Remember the kiss behind the fence, under the rain?
10 years ago, out of the blue… the 2 girls caused a stir in Russia’s music scene with their first single Я сошла с ума (I’ve Lost My Mind)
While the single were still topping European countries’ music charts and having airplays for more than ten thousand times, the video premiered in MTV Russia (after a brief controversy) and went straight to the No. 1 spot.
Shortly after, the group released their first studio album, 200 по встречной (200 km/h Against the Traffic) and were certificated platinum.
Due to their success in their native region, they ventured out from their home country and went to the US. In 2002, we all heard the English version of their first single, All The Things She Said.
The singles tops various charts, and their debut English album, 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane sold more than 5 million copies worldwide, and were certified Gold in the US, Platinum in most European countries as well as Diamond status in Japan.
After a series of infamous, inappropriate behaviour by the girls during various publicity/live shows, the girls returned to the music scene in 2005 with their second English studio album, Dangerous and Moving, together with its Russian counterpart, Люди инвалиды (Invalid People).
The second album gains much less success compared to their debut, although their lead single, All About Us, topped the UK charts. Short after, the group announced that they’ve broke their tie with Interscope Record of Universal Music Group.
Being an independent group, the girls went ahead with their project and released their new single, Белый Плащик (White Robe).
Uncensored Version of Белый Плащик, which features partial nudity, watch at your own risk.
The video were as controversial as their previous videos, with the clean version implying abortion issues, and the uncensored version shouting about the immorality of human behaviours, as well as criticizing the Russian’s histories during the war time. In Russia, before they had a real government and before America existed to stop their way, this is how abortion was forced upon women who got pregnant out of wedlock. They would line the highest ranked generals and all aim and shoot at once, killing both mother and baby. But everything seems contradict as always, as the “high rank general” were seen streetwalking (prostituting) herself before the shooting.
I had always been a big fan of t.A.T.u. Although I've only started noticing them and their music AFTER their peak chart performance, i.e: their second album, their music impacted me much, in many ways. Since their sophomore album, they’re constantly making artistic music, instead of top selling ones, and conveying message they’ll want to bring forward in their music and videos without fear.
They’re no lesbian, but they put forward the kissing image in their debut single, All The Things She Said, to express that love have got no boundaries. Their second singles, Not Gonna Get Us, express the spirit of getting things done without fearing what others think or how things turn out.
Their Russian singles, Люди инвалиды (Invalid People), shows that human race is getting more and more immoral, as the race had forgotten how to love each other, and that everything is going to be destroyed if the scenario doesn’t stop. And of course, their first single from their third Russian album, Белый Плащик (White Robe), gave a powerful scream against abortions and hypocrisy.
The message were not shown directly, instead, they’re metaphoric and need to be understood by oneself.
Recently, there are rumours stating that the group is splitting up as the girls seems to be working on solo projects, which they prove them wrong. Solo projects were going on but t.A.T.u. is not closed down.
And, for that, the group will be proudly celebrating their 10th anniversary today, 31 May 2009.
“People should not be forced to define their feelings. These are natural and cannot be labelled”
