t.A.T.u. - The Pure Art of Marketing (DotEurovision.com)Time of publication: 19.04.2003 |
Russian Eurovision entrants t.A.T.u. plan to cause yet more controversy and garner more media coverage by announcing they will appear naked on the cover of their forthcoming album.
With the girls knocking on a bit (they are now 18), the decision may not be as supposedly shocking as when they made their name by kissing each other whilst dressed in school uniforms for their first global pop video. To stand any chance of making any money out of this announcement, the PR machine behind the girls have had to come up with an angle guaranteed to raise eyebrows and earn coverage from the world press. As such, an appeal has gone out to their younger female fans to send in their own naked photos for inclusion in the artwork of the forthcoming CD.
Calling the plans an exploration of art, a spokesperson for the duo said, "We are looking for the most beautiful, coolest, cleverest and youngest girls to take part."
Anxious not to break any laws with what appears to be a thinly veiled paedophile's dream CD cover, the management of the group have proposed that the work of art only be issued in Russia, where the legal age of consent is fourteen. Laws will allow the use of such pictures provided it is clearly defined as a piece of art.
The announcement has already been condemned as exploitative pornography by many international children's organisations who have appealed to fans of the group not to play into the cynical and media savvy hands of the band management. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children yesterday branded the move an "irresponsible publicity stunt".
The decision to pose naked on the cover of their album is bound to also ruffle a few feathers with the more conservative members of the Eurovision organisational team. In 2000, a German girl duo were banned from taking part in their national final after posing topless in tabloid Bild. It was felt their actions might bring the contest into disrepute. These days, however, the EBU appears to want to present a more moderate and progressive face. The organisation has been reported as having warned t.A.T.u. against stepping over the lines of taste and decency in Riga, though any warnings have been kept private. The EBU has made no actual public statement on the affairs, possibly enjoying the free newspaper column inches being garnered for the contest by the Russian shock merchants. Ivan Shapovalov, manager of the girls is a master when it comes to manipulating the world media to gain free publicity for his prodigies.
Recent weeks have seen websites reporting various rumours about what the duo have planned for Riga. German tabloid Bild reported that the girls had plans to simulate masturbation on stage and wished to use rubber sex toys as props for their act.
Supposed teenage lovers Yulia Volkova and Lena Katina are now in talks to have their rags-to-riches story recreated on the big screen. The bubble may have started to burst however for the girls, with tickets for some European and UK Concert gigs failing to sell out, leading to talk of possible cancellations and more publicity stunts to try to drum up interest.
t.A.T.u. continue to earn headlines, though deep inside, there must remain questions about why very few of these headlines make any reference at all to their music, which seems to take a backseat to their constant menu of 'tits and tattle.' It is all starting to look like the desperate actions of a product of a marketing team who can see the sell by date fast approaching. To many weary hacks, the exploitative marketing of the fairly talentless duo is nothing new and remains as shocking as a flat pint of beer.
One thing is certain in the normally fickle world of celebrity pop, regardless of whether t.A.T.u. end up making total fools of themselves either on or off stage in Riga, they will not be out of the media spotlight or indeed out of pocket. Whilst the glare of publicity is on them it is doing their career, their record and concert sales and the publicity campaign for the Eurovision Song Contest no harm at all.
Source: DotEurovision.com
Thanks to KooReeT. |
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