Our Emotions Took Over, That's All ("Tribu Move" - France)

Time of publication: 15.12.2002

PAGE 1: BIO

Remember this name well, because, in a few months, it will be on everyone's lips! Some will have trouble mentioning them, with the bitter taste of scandal in their mouths... In advertising their homosexuality, t.A.T.u. have become the phenomenon of 2001 in Eastern Europe. Today, Trevor Horn has produced their first single, "All the things she said", which is just as scandalous as Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Relax". So is t.A.T.u. a simple provocation or a future lesbian pop icon? Preview, listen to, and discover t.A.T.u. at www.tribumove.com Don't wait for someone else to tell you about them!

t.A.T.u., or rather two different personalities that compliment each other: Julia Volkova (the brunette) and Lena Katina (the redhead) are both passionate about music. Their lives changed when they met one another: these two teenagers fell in love and believed they were meant to be together. So in 2000, t.A.T.u. was born! Julia (18 years old (They are wrong! -Synthetic)) is the more energetic of the two, she has an assertive character, enjoys laughing and stepping outside of the box, though she doesn't like to have her feet stepped on (Figure of speech, she doesn't like being held back, limited. -Echo). Lena (17 years old (They are wrong again! -Synthetic), the youngest, is the intellectual one of this duo. She is introverted, loves reading, and prefers a good book to a party. t.A.T.u. is a story born of love, passion and hate. Hate against the intolerance and the difficulties of life in Russia. They decided to live it up and sing about their homosexuality, so that they might change the preconceptions and perceptions of their excessively conservative country (Which is open to debate, being that L & J keep saying that Moscow is very liberal. -Echo).

t.A.T.u. brings on the scandal! In 2001, the release of their first single "Ya Soshla S Una" (Yes, they spelled it wrong in the article. - Synthetic) ("All The Things She Said") was like a bomb. The sultry video was named Video of the Year 2001 by MTV. In the video, Julia and Lena appear in schoolgirl uniforms--a jab at Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time"--and are seemingly trapped in a cage. Behind bars, the girls proclaim their love to the world, in front of the stunned onlookers. In Eastern Europe, t.A.T.u.'s homosexuality made the covers of all the magazines and posters. They promote a simple message: "Be happy, be proud of yourself. That's what we are!" They don’t hesitate any longer to interpret "Malchick Gay", an engaging song which shows that love is the same, whether it be straight or gay. Without concession, without holding back, and with great sincerity, they explain that when they do not like someone, they don't hesitate to tell that person to go... (Figure of speech again. Insert swear word and "off", and you'd get what they're saying. Harhar. -Echo)

Trevor Horn, a living legend! t.A.T.u.'s 200 km/h in the wrong Lane has sold over a million copies. It's producer Trevor Horn who was chosen to do the English version. He was a member of the Buggles "Video Killed The Radio Star", producer of FGTH, Propaganda, The Art of Noise, Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones, Seal, Simple Minds... For him, t.A.T.u.'s music is a savory mix of the electronic Propaganda and of the rock of Prodigy.

The feminine version of Prodigy! In Russia, Julia and Lena perform in front of 50,000 people and are assured even the first part of R. Kelly. Today, they are ready to conquer the world with their electronic-rock fusion! With them, the interesting thing is first and foremost their music, no matter what they are... Let's give them the last word: "The cool thing is that no one thinks nothing about us. They either love us, or hate us!"

PAGE 2: INTERVIEW

Since October, we have predicted an incredible success for the t.A.T.u. girls, but they have far exceeded our expectations: they are already #1 in every European country! After our coverage in November, here is an immensely requested, brand new interview with Julia and Lena. It was during their first visit to Paris, laying in a baldaquin bed, languorously intertwined, that we find them in their very laid-back suite.

# Who is who in this fiery duo?

Lena: My name is Lena and I'm 18.
Julia: As for me, I'm Julia and it's hard to be more "queeny" (Whatever that means -Synthetic) than me! (Laughs). We could make a bet, but I warn that you'll be the first ones to lose. (Raucous laughter.)

# How did you meet each other?

Lena: We saw each other for the first time in a children's band, a sort of chorus named Neposedi, we stayed in that group for 4 years before going to a casting. There were more than 500 girls, but as soon as we saw each other, we hugged. (Implying that they met each other at the casting. How odd. -Echo)

# Why the passionate kissing?

Julia: We just wanted to!
Lena: Our emotions took over, that's all. Tell me that's not something I have to go see a doctor for!

# Today, now, are you together and in love?

Julia: What do you think?
Lena: (Ndlr: Lena sits up and bristles). I didn't expect such a question from a gay magazine. Only gays can understand and feel what we have. "We are family..." (Ndlr: Lena starts singing in English and Russian). Therefore, I am a bit surprised because you must have known the answer as soon as you saw us...

# Are you not worried about being role models for young lesbians?

Lena: People will think whatever they want; we couldn't care less. The people who understand our message and who identify with us, will follow us... That's what's important!

# What were the funniest rumors about you in the tabloids?

Julia: Dear, there were more than I could count on my fingers and toes... There were good ones and bad ones, but in my opinion you all are more interested in the bad ones. Hmm! I know you're a bunch of scamps! (Laughs.)
Lena: The best was the one that said that both of us were pregnant and that we were going to end our careers. The best part of that one was that the journalist called witnesses to find the fathers. (Lots of laughter.) You all are ready to believe it, my dears!

