Even those who don't buy it will buy t.A.T.u. (Knox News)Time of publication: 03.01.2003 |
It's safe to say t.A.T.u. has an angle America's pop scene has never witnessed: two pretty teenage Russian lesbians who get it on with each other. That's the novelty of the duo's video for "All the Things She Said," where Lena Katina and Julia Volkova don school uniforms and make out in a rainstorm, their shirts clinging to their bodies and the camera even peering up a skirt at one point. Contrived? Absolutely. But the two very likely are Russians, probably are teenagers and possibly are even lesbians (or at the very least bisexuals, given their enthusiasm for each other). And even if the lesbian part turns out to be a fabrication, the fantasy is still there for gay women, not to mention more than a few straight men.
Europe already has bought into the wonders of t.A.T.u., and now a major American label, Interscope, is pushing the unusual act here. Video aside, "All the Things She Said" is a compelling and souped-up Euro-pop song enhanced by the Abba-like harmonies of the girls and a lyrical theme of lesbian liberation: "When they stop and stare, don't worry me/'Cause I'm feeling for her what she's feeling for me."
Produced by Trevor Horn (who's previously worked with gay-cult-crossover acts such as the Pet Shop Boys, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Grace Jones), t.A.T.u.'s mostly English "200 KM/H in the Wrong Lane" features other memorable tracks, including the booming techno-pocalypse track "Not Gonna Get Us," where the singers' little voices peel out of the chaos, a twinkling "Stars" that weaves in Russian raps, and a crafty remake of The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now?" Unfortunately, there are several shrill and otherwise melodramatic cuts that won't go over so well in America, though the lyrics include routinely amusing fare such as "I long for you to hold me like your boyfriend does" on the stilted track "Malchik Gay." There's also no evidence that either of these women are particularly good singers, plus t.A.T.u. is heavy with the traditional hokum of European pop acts. Still, "200 KM/H in the Wrong Lane" does feature a few genuinely infectious cuts and deserves kudos for its wickedly clever marketing strategy. And you better believe the music video for "All the Things She Said" is included with the disc.
Thanks to ta-tu.net |
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