T.A.T.u.

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t.A.T.u. (Russian: Тату) is a Russian pop music duo consisting of Elena (Lena) Katina and Yulia (Julia) Volkova. The two girls were marketed as a lesbian couple, but their sexual orientation was the subject of much speculation, until in December 2003 they admitted on Russian television that they were not in a lesbian relationship together and it had been exploited as a marketing strategy devised by their former manager, Ivan Shapovalov. Image:Julia&lena1232.jpg

1 Origins
2 Public image and international success
3 Revelation, schism, and future
4 Quotes
5 Discography
- 5.1 Albums
- 5.2 Singles
6 Sales in Japan
7 External links

The members of the duo are:

Elena Sergeevna Katina (Елена Сергеевна Катина), born October 4, 1984, in Moscow, Russia. She is the youngest of three children born to S. V. Katin, a renowned Russian pop music author, and Inessa Katina.
Yulia Olegovna Volkova (Юлия Олеговна Волкова), born February 20, 1985, also in Moscow, Russia, is the only child of Oleg Volkov and Larisa Volkova.

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Origins

The original t.A.T.u. concept was developed by a former Russian child psychologist and marketing executive, Ivan Shapovalov (Иван Шаповалов), who has become a record producer.

Katina and Volkova knew each other before starting t.A.T.u.; both sang in the popular Russian children's pop chorus, Neposedi (Непоседы), from which Volkova was allegedly banned for "inappropriate behaviour" (Volkova once implied that it was because she had molested the other girls in the chorus; later she said it was for smoking, drinking and swearing. Neposedi denied that she was expelled, but simply "graduated" as all members of the children's band would once they've reached a certain age). Not long after Volkova left Neposedi, Katina did the same.

Shapovalov originally chose Lena Katina at a casting in 1999 to sing a song about the war in Yugoslavia. After holding auditions, he picked Julia and Lena as the best, then set them up as a duet, the idea of an "underage sex project" forming in his mind. The two were signed to a demanding contract; they were strictly controlled, and told how to behave at press conferences. Both were 15 at that time. Shapovalov has claimed that the idea for t.A.T.u.'s image was his. Elena Kiper, Shapovalov's former lover and originally deputy manager of t.A.T.u., says that the idea was hers. She fell asleep at her dentist's, had a dream in which she kissed another woman and awoke remembering the words "Ya soshla s uma" (meaning "I've lost my mind"), the title of the song she then wrote the lyrics for that became t.A.T.u.'s first single. Kiper has also stated that their ideas for the group's image were influenced by the 1998 Swedish film Fucking Åmål, directed by Lukas Moodysson. Shapovalov and Kiper later fell out over his non-payment of her royalties.

Originally, t.A.T.u. was named ТАТУ (Tatu). When they became popular outside Russia and it was discovered that there was already an Australian band with that name, the spelling was changed to t.A.T.u. outside Russia. It is still occasionally written in the Latin alphabet as Taty or Tatu. The original name comes from a collocation of "ta" and "tu" (pronounced 'tuu'), 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] that female [over there]".

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Public image and international success

Image:Tatu-yasoshlasuma.jpg

The band is known for acting irreverently and having an insolent attitude towards the press. "People either love us or hate us", said Katina, "but no one ignores us". More than one of their videos have been banned; for instance, the video for the hit song "Prostye Dvizheniya (Простые движения)/Simple Motions" shows 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 most of the video).

The video clip for t.A.T.u.'s first English/Russian single (Ya Soshla S Uma (Я сошла с ума)/I've Lost My Mind) - the original version of their English song "All the Things She Said" - was banned by MTV Russia (after unbanning, it won People's Choice Award at MTV's Russian Awards) and by the BBC and others. It shows them dressed up in high school outfits (similar to the Catholic school uniforms that are common fetish items), behind a fence, screaming out in anguish, begging for their parents' forgiveness, shaking the fence, and kissing passionately. At the other side of the fence, older people and peers stare at them in disapproval. At the end of the video, Katina and Volkova turn around and leave hand in hand. The closing shot shows that the disapproving crowd are the ones lined up behind the barbed-wire fence, in a way, imprisoned in their own minds.

