Tatu sneer at Eurovision dream (BBC News Online)Time of publication: 21.05.2003 |
By Michael Osborn
BBC News Online entertainment staff
This year's Eurovision Song Contest in Latvia is bound to whip up a welter of publicity aside from the usual jokes about cheesy music and camp costumes. Russia's entrants are none other than Tatu, the angst-ridden teenage duo whose pseudo-lesbian antics have whipped up a storm - while their song All The Things She Said has become a global smash hit.
Lena Katina, the red-headed half of the partnership, is brimming with rebelliousness about Eurovision, and hints at scandalising its wholesome image on 24 May in Riga.
"It's not a big deal for us. We were chosen by our country to go. We don't care about their rules at all - we are going to do what we want to do," she told BBC News Online.
Eurovision down the years has launched the careers of unknown artists like Sweden's Abba, who embraced their big chance with relish back in 1974.
The Russian girls have defied the dream of the contest by taking to the Eurovision stage with fame and notoriety already in their grasp. But Lena is unmoved.
"It doesn't matter for us if we win. We're already famous all over the world," she says. Although in a fleeting moment of enthusiasm, she admits it "would be great" to win Russia's first Eurovision prize.
Diehard fans of Eurovision will be horrified to learn that Tatu have little pride for the contest and its 47-year history. "It's just another performance on another stage - whatever," Lena says. "We haven't heard the other songs yet. We don't give a s*** about the others," she adds in a moment of adolescent defiance. The UK's entrants Jemini have a much more positive attitude to Eurovision, seeing it as a glittering platform to future success - and a very serious business.
Stage antics
"There are some really good songs in there. I don't think Tatu are our biggest threat on the night in terms of live performance," female half of the Liverpudlian duo Gemma told BBC News Online. "We've heard all the songs. We're excited about doing Eurovision and are completely confident. This is a launch pad for us," adds the singer. Back to Tatu, and Lena seems happier to talk about their mainstream pop career, the constant round of interviews and being famous, which she says is "their life". But the big night could be a much sterner test than they are bargaining for, no matter what surprise they spring or stage antics they indulge in. Older viewers may not even recognise them, and their young fans may not be on hand to rally round. Eurovision is a strange beast where performance is everything, while the unpredictable voting system could make the newly famous Russian duo go very quiet.
Thanks to KooReeT.
Source: BBC.Co.UK |
 |
| Return to "Articles" |
