)
- Remixes (September 26, 2003)
- Dangerous and Moving (October 5, 2005)
- Люди Инвалиды (October 19, 2005)
- The Best (September 11, 2006)
See also
- Lena Katina
- Julia Volkova
- List of t.A.T.u.'s awards
- List of songs by t.A.T.u.
- List of remixes of t.A.T.u. songs
- Dangerous and Moving Tour
- Neposedi
External links
- Official English Website
- Official Brazil Website
- Official German Website
- TatySite.net Fans
- Brazilian Fan Site
- Discography, graphics +
- t.A.T.u. Translated Lyrics at Russmus.net
- t.A.T.u. at White Man Killer
- t.A.T.u. discography at MusicBrainz
References and footnotes
- ^ The Sun. "I prefer underage girls". thesun.co.uk.
{{cite web}}: Text "2003" ignored (help)