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 fact, their single "All the Things She Said" was used as the entrance theme of WWE Diva Victoria from late December 2002 to May 2004.

In order to play up 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 realise that their live performances, which featured the girls caressing, fondling, kissing and looking at each other longingly, was just an obligation. Their 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.

The lyrics and videos of their songs suggested that the girls were in a lesbian relationship. 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. represented Russia at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest where they were considered the favourites to win. Volkova did not take part in rehearsals because of inflamed vocal cords and their performance turned out to be rough at first, but ended fairly well. t.A.T.u. claim they would have won Eurovision if the Irish telephone votes had been counted - a technical fault within eircom lead to a jury deciding placings, rather than coming 3rd. 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.

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Revelation, schism, and future

On the 12th of December 2003, "The Anatomy of t.A.T.u.", made by the documentary film director Vitaly Mansky, appeared on the Russian television channel STS. The film portrays the everyday lives of the t.A.T.u. girls. To name one, it suggests how Julia and Lena are not lesbians, that they've never been such and never thought about being that way before the project. It’s all just a myth, a clever brainchild devised by Ivan Shapovalov, as a marketing scheme. Julia, for one, as it is implied, has a boyfriend named Pasha, who follows her everywhere.

Both girls were baptized. Lena visits church regularly and confesses her sins. Lena admits that most of the things she has to do are sins and she frequently saw a priest about it. Julia, on the other hand, is ready to do anything to be popular. She isn’t afraid of anything apart from loneliness. Lena is shyer, and she says she would never have sex with anyone in front of the cameras. Volkova said that before t.A.T.u. she had never thought about girls in that way, but during t.A.T.u. she had fallen in love with another girl, although the physical aspect had not developed beyond kissing. Volkova also stated that she had had an abortion earlier that year, as had been reported in some newspapers in February 2003, and that she had once taken heroin for a bet to "prove that she had no need for such things in her life".

Image:YulialenaTRL.jpg

On December 12, 2003, an anime movie based on t.A.T.u was announced. The movie, titled t.A.T.u. Paragate, was to be directed by Norio Kashima and Susume Kudoh, with Shinichiro Watanabe directing the opening. The film was created by Ivan Shapovalov, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was going to be made by studio iMovie and cost 500 million yen (4.7 million USD). The 100-minute film was set to be released in Japan, Russia, and Europe in November 2004. The date then changed to December. The project was then cancelled before its target release due to numerous circumstances, including a fallout between the duo and Shapovalov.

In Spring 2004, Katina and Volkova left their manager Ivan Shapovalov while they were supposed to be recording their second album because they believed that the quality of the material was too low. They had a contract with Universal Music Russia, but their new manager Boris Rensky (who was formerly Shapovalov's business partner) negotiated a new contract with Universal Music International. The new contract is for 4 more albums (which includes Dangerous and Moving).

In May 2004, Volkova announced that she was pregnant with long-time boyfriend Pavel (Pasha) Sidorov's child. She gave birth to her first child, Viktoria, on September 23, 2004. Volkova split up with Sidorov in spring 2005. Volkova didn't stay single for long - while recording a new album for t.A.T.u. she started going out with a businessman living in Los Angeles named Tigran, who is of Russian and Caucasian descent.

On June 3, 2005, t.A.T.u. performed a brand new song, Обезъянка-Ноль (Obezyanka Nol'/Monkey Zero) at the Russian Muz-TV Awards. This song is from t.A.T.u.'s second Russian album, Люди-Инвалиды (Lyudi-Invalidi/Disabled People).

t.A.T.u.'s second English album, Dangerous and Moving, was released on October 11, 2005 in North America, and on October 10, 2005 in the rest of the world.

