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"WE'RE LESBIANS BUT IT'S NOT FOR SURE"
Who are these two Russians of Tatu that are trying to infiltrate the world of Western pop? We've investigated between the blankets of these stubborn lolitas and discovered the unbelievable truth.
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Lena and Julia like king-sized beds, massages, but they cannot stand being tickled.
Hotel Hyatt, boulevard Malesherbes. Moscow climate: cold and gray. PR-agent, Stalinian, approaches me fifteen minutes late. It's in this relaxed state that I meet Tatu, the new Electropop phenomenon of the moment, two Russian lesbian lolitas of seventeen and eighteen, in cold or warm weather of their country, for two years now. Today, they are appearing in Europe and in the States with All the Things she Said, their first English-language single (produced by Trevor Horn, ex-producer of Frankie goes to Hollywood), and a video that gently celebrates their saphic love. Chosen at an audition, when they were thirteen, by their producer, an ex-psychologist and publicist named Ivan Chapovalov ("Ch" because that's the French-equivalent sound of English "Sh" -E.), they play the roles of scandalous lesbians everywhere they go, claiming a huge bed for two in each hotel. But certain rumours are circulating, saying that, in fact, they aren't together at all, and that they even cordially hated each other...
Whatever the case may be, the Russki delegation greets me jovially: there seem to only be fashion-savvy managers and PR agents over there, Jeanne Mas hair-cut and Carrefour streetwear for all. (Assumably very in-style women greeting her. -E.) They let me enter the holiest of places: the bedroom of the stunning Tatu. There, lying in a king-sized bed, in the purest of godly rituals, the redhead Lena Katina, seated authoratively on the rear of brunette Julia--lazily sprawled on her stomach--is massaging her friend's bare and tattooed lower back. Before this scenario of such unspeakable erotic intensity, I try not to turn tail and run. And I ask a few essential questions.
Do you represent new Russia?
Lena (the only one that speaks three words of English): Yes.
In what way?
(Translation in Russian by the manager.)
Lena: We are not delivering any sort of political message, but we are young and free, and it is in this way that we represent a new state of Russian minds.
It doesn't bother you that the world, even your record label, refer to you as, and I quote, "the two Russian lesbians"?
Lena: We don't give a crap. (Replace that with a four-letter word starting with "s", and BAM, we've got a winner. -E.)
The entire marketing operation surrounding you is based on the fact that you are lesbians, no?
Lena: What counts first is our music and our lyrics. The rest is our private life. And anything concerning our private life is of no interest.
But by exposing yourselves to the public, don't you feel like your selling your private lives?
Lena: Who knows? Maybe we aren't lesbians at all?
Well, that's what we really want to know. Everyone sees you as two lesbians.
Lena: They see us as two Russian girls with our own problems. And we are free. We are not manipulated. If we wanted to be someone else, we would be someone else (?). Well, let's just say that maybe we would be different in some time. Who knows?
Julia (who wakes up): We do not sell ourselves, we just tell people to feel free and to not be ashamed of their emotions.
Where did you meet?
Julia: In Moscow, in a children's band called Neposedi. There was a big casting with five hundred people, we came separately and were chosen.
Lena: Since our childhood, we've wanted to sing, be stars. We would have done anything to make our dream come true.
What does Tatu mean exactly?
Lena: It means, "this girl wants that girl."
So, you are surely speaking of homosexuality?
Lena (very unnerved): What, so talking about emotions and feelings is talking about homosexuality?
When one girl loves another, yes.
Lena (categorically): No, because homosexuality is a kind of sickness. In a psychological light, a homosexual is someone who is sick.
Fifty years ago, maybe.
Lena: We love each other, we kiss, we do what we want, but we are not homosexuals! We are in love, that's all!
How is Tatu considered in Russia?
The manager: At first, they really shocked people. After two years, the situation has changed a little.
Is it true that your producer used to be a psychologist?
Lena: Yes, and I'm currently in university, studying psychology.
Are you planning on putting yourself through therapy?
Lena (rolling her eyes exasperatedly): I'm not crazy! I don't need to be analyzed! Normal people don't need therapy! (And she sprawls right on top of Julia to lovingly nuzzle her neck.)
It's odd, you're both awfully cornered for girls who claim to be free.
Julia (insolent): We're not cornered, we just weren't expecting to speak about such things to people we don't even know. It is you who is odd.
Florence Trйdez
Translation by Echoed.
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