#Could one say that the overall theme of your album, 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane is discovering your sexuality?

Lena: Dah! (Lots of laughter.) No, I'm kidding... It's all about that! We discovered our sexuality and we wanted to share our introspective findings with others. The main message is basically to very simply say that if you are gay or lesbian, that's fine and it's nothing to be worried about. It's completely normal!

# What does "Malchik Gay" mean?

Julia: We wrote that song for you. It means that gay guys are cool and we want to ask them out for a good time. You see what I'm saying? (Laughs.)

# In Russia, people were shocked by your video "All The Things She Said", in which you hold each other and kiss. Was that only to provoke people, for a taste of scandal or was it a way to break the taboos?

Lena: We have always broken barriers because that is who we are. For us, it's normal! We love freedom, we don’t like people to tell us what to do; we do whatever we want, with whomever we want. This is our slogan: "We want to do that and we're gonna do it without thinking about the consequences!" For us, emotion takes over.

# What did you think when you heard that your video was censored in Italy?

Lena: (Ndlr: Lena starts singing "Relax".) Now more than ever, you can compare us to Frankie Goes To Hollywood. When the video was censored, the fans protested for the TV stations to put the video back. The TV station's actions did the opposite of what it was supposed to... "All The Things She Said" was #1 in Italy and when we did an autograph signing session in a big store, 5000 fans came to see us. We've never seen something like that!

# What were your first impressions of Paris?

Lena: When we come back to Paris next January on the TV show "Mode, mode, mode et clubbing", can we go to a club? (Ndlr: If you're number 1 in sales like in other countries: "Yes!" But if not: "You better work bitch!")

PAGE 3 INTERVIEW (Cont'd)

Scandal!?

# Is it true that you were both kicked out of the first group you were in?

Julia: (Raucous laughter.) We met each other in this children's band, Neposedi, a sort of pop choir that was very popular in Russia. It made us very arrogant, and I began to fight with the other girls, to argue and very soon after, I became the bitch of the group: no one would talk to me and everyone was afraid of me! Am I that frightening? (Ndlr: Julia pouts.) (More laughter.)
Lena: In a nutshell, a real guy's attitude! (Laughter.) So, they asked for her to leave... Myself, I was completely conquered and in love. ("Amoureuse" means "in love", but maybe they meant it in a lighter way. Beats me! -Echo)

# So, how did you create t.A.T.u.?

Lena: It's our current manager, Svengali Ivan Shapovalov, an ex-psychiatrist turned show-businessman that had the idea to produce a new female artist. A young girl with ambiguous sexuality... It's then that he spotted me during a casting, and after many intense sйances of psychotherapy... (Lots of laughter.) He wanted to make a duo and naturally asked me to create t.A.T.u. with my girlfriend, Julia. (It confuses me how it says this. It would imply that they met each at the casting and not after the casting. And also that they weren't really casted separately. Anyway, maybe it's just a mistake that they made while translating. -Echo)
Julia: In Russia, since the end of communism and with the austerity currently in reign, the people need more provocation and scandal to react... Actually, anything's possible in Russia, so why not have a group of teenage lesbians? (Laughter.)

# Does t.A.T.u. mean anything in particular?

Julia: In Russia, this means: "One girl loves another girl"! This corresponds perfectly to our relationship, because the first time I saw Lena, I told myself, "I want her, so I'll have her!" (Raucous laughter.) And that's what happened!

# Did t.A.T.u. help in breaking the taboos in Russia?

Lena: To fight against the intolerance of our society, our message is clear and positive: a boy that loves another boy or a girl that loves another girl is completely normal! We've contributed in marginalizing intolerange and in making the concept of homosexuality more commonplace. We want people to listen to us and to understand this simple message: in accepting us, they can accept others!

# Is that the theme for your first single "All the Things She Said"?

Lena: Of course! When we released "Ya Soshla S Una" (Yes, they misspelled Uma yet again -Synthetic) ("All the Things She Said"), we didn't leave anyone indifferent: either people hated us, or they thanked us for having done it... At least, everyone had an opinion! (Laughter.) MTV Russia bashed the video, and the press got a hold of the story. So then the craze for t.A.T.u. spread violently fast. We freed the passions of our countrymen...
Julia: The clip was the trigger for that craze: we appeared in our school uniforms, caged behind bars and fences. Behind the bars, we were declaring our love to the world, in front of the stunned eyes of passersby. Some people had actually rather badly reacted, screaming scandal and provocative intentions.

# Speaking of which, are there many negative reactions to your libertine and intense image?

Julia: It may seem paradoxical, but it was the teen press that supported us the most. The parents, in their case, tried to protect their children from those horrible lesbians that would surely corrupt their offspring. As if listening to t.A.T.u. could make you gay or lesbian... (Lots of laughter.)
Lena: If it was that simple, I think I would have already tried it on certain girls! (Laughter.) (Ndlr: Julia starts to sulk and pout.)

# Everybody is asking you this question, "Are you simply a product of marketing, or do you really love each other?"

Julia: People won't stop asking us that question, we're not acting and we won't play with peoples' emotions. We're too honest for that! But whatever, people can think what they want. After all, it's our personal business.
Lena: Julia thinks about sex more than I do!

Random parts on the 3rd page:

“EVERYONE IS BISEXUAL AND THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN EVERY ONE OF US!”

Translation by Synthetic & Echoed.
TatySite.Net

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