The first single from the Dangerous and Moving album is All About Us, written by Billy Steinberg and The Veronicas - a Duo of twin sisters, Jess and Lisa, from Brisbane Australia. Billy Steinberg is the man responsible for many 1980s hits, including Madonna's Like A Virgin and the Bangles' Eternal Flame. The video for the single was shot by Hollywood director James Cox (Wonderland) and can be viewed at the official English website. The album also features Sting playing bass on the track Friend or Foe, which was lyrically written by Eurythmics' Dave Stewart.

The second single was initially going to be Dangerous and Moving but there was a change of plans. Instead, Friend or Foe became t.A.T.u's second single and Dangerous and Moving was bumped to be used as a third or maybe even fourth single. The video was filmed in Beverly Hills, LA by James Cox. The video was shot in Bronson Caves, the same caves used in the original Batman series and features Yulia showing her abilities on the piano.

The third single has been announced by Interscope as Gomenasai.

Recently, the legendary Guy Chambers wrote a special song for t.A.T.u. titled 'Wrapped Around Your Finger'. It will be performed for their world tour kicking off this April.

Early this year, Roman Ratej, drummer of t.A.T.u. has left the group for reasons unknown to the public. t.A.T.u.'s management has already found a replacement for him, as well as a bass player.

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Quotes

"t.A.T.u is about saying what you feel, not what others expect. Be in love. Be yourself. We are" — Lena Katina
"We never said we were lesbians, but everyone said that we were and now everyone said that we lied. We simply love each other." — Lena Katina, 2005
“Well, we’ve never done any PR stuff on purpose. Everything we’ve done is our own wishes. Vanya could never manage to force us do something we don’t want to. t.A.T.u. is not a product. t.A.T.u. is art”. — t.A.T.u, 2005 for an Interview to the magazine «10 days» (Ukraine).
"We are international artists, but we are not international people." — Lena Katina
"In Russia we look after the elderly but we don't send them to Eurovision, that seems to be the case in Germany!" — Yulia Volkova on 2003 Eurovision's German entry.
"She looks like she's worn out more men in her life than we have vodka bottles. We would push her straight off the edge of the bed." — Lena Katina also on 2003 Eurovision's German entry.
"We didn't tell that! That was gossip. F***ing gossip!" — Lena Katina on the Frank Skinner show when being confronted about the "elderly" quote.
"Just t.A.T.u. Nothing." — Yulia Volkova on being asked what t.A.T.u means.
"Our songs are about our love for each other" — t.A.T.u. before they were exposed as straight girls.
"I like everything about Yulia! Nothing wrong there! She's my friend, my sister. I can call her at 4am and tell her that I'm not feeling well, I know she'll come over." — Elena Katina on being asked what t.A.T.u liked most and least of each other, February 2006, French FHM interview.
"I like everything about Lena, even if she has some little flaws: sometimes she cries and yells at me. You know, i could kill for her!" — Yulia Volkova, February 2006, French FHM interview
"Lesbian image does not disturb us, because we are not lesbians. Yes, we love each other, but I repeat, we are not lesbians. We just show love between two girls, without vulgarities. Our behaviour has been misinterpreted. I have never had a girlfriend and I have never been in a relationship with Yulia. But it's true, that meanwhile Yulia had a girlfriend." — Elena Katina
"Gays are still thankful to us," say t.A.T.u. Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova
"There is a love of friends between us. Our slogan is to love and it's not important whom to love. We want to say that a boy can love a boy and a girl can love a girl. If all people would love each other, it would be easier to live in this world. If people are lead by hatred and evil, nothing good would happen from this." — Yulia Volkova, Herolds Of Love Interview, Kroonika, 4 April 2006, Tallinn, Estonia.
"What we have - is not even a friendship, it's much more. When people actually live together for ten years, you can't call it just a friendship. I take her more as a relative, than a friend." — Elena Katina