New Kids in Town: Tatu (Uk Sunday Times)Time of publication: 20.01.2003 |
Who are they?
Two teenagers from Russia, Julia Volkova and Lena Katina came together to form Tatu, a duo who may, or may not, be lesbians. In an ideal world, this would be the point where we’d all go: “So what, and who cares?” In the world according to their manager, the former psychologist and adman Ivan Shapovalov, though, this is the point. While Volkova and Katina mutter that “everybody thinks we are lesbians, but we just love each other”, those handling the pair talk about their insistence on double beds in their hotel rooms. Their videos hammer the point home. Two snogging Russkie teens dressed as schoolgirls? So soon after the Cheeky Girls? Whoah! The formula has certainly worked. In Russia, Tatu’s debut album, 200 Km/h in the Wrong Lane, has sold 1m copies. And their new single, the Trevor Horn-produced All the Things She Said (mercifully, not a Simple Minds cover), is a Top 5 worldwide smash.
What do they sound like?
Pinky and Perky go berserkski, two little Sapphic piggies raiding the musical memory bank housing Dollar, Bros, the Buggles and every bubblegum Euro-disco act that’s ever massacred a song. Like bubblegum, too, they’re full of flavour and wonderfully toothsome to start with, but soon lose their appeal.
And what do Tatu have to say about all of this?
“We don’t shape ourselves for the audience,” they insist. “In Russia, life is not polite. If we don’t agree, we say ‘f*** you’.”
When’s the single out?
All the Things She Said is released on January 27; the album follows on February 3.
Can I see them live?
British dates are being planned; Tatu also have a thriving online fanbase.
Thanks to Paul
TatySite.Net |
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